Museum releasing book all about Boundary County

The dedication page of the Boundary County Museum’s new book, “Small Towns, Big Dreams” states, “dedicated to the 'dreamers' who came before and to those who will come after.”

It’s a sentiment that resonates for both Susan Kemmis and Dottie Gray, mainstays of the museum staff for more than 14 years and 10 years respectively, both of whom have worked on the creation of the book.

“Small Towns, Big Dreams” is composed of a number of stories originally published in the Bonners Ferry Herald. In total, there are 27 stories about the towns throughout Boundary County, from Porthill to Moravia to Klockmann to Sinclair to Curley Creek.

Broken down into five sections, it’s a sort of love letter to the people of Boundary County and Bonners Ferry, “the friendliest town in Idaho.”

Studying history is a passion for both women.

Kemmis began her foray into history by studying her own genealogy. Her grandparents came to Bonners Ferry from North Dakota to escape the Dust Bowl; Bonners Ferry seemed like a beautiful world of “green” that beckoned them to make the move. She recalled her grandfather telling her that nothing would grow in North Dakota but thistle and “the last year that they were there, they actually planted thistle so they had something to feed the cattle.”

Gray moved to the area from western Washington. “When we came here and found how these family “webs” seemed to grow,” she and her husband became very interested in the unique history of the area, eventually becoming involved in the historical society.

She loves the activities they organize: the cemetery walks, programs for school kids, dinners, calendars and more.

Gray didn’t stop with helping plan events. She began writing grants to help fund the museum and historical society, part of which helped pay for the creation of their new book.

Cataloging the photos and clippings and artifacts of the museum is a never-ending task. They painstakingly scan and add to their system, cross-referencing and creating an archive of information that will continue to be easily accessible for years to come. They have over 20,000 photographs in the system so far but just as many clippings to add, if not more.

Most of the photographs, clippings and artifacts in their possession have been donated by the community, part of what inspired the creation of “Small Towns, Big Dreams.”

“Idaho Day" played a part in the book as well. The holiday Commemorates the creation of the Idaho territory by Abraham Lincoln on March 4, 1863, and was officially deemed a day of recognition in 2014 by Gov. Butch Otter. There is a different theme for the holiday each year. In 2019 the “Idaho Day” theme was “my town.” From there, stories of the towns of Boundary County grew.

Over the course of the next two and a half years, they have been expanded, new stories written and photographs and newspaper clippings added. Staff learned to format books and researched publishing.

All their work has finally culminated in a hardbound book of well over 200 pages and even includes a section of the “story behind the stories.”

The book goes on sale at the museum on Friday, July 9. The museum is holding a debut “party” at the museum from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m., refreshments included. Museum staff invites you to come down, visit and pick up a copy of the book for $25. You might even see your family name in there somewhere.

The Boundary County Museum is located at 7229 Main St. and can be reached at 208-267-7720 or bcmuseum@meadowcrk.com.