Remember When?

80 YEARS AGO

NOVEMBER 13, 1940

SPONSORS CONSTRUCTION

OF SKATING RINK

The city of Thompson Falls is sponsoring the construction of a skating rink on main street opposite Weber’s general store. This project is entirely a city activity. In past years, the rink was not successful because the water seeped away and left gaps in the ice. This year a large amount of sawdust has been spread over the ground to form an insular coat and prevent seepage.

The dormitory boys and other high school students are cooperating by donating their labor. It is hoped that this year a successful skating rink will be the result.

Weber’s general store is now the Whistle Stop Laundromat. aundromat. The skating rink was located where Rose Garden Park now is. Back in the 40s there was no park, it was, and still is railroad right of way. Old Fat Brauer once told me the idea behind the skating rink was to keep people off the ice on the river which could be dangerous.

CONSIDERABLE BUILDING

The Chas. Pyatt Lumber Company west of town has done considerable building this summer and fall. In addition to their very large extensive lumber yard built last spring and sawmill quarters two homes also have been built on the property, which are almost done except for exterior finishing. At present a large garage is under construction. Mr. Pyatt plans to use the garage for living quarters until such time as a home which will adjoin the garage is completed. At present the Pyatt family is living in town paying rent. The way it looks is that before they are all done a regular subdivision to the town will be built on the Pyatt property. Water is supplied by wells. Very likely in years to come it will be called Pyattville, a suburb to the metropolis of Thompson Falls.

Charlie had a mill on Magpie Creek by Dixon, one at Belknap, Wilkes Creek, one outside of Superior, Noxon, and Perma. In the early 40s he built a mill on “Pyatt’s flat” east of Thompson Falls. At the time of his death he was setting up a sawmill at Choteau. As Charlie’s daughter, Ruth commented about her father,“he was always putting together and repairing a sawmill, it was what he was good at, but he never actually used the mill himself for any length of time before it was sold and he was out scouting for another one.”

When I was a kid, all the adults called the area east of the lumber mill, which is gone now, Pyattville. Some of Pyatt’s buildings are still standing. They are located directly across the highway from Harvest Foods. Now you know when you go to the grocery store you are not in Thompson Falls, you are in Pyattville.

30 YEARS AGO

NOVEMBER 13, 1990 - CREWS SANDBAG AS CREEKS RISE

Crews from Sanders County were put on sandbag duty Sunday after waters from Evans Creek in the Prospect Creek drainage threatened the main road.

With the deluge of over an inch of rain Sunday, waters rose quickly and at one point lapped over the road.

County Commissioner Norm Resler said he was notified and he and Foreman Orville Schaar ordered sandbags where needed to protect the road.

The rain also caused a major rockslide on the Champion road on the east side of the Thompson River but crews had that damage repaired by Monday morning.

On the Kootenai National Forest, reports were circulated that Trout Creek Road No. 214 was washed out. Forest Service Officials also advised travelers that culverts on certain roads might be plugged or weakened and care should be taken. “Persons are asked to drive carefully on all forest roads and be cautious in areas where there has been flooding,” Kootenai spokesperson Jeanne Spooner said on Monday.

Sanders County experienced a similar winter flood in 1974 when heavy rains fell on a frozen ground, sending the torrents of moisture cascading to the valley where road and bridge damage was extensive.