This Week In Bonners Ferry History

100 Years Ago

Town Council passed an ordinance dealing with automobiles which every auto owner should read and heed. All autos shall be equipped with lights — white to show the direction the car is going and red for the rear. The speed limit will be 15 mph on the streets. Horns are only to be used to give warning of danger of collision. Parking will be at an angle of 45 degrees and with the right wheel within 6 inches of the curb.

Several fires from carelessly discarded cigars and cigarettes have been put out on the old wooden bridge across the river. The bridge is badly in need of re-planking, but the county is handicapped by lack of money. Several barrels of water have been placed along the bridge in case of fire, but there seems to be a few individuals who are so small that they steal the barrels almost as soon as they are placed.

County Commissioner Fred G. Chambers has leased his ranch at Copeland for a term of 5 years to John and Chauncey Guthrie, brothers of Henry Guthrie. John is here now and Chauncey and his family will come soon from Boulder, Montana.

50 Years Ago

City Maintenance crews just completed reconstruction of a 450,000 gallon storage tank for the municipal water supply, located just adjacent to the swimming pool. When the tank was drained for repair, 132 holes were found. The tank was sand blasted then coated with epoxy with a fiberglass cloth; this should give the tank indefinite life.

Forest fire danger is still high. Three small blazes were quickly subdued this week, one near Moyie Dam, one in Meadow Creek, and one near Smith Lake.

Dr. James M. Smith and an Oregon man have been injured in a car accident.

15 Years Ago

65 year old letters have been found in a wall. Five letters addressed to Edward Neumeyer that were mailed in 1939 and 1940, were found at Dr. William McCreight’s old office during renovations.

Our local water systems need to change with the times. Local water systems will not be able to meet future needs.

Lightning strikes twice, resulting in small fires. The fire danger is rated as high.

Dianna Ellis takes over for Andrew Drew as Kootenai National Wildlife Manager.

Bonners Ferry’s Ty Iverson landed a job working with agricultural leaders and legislators, thanks in part to his internships while at the University of Idaho.

— Submitted by the Boundary County Museum