This Week in History - May 18, 2023

100 Years Ago

A deal was consummated recently whereby T.J. Helmer has purchased the interests of his partners, Cecil and Homer Van Gundy, in the new variety store. Hereafter Mr. Helmer will conduct the business under the name of the Helmer Variety Store.

A new brick schoolhouse, with concrete basement, is to be constructed this summer at McArthur and a call for bids on construction of the building has been issued by the board of trustees of the school district.

A deal has just been closed whereby Mrs. Emma Simmons has purchased of F.D. Hoagland the Moravia store and post office building, the consideration being $1,000.

50 Years Ago

Lyle Ewing, 40, a former resident of Bonners Ferry, died Monday afternoon about 4 p.m. while diving for the City of Bonners Ferry in the Kootenai River just about town. He died of a coronary occlusion according to Coroner Clarence Callahan. Ewing reportedly was working on a “freelance” basis inspecting the lower water intake screen on the supplemental municipal system.

Evergreen School Principal Clara Hewett called the trio “very special people” at a gathering at the school last week. Ruth Stafford, a cook there for the past 12 years, Leonard Kucera, a bus driver for the school for 16 years, and Ellen Struble, who has been school custodian for 18 years. They are all retiring after this year.

Among 1,100 graduates of the University of Idaho this year are the following Boundary County students: Susan Dinning, Willa Pace McLaughlin, Kathleen McNally, Calvin McCalmant, Kristine Norwood, Debra Smith, James Tompkins and Jack Sage.

15 Years Ago

The U.S. Border Patrol plans to construct a $10 million building at Three-Mile. The building for 50 agents will be constructed on 9 acres at the southwest corner of Highways 2 and 95. The Federal government purchased the land from Holice Smith and Debra Wombacher for $625,000, according to court records.

The Copeland School will be having its fourth reunion this year. In 2007, there were approximately 25 former students, their spouses, friends and family who attended the reunion. Maybe you are one of those students who trudged to a one room school in the north part of Boundary County before the school consolidation in 1950.

Boundary County School Districts bus drivers were treated to breakfast Friday during a driver's training session. Superintendent Dr. Don Bartling and bus driver Deanea Merrifield did the cooking.

— Submitted by the Boundary County Museum