Remember When?

50 YEARS AGO • JANUARY 30, 1969

WINTER STORM LASHES COUNTY OVER WEEKEND

Sanders County residents were continuing Wednesday to dig out from the worst storm of the winter which occurred Saturday night and Sunday morning when a heavy snowfall was accompanied by strong winds and temperatures which dropped to below zero.

While traffic was almost at a standstill Sunday morning, conditions were never as bad as they were to the west in Idaho and eastern Washington where roads were completely closed.

Schools are operating on schedule. Attendance here Monday and Tuesday was reported near normal by Principal Earl Tracy.

The snowfall has caused concern for the flat roof on the elementary school here, but the architect has advised them that it is safe. However, some students were employed to shovel snow from the roof Monday afternoon. This practice was halted the next day after additional advice from building contractors pointed out the possibility of foot traffic seriously damaging the new roof put on the building last summer.

A Noxon resident, Winton Hill, fell and broke a leg Saturday night. The sheriff’s ambulance picked him up Sunday and took him to Plains and then to the Sanders County General Hospital in Hot Springs for treatment.

The ambulance was called also early Sunday to the Allen ranch at Weeksville, where it was reported Lawrence Allen had suffered a heart attack. He had succumbed by the time the ambulance was able to reach the ranch.

SNIDER TO LOSE POST OFFICE SOON

The Snider Post Office will officially cease operations Friday, Feb. 21 Mrs. Marie Goode, postmaster, was informed this week by officials from the Regional Post Office at Seattle.

After Feb. 21, residents of Snider and Copper King will be served by a rural route which will operate out of Thompson Falls as far as Copper King.

Mrs. Goode has served as postmaster in conjunction with the operation of the Thompson River grocery store and service station for 13 years and 10 months. She took over duties from Floyd Hyatt when she purchased the store from him in 1955.

Mrs. Goode sold her store and service station to Bruce and Norman Carr Jan. 1, but has continued to serve since as postmaster.

Thompson Falls Postmaster N.J. LaFriniere said beginning Saturday morning, Feb. 22 the route serving Snider will be extended to Copper King.

LaFriniere said patrons in the Snider-Copper King area who wish to use the route service can erect temporary boxes because of the present snow conditions. He said letters will be sent soon to all residents informing them of specifications for permanent mail boxes.

A post office was first assigned to Snider in 1949.

Eddy was a station on the Northern Pacific. There was a section house, a watertower, and from 1900 on, a post office. John McKay was the postmaster and later a schoolhouse was built on a corner of his homestead. A lumber mill and a camp for workers were also built. The town was named for Dick Eddy from Missoula, one of the early promoters of the area.

Belknap had a post office from 1901-64 when it became a rural independent station of Trout Creek.