Monday, May 24, 2010

CITY OF KOOTENAI ...the little town that can..

The City/town of Kootenai is celebrating this year…
The city is celebrating it’s Centennial
100 years ago, Northern Pacific Railroad plotted out
a town and called it Kootenai.
This came after the older Kootenai that was a little more to the east
was burnt down in 1907. The older one was started in 1885 by Dr. Hendryx.
Later as the railroad came in to area, it had its name changed to Boyer in 1900.

1904 Humbird had bought in the area. They bought what had been owned by the Ellersick Brothers who owned Sandpoint Lumber Company, a mile west of Boyer. Humbird built a community and it took the name of Kootenai. Which is suppose to mean “Indian who comes from the prairie”.

In 1907 Boyer (the old Kootenai) a fire consumed all the homes and business. Later a large icehouse was built where the old Kootenai was, and they filled it from the lake.

1908 Northern Pacific Railroad decided to make the new Kootenai, their division point. In 1909 Northern Pacific Railroad built a 20-stall roundhouse and a new depot at the foot of Main Street. And in 1910 Kootenai became a town.

Between the Railroad Company and Humbird Lumber Company, Kootenai was a very busy place with 1000’s of employees.
But the town suffered a lost when the railroad moved its division from Kootenai to
Paradise, Montana in 1920’s and Humbird folded in 1930 after the depression.

Over the years the buildings suffered from fires and being tore down.
The school site is still the same and that too is celebrating this 100th birthday this year and Kootenai Community Church also 100 years old, I believe is the last original building still standing…In the 1980’s Kootenai started to build up again. With several business and many houses have been built.

So if you get a chance to come to Kootenai this year.. be sure to come July 24th
for the big celebrations… I will tell you tomorrow what to expect on that date.
Also if you are a yard sale person… June 19th should be circled on your
calendar, as the whole community is having a yard sale. There will be a map
given out at that time of who and where are the yard sales in the town.

Also on the calendar is June 4th from 5pm to 8pm the school is having
open house for their remodeling review, with songs of the 1900 sung by
the students and video of interviews of past pupils, teachers and principals.

So this summer Kootenai is buzzing…


I also know that Bayview is having a Centennial Celebrations too… I am
Sure that Herb over at Bay Views blog will update you on their fun and games. I believe they will have their started before ours will … so a great year to see
the great things of Idaho. And it is all local… Bayview, Kootenai and even
Sandpoint Library is having their birthday party as well.
fact gleamed from Kootenai ladies tea program.

1 comment:

MarmiteToasty said...

sounds like its all gonna be a great time.....but 100 years is such a baby town lol

x