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Museum takes crowd back in time, also announces
plans for Railroad Courtyard |
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May 24, 2014 |
"All Aboard!" boomed the voice of the conductor.
And with that, the crowd at the Boundary County
Museum was taken back in time on a historic
journey, enjoying railroads and train rides from
past days in the county.
Figuratively speaking, that is.
With a multimedia presentation using archive
photographs, speakers, readings from the
journals of pioneer county residents, and video
footage shot in the 1960s by the engineer on a
train trip from Eastport to Bonners Ferry, it
was almost as if the audience were riding the
rails back in time.
(story continues below photograph)
"Hear the Whistle Blowin' " was the name of the
event that kicked off the summer season for the
Boundary County Museum. The presentation covered
the building and operation of railroad magnate
James J. Hill's transcontinental Great Northern
Railway, completed in 1893, which ran through
Bonners Ferry, along with the 1905-1906
construction of the Spokane international
Railway running from Spokane to Eastport.
And not to be left out, of course, was the
sometimes quirky, sometimes kooky, but always
beloved Kootenai Valley Railway, running between
Bonners Ferry and Porthill. The Kootenai Valley
Railway served its customers well along the west
side of the county, but was known for not being
the best at closely following a schedule,
sometimes running just a couple of days a week.
Further, it was not unusual for the KV line to
pull up for an unscheduled stop en route from
Porthill to Bonners Ferry, so the passengers and
crew could stop to fish or hunt along the way.
Museum staff shared a journal reading from Mary
Desmond, of one of the original pioneer families
of the Crossport area of Boundary County. Mary
wrote of the day when millionaire Great Northern
CEO, James J. Hill himself, known around the
United States as the "Empire Builder," rode
through Bonners Ferry on his newly completed
transcontinental railroad across the country.
His train made a stop at Bonners Ferry, and Ms.
Desmond made a point of describing in her
journal how gracious and friendly Hill was as he
met the citizens gathered to see him.
As the train ride back into history concluded,
the audience passengers were escorted to the
"Dining Car" area of the museum, where
refreshments were available.
Library staff announced ongoing plans for their
Railroad Courtyard, just beginning construction
in the area behind the museum. New concrete is
just starting to be laid down.
The Courtyard will include murals, flowers, and
memorabilia from area railroads, having as its
centerpiece a pavillion for relaxation and
activities. Many have commmitted to or have
already made donations toward the construction
of the pavillion and the Railroad Courtyard,
including a $16,000 grant from the BNSF Railway,
and a large donation of lumber from the Idaho
Forest Group's Moyie Springs lumber mill. Gene
Andrews and Rod LePoidevin will be donating
their time and construction skills. The BFHS
Class of 1963, always actively involved in
community service projects and donations, is
also making a financial donation toward
construction of the Railroad Courtyard.
Plans are for the project to be completed by
this fall, with a grand opening and dedication
ceremony planned around that time.
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