New construction

The county is growing! New construction is going on all the time. Be it homes or business.’ Do you know what was being built in this picture? Do you know who the men are? Do you know what business is in the background? If you have an answer, please email doyouremember@meadowcrk.com. If you would like to stay anonymous, just let us know.

Mike Fritz shared with us the picture shown last week. It was looking east on Kootenai Street. The West Hotel was on the right and the Roundhouse was in the center left. The building on the right, in 1894 was built as a school. It then became the Idaho Hotel, then the West Hotel. In 1915 it would be squared up with the street (notice it is crooked in the picture), and it would become the county courthouse. In 1938, the courthouse was built on the lot in the right foreground and the old building would later be torn down. The wood from the old building would be recycled to build barns in Paradise Valley. The site is now where the Sheriff’s office is. To the left is now Harvest Foods and their parking lot. Grace Schuon Leidt was able to recognize the street and remembers, that when they moved to the county in 1945, there was a hotel on the street, and this is where she thinks Constance Hollenbeck would later live.

Your Boundary County Historical Society and Museum, 7229 Main, Bonners Ferry, Idaho sponsors this column. During the winter, the Museum is open Friday and Saturday 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. To help maintain the buildings, a small entrance fee is requested. It is $2 per person or $5 per family. There is no charge for those under 14 years old or for the Boundary County Historical Society members. Visit the website at www.boundarycountymuseum.org for a list of the latest events.

The museum is adding wonderful things to their collection. If you think one visit is enough, it never is, as displays are changing. If you haven’t visited in a while, come on down for a visit. We would love to see you!