Down Memory Lane for the week of October 5, 2022

Fine Gold Campers was organized in 1987 as a Good Sam Club with the purpose to promote proper use of the RV tax dollars and to promote fellowship and fun. The group was instrumental in obtaining a grant and cooperated with the city to obtain an RV dump site located at the transfer station on Riverside.*

20 years - Oct. 3, 2002

Idaho Senators Larry Craig and Mike Crapo announced that eight counties in Idaho and Montana will receive $2.7 million in federal funds to ensure public safety during the Lewis and Clark Bicentennial Public Safety Project of the Clearwater Economic Development Association through the U.S. Department of Justice.

Counties involved in Idaho are Clearwater, Nez Perce, Idaho and Lemhi. The remaining four counties are in Montana.

The funds will be used to increase the capacity of the eight counties in the two states to handle the public safety of an estimated one to four million visitors as well as local residents. It will enhance emergency medical response, public safety communications, search and rescue abilities, law enforcement capacity and other priorities as identified by local law wnforcement.*

30 years – Oct. 1, 1992

Mike Tinsley, Peter Crecelius, and Rick Mjelde, all members of the Maniac Mountaineers, climbed Idaho’s tallest peak Sept. 12. The trio set out from a 7800’ base camp and summited later that day at 12,662’. The summit temperature was 20 degrees F, and winds were gusting to 40 mph.

In an attempt to be the first back to the vehicle, Crecelius launched his paraglider from 11,200’. Due to prevailing headwinds and strong updrafts, he was forced to fly over Borah Peak’s highridge, possibly setting an Idaho paragliding altitude record.

The summit bid was made in memory of Alan Bounds, a high school classmate of Tinsley’s, who was killed recently in a climbing accident in Colorado.*

40 years – Oct. 7, 1982

Six of the few buildings in the county constructed of sawdust and concrete are coming down as firemen use “The Green Ghetto” for practice.

The property had been for sale for some time by Val June, Inc. and the city last week purchased it as part of the Canada Hill Urban Renewal effort. Presently the city is reviewing options on what to do with the property, one of which may be a senior housing project.

The walls of the structure are a sawdust-concrete mixture not widely used. Stucco was applied over the poured core to provide a weatherproof finish. The late Vern Butler had several of this type of building constructed in the 1940’s, including what later became known as “The Green Ghetto” at Main and Third Street.*

50 years – Oct. 5, 1972

A crowd of 650 people spent $16,850 to buy surplus items at an auction Saturday on the State Hospital North grounds, reports Warren Spangenberg, hospital official.

Spangenberg said everything was sold that was put up for sale. He said the items bought were all surplus or unused items at the hospital. Many of the items were sold because there was “simply not enough room to store them.”

Most valuable items were an arc welder and a metal lathe, but costly stainless steel serving equipment went at reasonable rates. Orofino Lions Club bought two $35 wheelchairs to loan out as a public service, but failed to reach top bid on a steam table. Orofino Golf Club was outbid on its efforts to buy a mower and Cushman vehicle, but did acquire an edger.*

60 years – Oct. 4, 1962

OCI voted at its meeting Monday evening to move its office from the Burns Building to space in the PFI community building, formerly the White Pine office.*

State Land department has on schedule sale of the 328 acre State Hospital farm at public auction at 2 p.m. Friday.

Application of the city for preferential rights to the land at the appraisal price of $23,359 have met with little response from the land board who report that several cattlemen have shown interest in the farm.

Technical defects in the description halted sale when it was originally offered in August.*

70 years – Oct. 2, 1952

Perry Lyda, his sons, Jesse and Percy, and Mrs. Jesse Lyda arrived in town at three o’clock yesterday with four large bull elk, believed to be the first shot by Orofino hunters after the start of the October 1, hunting season.

Mr. and Mrs. Jesse Lyda came upon two bull elk fighting a few minutes after daybreak. They say neither was injured so they shot both animals. Perry and Perc started shooting five minutes later and also got their meat.

They hunted in the Canyon Creek district on the breaks of the Northfork beyond Johnson’s sawmill. A power saw was used to clear a trail and the carcasses were hauled up the mountainsides by use of a winch on a Jeep.*

80 years – Oct. 1, 1942

Plea to Clearwater County citizens to register all typewriters in service which have been manufactured since January 1, 1935 has gone out from Governor Chase A. Clark to J. L. McCarthy, district coordinator of the civilian defense council.

The army and the navy needs one-fifth of all such machines, Gov. Clark explains, in asking the local council to complete a detailed inventory of all such equipment.*

Government war needs now are demanding all deer skins available and Idaho hunters are asked to contribute hides from fall hunting jaunts. Several thousand deer and elk will be taken from the Clearwater and Selway areas during the next two months.*

90 years –Sept. 30, 1932

Four Orofino players will be making their initial start in high school competition tomorrow as a part of the starting line-up, though all have played at least some at sub positions. These boys are Richard Hyland, Fred Snyder, Omer Richardson and Roy Johnson. They fill the gaps made by graduation and failure to return to school. Local fans believe the boys ought to have a good season even with a certain amount of green material on the team.*