From the Archives - May 23, 2024

Martin Johnson was born March 29, 1872 in Norway. He married his wife, Julia, and they had six children. In 1912, the family emigrated from Norway to Canada. Because there were so many people named “Johnson” in their new home, he changed the family name to “Estlund” (their home in Norway). 

The Estlund family moved to Bonners Ferry, Idaho in 1914. Martin purchased a ranch in Paradise Valley, because it was “great fruit country.” Later the family moved to the South Bench.

Estlund was a building contractor. From 1914 through 1921, Estlund had built numerous buildings in logging camps and a large boarding house on Swede Island for the Bonners Ferry Lumber Company. Also during those years, he built several bungalows and homes in the county.

He constructed the Addie School (1918), Bonners Ferry Meat Company’s slaughter house on the Northside (1919), the first exhibit hall (1921) and kitchen and dining hall (1922) at the fairgrounds, and the teacher’s cottage at Sheridan School (1922).

In 1915, Estlund, proficient in masonry, was hired to build the “new brick high school” which later became the Southside Grade School. He was hired again in 1922/23 to build the “new brick high school down on the flat” in the Eaton Addition. In 1923, he constructed the brick McArthur School.

Over the next years, Main Street was Estlund’s playground. He laid the bricks for numerous buildings: C.D. Simonds Drug Store (1917) [Froyo Mama], Kinnear Block (1918) [city parking lot by fire department], City Hall (1922-3), Rex Theatre (1923), the Estlund Building (1923) [Wellness Tea Bar], Masonic Temple (1923-4) [second story of bank building], and Bonners Furniture Company (1924) [Line Point Printing next to the Museum].

 You may have read in This Week In History ~ 100 Years Ago:”;C.D Simonds announced this week that he is having plans drawn for a new brick building on the lot adjoining the Crescent Garage, which he recently purchased from the city. The building will be the new home of the Bonners Furniture Company.”

In his spare time, Estlund had the contract to pour concrete sidewalks along Main Street (1921). He also had the contract to drive the “school wagon” in 1922. Martin and Julia Estlund moved to Clarkston, WA. where he died in 1938, and she in 1940.

Fun Fact: The Estlund Building and the Bonners Furniture Company building, both being built between buildings, didn’t require side walls as they already existed. Therefore, Estlund only had to dig a basement, build a front and a back wall, and add a roof to create new two-story brick buildings on Main Street.

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

Visit the Museum Thursday-Saturday 10 a.m.-3 p.m., or visit the website at www.boundarycountymuseum.org or the Museum’s Facebook Page for historical photos and stories, and to see upcoming events. The Museum can be reached at doyouremember@meadowcrk.com or 208-267-7720.