Bonner County History - Jan. 1, 2026

Brought to you by the

Bonner County Historical

Society and Museum

611 S. Ella Ave., Sandpoint, Idaho, 83864

208-263-2344

50 Years Ago

Sandpoint News-Bulletin

and Sandpoint Bee

Jan. 1, 1976 – THE YEAR 1975  

1975 was eventful - a year when Bonner County began its observance of the nation’s 200th birthday, with, among other things, a wool-spinning demonstration at the Fairgrounds; a senior citizen center built in Sandpoint largely with donated money, materials, land and time; and the rodeo, in its second year, which brought professional cowboys to the county. K & K continued to earn the tag of one of this area’s top events of the year, as did the Lions Club’s Beach Benefit Barbeque. The year was also marked with the acquisition of a new Sandpoint High School mascot. And when it was hot, many youngsters could climb to the top of the Hwy 200 bridge [on the still-unfinished section] at Hope for a refreshing leap into Lake Pend Oreille.

•••

SENIOR CITIZEN SERVICES 

Lorenzo Driggs, director of the Area Agency on Aging of the Panhandle Planning and Development Council, said that $17,706 was allocated to Bonner County for Senior Citizen services in Transportation, Information referral, Outreach, and Nutrition in 1975.  

•••

DAILY INTEREST 

No matter how much or how little you want to save or for how long you need to save it…we have a plan for YOU! From 5% on regular passbook savings to 7½% on Investment certificates of $1,000 or more for not less than 6 years, we have a savings plan for everybody! BANK OF IDAHO, member F.D.I.C.  

75 Years Ago

Sandpoint News-Bulletin

Jan. 1, 1951 – LAND OWNERS MEETING 

A meeting of land owners along the Pend Oreille river and around Lake Pend Oreille who will be affected by the acquisition of lands for reservoir purposes connected with Albeni Falls dam will be held at Sandpoint Community hall on Jan. 10. 

•••

OLD CUPIC RANCH SOLD FOR ALBENI DAM 

Mr. and Mrs. George Falk, owners of the old Cupic ranch at the Albeni Falls damsite, received the first check for property purchased for the Albeni Falls dam project. All such checks are personally delivered to the owner by the closing attorney’s office, after all deeds or easements are signed and notarized. Both Mr. and Mrs. Falk were pleased both with the size of the check and the way in which the transfer was completed. The Cupic residence at the dam site will become headquarters for construction work on the dam. W.J. Berryman, chief inspector of the dam will maintain his residence at the Falk home.  Barns and outbuildings will be used for storage of government vehicles and equipment.  

•••

HATCH AWARDED SIGNAL HONOR 

Jack Hatch, the national semi-pro baseball commissioner for Idaho and the sports announcer for radio station KSPT, was named Commissioner of the Year, one of the top awards from the National baseball congress, for having the largest percentage increase in number of participants in Idaho in 1950.

For more information, visit the museum online at bonnercountyhistory.org.