Bonner County History - Sept. 17, 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

Sept. 17, 1976 – LICHTER/JOHNSON WED 

Mr. and Mrs. Brian Donald Johnson are at home on Bottle Bay Rd. after a wedding trip to Canada. Mrs. Johnson, the former Loretta Ann Lichter, is the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Ed Lichter, Selle. Johnson is the son of Mr. and Mrs. Don Johnson, Oden. They were wed June 18 at St. Joseph’s Catholic Church.  

•••

GIBRONI’S OFFERS DELICATESSEN 

Sandpoint’s newest – and only – delicatessen recently opened at the corner of Second and Pine in the old Economy Market building. Gilbert and Rita Tortolani, owners of Gibroni’s Italian Deli, have been remodeling the old market over the past few weeks, A wide assortment of cheeses, salamis, fish, ethnic foods, and imported beers already line the walls of the store. The Deli, which imports nearly all its foods from Seattle,  also offers a variety of sandwiches. Their biggest seller is the submarine sandwich. The Tortolanis were also the original owners of the Big Pink Trading Co. [in 2026, Foster’s Crossing]. 

•••

GOTHAM MANAGER OF STATION 

Longtime Sandpoint resident Mike Gotham was named manager of Mike’s Shell Station at 121 S. First Avenue on Aug. 19, replacing former manager Ed Eitzman. Gotham has lived in the Sandpoint area for 30 years and worked for Eitzman last year. Gotham’s brother, Harvey, a ten-year veteran foreign car mechanic, also works at the station.  

75 Years Ago

Sandpoint News-Bulletin

Sept. 17, 1951 - RADIO ON MOTORCYCLE 

A two-way short wave radio was installed on the motorcycle patrol by Spokane’s Switzer Radio co., allowing rapid communication between the main station in city hall and the patrol when its operator, officer Don Hand, works the city streets. 

•••

RHEUMATIC FEVER VICTIM 

Norman Gissel, 10-year-old son of Mr. and Mrs. Lester Gissel, is confined to home with an attack of rheumatic fever. Mrs. Gissel’s sister, Miss Katherine Gladhart, R.N., flew from Boise, arriving Saturday to spend the next two weeks nursing the youngster.

•••

OLD LANDMARK BEING RAZED 

Operations began Wednesday to raze one of the oldest landmarks in Sandpoint’s business section, the Springer buildings on N. First ave. south of the Mobil service station [in 2026, the Burger Dock]. The general site of these buildings marks the earliest beginnings of Sandpoint’s present business district. The original buildings were destroyed by fire in the early 1900s. From 1907 on, Frank Springer ran a barber shop, which in its heyday boasted three chairs, a marble washbowl and adjoining baths. Mr. Springer closed the shop and retired last year.  

•••

SERVICE NEWS 

Bill Inman, who has been in Korea with the U.S. army, has visited his parents, Mr. and Mrs. E.O. Inman, and left last Monday for Fort Lewis, Wash.

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