From the archives - July 8, 2021

"Historical settlements and towns develop where people have access to the land. Whether it is along a waterway, trail, or railroad, the source of transportation is the most vital part of any establishment. The Kutenai Indians traveled overland on foot and glided their sturgeon-nose canoes on the Kootenai River prior to the arrival of large sternwheelers.

When early settlers came to the valley in wagons or on the stagecoach, roads began to be cut into timbered areas for logging, farming and homesteading. As the railroads arrived, access to the land expanded and small towns began to take root and thrive near depots and water towers, which were needed for the trains.

Small Towns, Big Dreams takes the reader on a journey to the towns created along these means of transportation. The waterways, roadways, and railroads were the lifeline of the towns in Boundary County, Idaho. These are their stories."

Filled with historical stories and photographs, like this photograph of Milfred Nelson on the original McArthur homestead, brings Small Towns, Big Dreams to life.

We have exciting news to share with you!

The new book Small Towns, Big Dreams, published by the Boundary County Historical Society, will debut on Friday, July 9 at your museum between 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. at a cost of $25. (There will be no advance sales prior to the debut on July 9. For those of you who live outside the immediate area, we are working on a mail order form, so you can order and then we will ship it to you. There will be an additional charge of $5 per book for the cost of envelopes and shipping. The order form will become available on July 9 for those of you who are interested, by email or it will be available on our Facebook page.

We hope you are looking forward to owning your very own copy of Small Towns, Big Dreams.

Your Boundary County Historical Society and Museum, 7229 Main, Bonners Ferry, Idaho sponsors this column.

Visit the museum Thursday through Saturday 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., visit the website at www.boundarycountymuseum.org or the museum’s Facebook page for historical photos and stories, and to see upcoming events. We can be reached at doyouremember@meadowcrk.com or 208-267-7720. Thank you for your continued support.