This Week in History — July 4, 2024

100 Years Ago

A cave-in at the east portal of the No.1 tunnel, Spokane International Railway Co. four miles north of Bonners Ferry, occurred Tuesday afternoon at three o'clock. Section and wrecking crews have been working day and night to clear away the 1,500 yards of rock and dirt which covered the right-of-way for a considerable distance. Tuesday evening the passengers on Train No.1 westbound had to walk around the mountainside a distance of a good quarter mile to the west end of the tunnel and board a special train which had been sent from Spokane.

The Dover baseball team got off to a bad start in their game here Sunday with Bonners Ferry Colts and lost the game in the first two innings when the Colts trotted in 10 scores. The final score was 18-1, the visitors making a lone tally in the ninth. Bell, the local pitcher, fanned 13 men, against four for the opposing pitchers.

There was considerable spirited bidding at the auction held in Spokane on Tuesday of the household of J.M. Schnatterly, who was killed in a motorboat explosion here April 11, 1923.

50 Years Ago

Once again, Kootenai River Days - 7th annual this year - is being sponsored by the Jaycees and the Selkirk Saddle Club. Organizer Vern Gilliland says that a couple of new events have been added for this year. They are wrist-wrestling and a softball tournament.

The home of Mr. and Mrs. Royal Shields of Naples, valued at more than $65,000 was destroyed by a fire of unknown origin last week. The couple was out riding at the time the fire occurred and returned to find their home completely in flames. 

Bud Bardsley, who has been Transportation Supervisor for School District 101 since 1948, announced he will be retiring as of July 1 because of reasons of his health. His position will be taken by Herb Thornton.

15 Years Ago

A fire believed to be set by bottle rockets on Sunday broke out on Riverside Road in the field across from the tennis courts along the banks of the Kootenai River.

Three Bonners Ferry youths, Zach and Brittany Hammond and Zoe Zielinski, made a trip to Whitefish, Montana last weekend to participate in the 32nd annual Whitefish Lake Run.

Three eastern Idaho bear hunters got an unpleasant surprise Sunday morning, June 28, when their hounds surrounded a female grizzly with cubs. The bear took after the hunters, knocked one man down, bit him on the right arm and tossed him around.

~Submitted by the Boundary County Museum