This Week In Bonners Ferry History

100 Years Ago

The Parks Highway Garage on Railroad Ave. and all its’ contents were destroyed by fire last Thursday. I.B. Neill, proprietor of the garage, was pumping gas for Elmer Osborn, proprietor of The B.F.-Porthill Stage Line when it exploded. Neither Mr. Neill nor Mr. Osborn was smoking. Mr. James Kinney is the owner of the building and announced plans to rebuild a brick structure 50 x 70 feet- a one story building with a full concrete basement and concrete floors and fireproof in every particular. The new garage should be ready for occupancy within the next 60 days.

There is every indication that B.F. is to see this coming season as the busiest and most prosperous in its history. Every night patrons are turned away from hotels. Two local hotels are planning expansions. There is not a vacant house in the city and all the small “shacks” are being rented to people who desire good houses but cannot find them.

C.D. Simonds is finishing the work on an ice cream parlor on the balcony behind his drug store. The color scheme will be a shade of green and a roof garden effect will be obtained. When completed it will be one of the prettiest parlors in North Idaho.

50 Years Ago

A pamphlet published by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers titled “Water Resources Development” provides some interesting information about the Libby Dam and its effect in Boundary County. Construction is well underway on the dam. Target date for completion is 1974. The dam will have a crest length of 2,900 feet and a maximum height of 420 feet.

On Saturday, the Scouts will be out in force in B.F. distributing Goodwill bags to local residents. The Scouts will return the following Saturday to pick up the filled bags.

15 Years Ago

M and O levy fails by 153 votes.

A Canadian pleads guilty to attempting to smuggle 150 pounds of marijuana into the country while riding the rails.

Eagle’s Cache and Kootenai Tribe invite all fishermen to the First Annual Trash Fish Derby.

Valley View Elementary School Special Education students are heading to the Special Olympics thanks to a 1988 Dodge Ram van donated by Ketta Everhart.

— Submitted by the Boundary County Museum