Remember When?

40 YEARS AGO • JULY 14, 1993

FALLS FIRM OFFERING

CONCRETE STRUCTURES

Concrete Services, Inc. of Thompson Falls is now providing precast concrete structures, according to co-owners Gary Campbell and Terry Traver. The new firm has been named Concrete Services Precast.

Concrete Services had been producing a few precast septic tanks as a sideline to their other work. Now they have purchased a site just east of the W-I Forest Products mill and have set up a small plant to fabricate various concrete items.

Hottest item for their market so far is a precast septic tank. “We have sold over 25 1,000-gallon tanks since March,” stated Traver, “and we have delivered products as far as Plains and Trout Creek.”

The firm also manufactures a 500- and a 1,500-gallon septic tank, both of which are complete with a precast lid, access hatch, inlets and outlets. Another product which is doing well is a precast pier for foundations. “We were using a smaller pyramid-shaped pier that

was working well, but it required another foundation to be set below the frost line,” said Campbell. This taller model evolved from that pier.

The new pier is 30 inches tall, with a base 16 inches on a side and a top of 36 square inches. Piers are installed in a previously excavated pit, with buildings being placed on the piers just as with a piling foundation.

Other products offered include drywells, cisterns, various sized lids, distribution boxes and packing blocks. They can make up a form for custom designed precasts but the cost becomes a significant factor unless several of the same design are ordered.

The firm has hired Bill Tahija of Thompson Falls to manage the operation. Tahija works the entire operation by himself, being able to make one pour per day, but with several forms a day’s production includes several items. Roy Bloom of Thompson Falls fabricated the

forms for the firm. Concrete Services employs four persons in addition to Campbell and

Traver, and specializes in concrete construction, which accounts for 80 percent of their business.

Both Traver and Campbell are graduates of Thompson Falls High School.

RIMROCK EXPANDING

John Lawrence, owner of the Rimrock Motel and Restaurant, announced this week that construction has begun on 13 additional motel units. The new rooms are in addition to 12 units the motel presently has available.

The new rooms will be housed in a two-story building erected north of the restaurant in the existing parking lot. According to Billie Garrison, manager of the tourist complex, the building will have a cedar exterior similar to the existing structures. The new rooms,

however, “will be more luxurious than the present rooms, and every room will have a

view of the Clark Fork River.”

Four rooms will be adjoining for family stays and one room will have a suite. All of the units will have color TV, air conditioning and telephones. Nolan Parker is the general contractor

for the project with Emil Pavlik doing the electrical and McKenzie Plumbing the plumbing.

The parking lot is being enlarged to handle the motel parking and replace the lost space as a result of the new building. Ms. Garrison also stated that six of the units have been reserved for the duration of hunting season.

“That would put our target completion date sometime in September,” she added.

COLE BUYS DRIVE-IN

Purchase of the old West End Drive-in and Trailer Court has been announced by Dick Cole, owner of Cole Enterprises, an oxygen and acetylene service firm. Cole said they probably will lease the drive-in and has discussed the possibility with two individuals.

Cole said he plans to make improvements to the trailer court. The drive-in has been closed for several months and formerly was owned by William Woffington, former undersheriff and justice of the peace in Thompson Falls.

The West End Drive- In was located just west of what is the post office today. At that time the property that the post office is on was a private residence belonging to Bill and Frances Davis.