First Inhabitants
The
first people to
inhabit the Priest River area were
Here are two Kalispell Indian women. This picture was taken in the early days of Priest River.
Credit: V.S.F.S.
Early Priest River
The first white pioneer was a German named Henry Keyser who purchased property from the Kalispell Indians on the Pend Oreille River in 1888 or 1889. From there a small community began. (to find out more about the Keysers and the Keyser house click here.) The original town was located on the west end of Keyser Slough which is about one mile east of where Priest River is today. It is believed that the town was first called Priest River then later changed to Valencia by the Great Northern Railroad. After the railroad company discovered there was already a town named Valencia in Idaho they changed the name back to Priest River.
Shortly after the Keysers settled, several other families joined them, including the Kramers, Sandburns, and the Carys. The first schoolhouse was built in 1890. Then in 1891 James Judge opened the first post office and possibly the first store.
This was Priest River in 1894. The general merchandise store and saloon, operated by Charley Jackson was located on the bank of what is now knows as the Keyser "slough" east of Priest River.
Credit: Hallie Griswold/Priest River Times
When the Great Northern Railroad began surveying the area in 1891 it put out a call for laborers to begin building the railroad the following year. Workers from southern Italy, most of them from the town of Grimaldi, came to work on the railroad, settling east of town. There they established their own school and church. Among the first Italian settlers were the Anselmo, the Naccarato, and the Bombino families.
This is an early picture of one of the Naccarato families. Back row(l-r): (partially cut off) Frank (died 1918, flu), Anna; Angelo (the father); Marie Teresa (the mother); baby Mike (killed WWII); Rose (died 1819, flu) Rosella. Front row(l-r): Charlie, George, Marion, Grace.
Credit: Jr. Naccarato
This shows the six original Naccarato brothers who came to Priest River when the Great Northern Railroad advertised for workers in 1891. The youngest brother, Tony, died of a bleeding ulcer in 1920 and is shown her in his casket. Around him are his brothers, Frank, Joe, Mike, Angelo, and Charlie, and their sister Rosa Bombino.
Credit: George A. Naccarato
The Flood
In the year of 1894 Priest River experience a bad flood of the Pend Oreille River. The residents decided to move the town to higher ground. Priest River was moved west to the other side of the Priest River and above the Pend Oreille.
The Growing Timber Industry
The timber industry was thriving in the early 1900's the town was prospering. In the 1920's the Priest River Times reported that Priest River was the fastest growing town in Northern Idaho according to the census.
In 1901 through 1949 Priest River held an annual log drive. This log drive caused an annual celebration known The Priest River Loggers Celebration. Residents still celebrate Timber Day on the last Saturday in July and the year 2001 marks the one hundredth year anniversary of the first log drive.
This shows a loaded logging truck moving down High Street near the corner of Main during a loggers celebration in the 1950's.
Credit: George Blessing
Charles Beardmore
One of the most important men in Priest River history was Charles Beardmore who came to Priest River from Wisconsin in 1900. He owned and operated the Beardmore mill and a stage line to Priest Lake. He also owned the Beardmore Block building which covers 109-119 Main Street and 302-310 High Street. It was built in 1922 and housed the Rex Theater, Beardmore's general mercantile store, a butcher shop, apartments, the Diamond Match Company offices, a grand ballroom, and Priest River hardware. Charles Beardmore's wife, Lucy Gumaer Beardmore was also a leader and represented the area in the state legislature.
This is a picture of the Beardmore family at one of the logging camps.
Credit: Vivienne Beardmore McAlexander
This picture shows the stage that was owned by Charles Beardmore and traveled from Priest River and Priest Lake.
Credit: Vivienne Beardmore McAlexander
The
Fire that changed the Future
On December 12,1973,the future changed for Priest River when a fire altered the face of the downtown area. The tragedy happened in a matter of hours. The fire is believed to have started at Phil’s Lounge sometime in the early morning hours, destroying four major buildings including: Phil’s Lounge owned by Mr. And Mrs. Ned Platt, White Cross Pharmacy owned by Dick Sonntag, H&R Block tax accounting service, and the Priest River Post Office. Another building seriously damaged was Roger Gregory’s Coast-to-Coast Store.
As a result to this tragic fire many business moved to other parts of Priest River. The post office was rebuilt several blocks away from the downtown area. Roger Gregory opened a new Coast–to–Coast Store in 1974 at the Timberline Mall. Because so many businesses move, downtown was changed forever after the fire.