Remember When?

77 YEARS AGO • 1945

Following is excerpts from the 1945-46 Thompson Falls High School Yearbook

EARLY HISTORY OF THOMPSON FALLS

The falls of the Clark's Fork River near the present site of Thompson Falls was the meeting place of many Indian tribes of the northwest country who came to hunt and fish. This country was abundant in game.

In 1809, David Thompson built the famous Saleesh House, which was said to be the first roofed cabin in Montana. It was situated in such a position that they could see Indian war parties coming over the Kootenai trail.

In 1820 a few hunters and trappers moved into this region but did little or nothing toward its development. In fact, no permanent settlements were established here until the early 1880s. Up to that time all of the inhabitants were either trappers, miners, or soldiers of fortune, who stayed in one place but a very short time.

Sanders County, in which Thompson Falls is situated, was named for Colonel Wilbur F. Sanders, a prominent Montana politician of the early days. Even after some territorial changes and exchanges with other counties, the area of the county remained about 2,900 square miles. It is 115 miles in length and an average of 36 miles in width. And the fact should be added that Sanders County contains one of the finest timber stands left in Montana.

Until the railroad was built in 1883, there was no means of transportation through this region except by pack train on the famed Kootenai Indian trail. In 1882 the first sawmill began its existence one mile west of the present site of Thompson Falls. A man by the name o Stevens owned and operated the mill. He went bankrupt and sold his interests to Mr. Hammon who in turn leased the mill to Levy Allen. The sawmill was cutting timber for the railroad bridges at Helena and Belknap.

Shortly after the railroad was built, Thompson Falls became an incorporated town. Mr. Fred Haynes and Mr. John Miller, who are still residents of Thompson Falls, came here with the railroad in 1883, and Mr. Grandchamps in 1884. The 1880s were the wildest period in the history of Thompson Falls. Shootings and killings were the daily order and finally a vigilante committee was formed and took the situation in hand. Incidentally, when the highway was being built through here, a skeleton was found and beside it was a $25 gold piece. A grim reminder of that bloody period.

In 1883 a miniature gold rush took place, when it was thought that gold had been discovered at Trout Creek. The bubble soon burst but many of the immigrants stayed to settle here. However, no real development of this area's great natural wealth took place until the railroad was built. After that a lumbering industry sprang up. Thompson Falls also served as an important outfitting station for those going to the Coeur d'Alene mining district.

When the Northern Pacific was built, thousands begam to stream through here to the Coeur d'Alene. Railroad officials favored Belknap as a stop instead of Thompson Falls, so citizens of this town placed obstructions on the tracks. When the train crews stopped to remove the barriers, the townspeople boarded the trains and persuaded the passengers to stay here. In the winter of 1883, it was estimated that probably 5,000 people stayed in the town of Thompson Falls proper. However, the majority of these stayed only for the winter and moved on as soon as it was possible.

ORIGIN OF THE RIVALRY BETWEEN THOMPSON FALLS AND PLAINS

One of the more novel occurrences in Thompson Falls history is the origin of rivalry between Thompson Falls and Plains, which is still evidence at the present time.

It began in 1890 at the time of the annual Fourth of July horse race. A Mr. Monnahan of Plains offered to put Hunter, a horse of his, against a fine racing mare called Belle, belonging to a John Nelson and a Mr. Thorn of Thompson Falls. The race was spurred by the fact that several racing enthusiasts of Plains bet $5000 on the Monnahan horse. At the same time, Mr. Ed Haynes, the first permanent settler of Thompson Falls, bet $50 on the Thompson horse. This was the first and last time he ever bet any money.

The great event took place on what is now the main street of Thompson Falls, with the starter being Mr. John W. Miller of this town. After a furious race, the Plains horse lost to Belle. This left considerable hard feeling of which was, of course, inflamed by the fight for the county seat and the courthouse. But the origin was on that day in 1890 when two horses ran for the honor of their towns.