This Week in History - Oct. 19, 2023

100 Years Ago

Bonners Ferry’s new theater, the Rex, one of the most beautiful and modern theatres of the inland Empire, is to be formally opened on Wednesday evening, Oct. 24, according to the announcement made today by W.L. Casey, manager and proprietor.

A number of prominent farmers of the Porthill district have plans well underway for the organizing of a company for the purpose of raising sheep. W.E. Rath who is one of the leaders in the organization plans, states business with about 1,500 head of sheep and that almost all of the farmers to whom he has suggested the plan are ready to join the organization.

The sawmill which has been operated by the Polzin Bros. on their ranch northeast of town, has been sold by them to J.J. Shield, who shipped the machinery to Sandpoint. The mill has a capacity of about 8,000 feet per day and has been run intermittently the past four years, cutting lumber for local use.

50 Years Ago

Three generations of one Bonners Ferry family were initiated last night in the local Eagles aerie along with three other new members. Roy E. Copeland, his son, Thomas, and Thomas’ son, Larry were all initiated simultaneously in a ceremony conducted by a visiting team of past Eagles presidents from Coeur d’Alene.

A kidney transplant was performed October 10 at Swedish Hospital in Seattle in which Lawrence Neumayer received a transplant kidney from the donor who is his twin sister Louella Barlow. A telephone call to their parents here, Mr. and Mrs. Joe Neumayer, yesterday revealed their recuperation is progressing satisfactorily.

15 Years Ago

Mt. Hall Elementary has been named one of Idaho’s top three schools among the state’s 650. “It was great to be recognized and that the staff was recognized for a job well done,“ said Mt. Hall Principal Angela Armstrong. The Idaho Department of Education for a second year in a row honored Mt. Hall as a Distinguished School.

The picture of Boundary County’s timber industry is expected to remain bleak for at least another year, according to an economist with The Idaho Department of Labor. The slump in logging industry is connected to the downturn in the national housing market, which began in July 2006.

Brianna Watt scored four goals to lead Bonners Ferry to a 5-1 victory over the Timberlake Tigers. The win earned the Lady Badgers the district title and a spot at the state soccer tournament in Meridian.

— Submitted by the Boundary County Museum