Potlatch

At the dawn of the twentieth century, Potlatch, Idaho stood out as the new frontier for the Weyerhaeuser’s latest logging and lumber mill ventures, and by the early 1900s, a lumber mill and company town were built. Within a few years, the sawmill would be hailed as the largest white pine mill in the world.  Although white pine was coveted because of its strength and ability to float, mill interests had seriously miscalculated the area’s river flows.  Consequently, the abundant white pine could not be floated to the mill, but was instead hauled to the Potlatch Lumber Company mill by the company’s own short line railroad, the Washington, Idaho and Montana Railway.

Potlatch, Idaho April 17, 1906, image courtesy of the Latah County Historical Society, 12-01-02.

The Company Town era earned Potlatch national recognition, and the company store, the Potlatch Mercantile, rivaled any major department store in Seattle.  Baseball, too, was a big item, and in 1914, the American and National Leagues All-Star teams stopped for an exhibition game at the bustling mill town.  The community was praised for its fine schools, cultural aspects, work ethic and spirited citizens.  Surrounding towns such as Princeton, Harvard and Onaway also contributed to the robust business climate and neighborly lifestyle.  Farming, logging and milling provided mainstay jobs in the area.

Aerial photo of the Potlatch mill in Potlatch on September 19, 1955, image courtesy of the Latah County Historical Society, 12-01-20.

But in 1981, the mill whistle sounded its last blast, and by 1983, the renowned sawmill at Potlatch was completely dismantled.  Despite predictions of the town folding, the little community has survived, and agricultural crops such as barley and timothy hay contribute to the current economy, along with the state-of-the-art Bennett Lumber Products mill at Princeton. 

References:

Petersen, Keith C., Company Town: Potlatch, Idaho, and the Potlatch Lumber Company. (Pullman, Washington: Washington State University Press, 1987).

Potlatch Historical Society.

White Springs Ranch Museum and Archival Center

White Spring Ranch Museum and Archival Center (WSR) is a century farm owned by the non-profit organization, Lorang Farm Restoration. WSR includes a house, a log cabin, a curio museum, and a grove surrounded by 300 acres of farmland. This site is a historical treasure trove resembling a community attic with archives and objects gathered and saved by a family willing and able to restore, preserve, and share these histories. This material explains how pioneers John and Mary Lorang moved across the country and bought this site where they worked and raised ten children. WSR tells the story of four generations of one family, the Lorangs, who believed there existed historical value in everyday artifacts. The Lorangs were not famous people nor political or social leaders. They were a family who documented a reflection of the simple farm, providing chronologies of life, work, entertainment, and current events in a rural Palouse town during a span of over 130 years.

White Springs Ranch house, image courtesy of the White Springs Ranch Museum and Archival Center.

 WSR is a significant historical site because of the historical memory found in the written word, the oral histories, the artifacts, and the buildings. Every piece of paper found was used to jot down notes, grocery lists, ledgers, ideas, poems, and stories and every piece of paper was saved. Thus, the archives, which are one of the largest in the area includes; references to world wars, romance, the American West, the Palouse region of Idaho and Washington, Genesee news and history, agricultural history, architectural history, as well as sources of entertainment and daily activities of pioneer residents on the Palouse.

Restoration work at White Springs Ranch, image courtesy of White Springs Ranch Museum and Archival Center.

WSR offers research opportunities, interpretative material, and staff offers historical knowledge and enthusiasm. Museum hours: Tuesday and Sunday 1pm – 5pm or by appointment. Contact: Diane Conroy 208-416-1006.

White Springs Ranch at sunset, image courtesy of the White Springs Ranch Museum and Archival Center.

 References:

Lind, C.E. (2011).  White Spring Ranch and Archive Center Development Plan. Unpublished. University of Idaho.

Welcome to Deary

 Settled in the 1880’s largely by Scandinavians, this area was originally called Anderson.  In 1907, Potlatch Lumber Company General Manager William Deary had the town platted and a post office was established on September 12.  Although Deary was named after the Canadian timberman, William Deary never did live in the town.  Officially incorporated in 1912, Deary became an important stop along the Washington, Idaho and Montana Railway line.

Deary, Idaho with Potato Hill in the background, ca. 1910.  Courtesy of the Latah County Historical Society, 04-01-002.

By 1914 the community had two churches, a bank, hotel, weekly newspaper and four sawmills.  Additionally, it boasted a new two-story school and a dozen other businesses.  A devastating fire in 1923 burned every building on the west side of Main Street except the bank.

Main Street in Deary, Idaho with Potato Hill in the background, ca. 1910.  Courtesy of the Latah County Historical Society, 04-02-003.

Main Street in Deary, Idaho, ca. 1919.  Courtesy of the Latah County Historical Society, 04-02-008.

Through much of its history, Deary has been dependent on timber and farming as the mainstays of its economy.  The prominent hill north of town is a well-known geological landmark dubbed Potato Hill – or Spud Hill. With an elevation of 4,017 feet above sea level, Spud Hill is a volcanic vent of undetermined age.  Townspeople and students have been known to have races up its steep sides as part of an annual ritual.

Main Street in Deary, Idaho after the 1923 fire.  Courtesy of the Latah County Historical Society, 04-02-004.

References:

Conoly, Cort, Idaho for the Curious: A Guide (Backeddy Books, 1982).

Otness, Lillian W. A Great Good Country: A guide to Historic Moscow and Latah County, Idaho. (Moscow: Latah County Historic Society, 1983), 13-14, 81-82.