Friday, July 24, 2009

Athol Daze


If you thought the parades and celebrations were over for the year, you were wrong. This year in Athol is special. Special because the city has been incorporated for 100 years. The first settler homesteaded in 1892, followed by a section gang and whistle stop on the Northern Pacific Railroad. A sawmill was built in 1902, which coincided with much of the old downtown.

The first church, an Episcopal-Methodist was built in 1900 followed by the Baptist church in 1901, which is still in use today as the Gates of Praise Assembly, just across from city park. Athol has a storybook past and is being revisited this, their centennial year.

The picture above, courtesy of the city of Athol, shows Main Street in 1907, just two years prior to incorporation. Main Street is now Old Hwy 95. The town's buildings were on the east side of the street with the railroad on the west. Catch my story with other pictures in the Spokesman-Review, Sunday, August 2. Oh, and don't forget the parade, Saturday, August 8 at 10:00 am. After the parade there will be a fair in city park including camel rides.

Following the day in the park, the American Legion Post 149, Athol will host a jam session to beat all jam sessions. The reunion of the band Hwy 54, organized by lead singer, Larry James is hosting under the gazebo in back. The Bells will be there, along with a ton of talent from all over North Idaho. It starts at 4:00 pm. Be there or be square.

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