Remember When

50 YEARS AGO • SEPTEMBER 26, 1968

TF QUITS DUMPING SEWAGE INTO RIVER

The city of Thompson Falls has quit dumping raw sewage into the Clark’s Fork River.

Thompson Falls’ new sewer collection system was placed in operation Friday and all sewer lines, which formerly dumped raw sewage into the river, have been connected into the new system. Sewage collected in the system now is pumped to the lagoon in the northwest part of town.

Mayor Orin P. Kendall said some work at the lagoon remains. This includes installation of a high wire fence around the lagoon and a gate across the road leading to it.

He said the city will send out notices to all users that sewer charges will go into effect Oct. 1. “There will be no sewer charge made for the remainder of September,” he said.

June 1, 1950

DIEHL LUMBER CO. “IN THE GOOD OLD DAYS”

The Diehl Lumber Company announces this week that they are ready to supply all kinds of building material from nails to lumber from stock in their warehouse in Plains to builders in this area.

In addition to their sawmill and planer operations, the Diehl Company has recently equipped their warehouse to supply to the home and industrial builder not only finished lumber but all of the equipment which is used in building.

All operations of the home-owned Diehl Lumber Company are now in operation with the completion this week of the latest model Moore dry kilns at the sawmill on Camas Prairie. Added to the other new kiln completed a few months ago this makes one of the most modern operations of any mill in the northwest according to Mr. Diehl, who has been in the lumber business for the past 50 years with his sons, Ed and Stan, who supervise the sawmill operations on Camas Prairie and Don who doubles at his pharmacy in Sandpoint with lumber sales for the company. A daughter, Romayne Harwood works in the Plains office.

Approximately 85 men are employed by the Diehl firm in Plains and Camas Prairie. Mr. Diehl started his work in the lumber industry in Pennsylvania where he worked in the mills. In 1909 he moved to Colville, Washington where he operated his own planer and sawmill. He moved his equipment from there to Sandpoint, Idaho in 1936 and to Camas Prairie in 1945.

The planning mill in Plains includes two large buildings for the storage of lumber, a combined office and large warehouse for builders supplies and the building which houses the planning and re-saw operations.

In July 1977 a big change has taken place. The impending closure of the Diehl Lumber Co. mill at Plains was announced publicly. The plants 130 employees learned of it Monday, July 27.

Diehl Lumber Co., Inc. owned entirely by the Die family. Jim & Minnie, Don & Sue, Ed & Alice, Stan & Mary and Jack & Romayne Harwood. In connection with the mill and also owned by the Diehl family was M&I Timber Co. the logging branch of the industry.

In April, 1968 all the Diehl interest was purchased by the Pack River Co. M&I Timber was discontinued and from that time on the mill has purchased all logs.

The mill has run 2 shifts most of the time. The planer has run 1 shift most of the time going to 2 shifts when necessary. Unlike many small mills Diehl Lumber has never shut down in the winter but has run 12 months a year. There was one shut down in the Spring of 1972 when we ran out of logs.

In November 1975 Pack River decided to shut the sawmill – log prices were high, lumber prices down and it was getting harder to find timber to buy.

By January 1976 there were only 5 employees. Later in January they decided to do some custom milling for Dick Vinson. By the time that was finished, Pack River decided to reopen the mill. By March the operation was again in full swing.

A spokesman for the Pack River Co., said the sawmill operation will be shut down permanently by mid-August.

In addition to the 130 employees, area loggers and logging truck drive4rs who provide logs for the mill will also be affected by the closure.