MONI Spring 2022 Quarterly Newsletter

NEWSLETTER | SPRING 2022| VOLUME 42 | NUMBER 2

Bittleston Homestead in Cougar Gulch. HE-1-44

“Big Cats and Stump Farms: The Settlement of Cougar Gulch” Written by Courtney Beebe Bordered by blue skies above and water below, a rolling range of green mountains comprises the heart of the renowned Lake Coeur d’Alene scenic vista. As visitors to the north shores of Lake Coeur d’Alene gaze at the peaks and ridges, they may not realize the presence of a unique community tucked in the valley to the west. Cougar Gulch, located southwest of Coeur d’Alene, was formed by Cougar Creek, a run-off stream that originates from Mica Peak (Signal Point) and Blossom Mountain and flows eastward to Cougar Bay on Lake Coeur d’Alene. Along the northern edge of “The Gulch,” the spiny Blossom Ridge creates

a ridged natural barrier from the Spokane River. Loosely referred to as Rich Hill or “the top of Miller Road,” the southern border of Cougar Gulch is comprised of a series of rolling hills where streams start to flow southeast across Mica Flats.

The Schitsu’umsh (Coeur d’Alene Tribe) are the people “who were found here,” and they remain ever present in Cougar Gulch. After the Coeur d’Alene War of 1873, President Ulysses S. Grant included Cougar Gulch within the original boundaries of the Coeur d’Alene Tribe Reservation. During the 1880s, however, the U.S.

Government opened Cougar Gulch to the allotment process, and the area was removed from the Coeur d’Alene Tribe Reservation boundary. Most likely U.S. Army soldiers stationed at Fort Sherman chose the name Cougar Gulch after observing the frequent presence of cougars on Blackwell Island and Cougar Bay. The 27 families that homesteaded Cougar Gulch from 1880 to 1912 adopted the name and established Cougar Gulch Road, a narrow arterial that parallels Cougar Creek to this day.

Turn of the century Cougar Gulch settlers engaged in the practice of “stump farming”: using horse drawn wagons and handBittleston Stump Farm. Photo courtesy of the Sam Rodius Memorial Park Association held saws to remove trees from potentially productive land, leaving the tree stumps behind. The homesteaders engaged in subsistence farming by raising cows, goats, horses, chickens, pigs, and hay as well as common vegetables and fruit trees. Because Cougar Gulch was geographically isolated from Post Falls and Coeur d’Alene, settlers “went to town” infrequently. What today is a fifteen-minute drive, back then was a day long journey along one of two routes: Cougar Gulch Road to the Blackwell Island wooden bridge, or Greensferry Road to ferry across the Spokane River.

Despite the isolated, demanding nature of stump farm life the Johnson, Mooney, Miller, O’Reilly, Lenz, Wolske,

Sawmill built and operated by John Lenz on upper Cougar Creek from the late 1920s until beginning of World War II. Pictured are Frank Gotz and John Lenz. The third individual is unidentified. MIL-7-48

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and Bittleston families (to name a few) created a thriving, resource sharing community that included three lumber mills, a number of school houses, and the Farmer’s Local 56 Union Meadowbrook Hall (now known as the Meadowbrook Community Hall).

Cougar Gulch homesteaders came from a variety of ethnic, religious, and economic backgrounds, but similarly described their uneasy co-existence with a mysterious and unpredictable neighbor, the North American Cougar (Puma Conolor Cougar). Early residents documented that the big cats were prevalent, reporting cougars chirped and purred at children walking to the Cougar Gulch and Meadowbrook school houses and that cougars haunted farms at night with guttural growls and high-pitched screeching.

In her work “The History of the Rodius Farm and Family,” Lucia Rodius Saunders, a Cougar Gulch resident from 1896-1915, recalled: The whole place was a dense forest, except for the little clearing around the cabin and the barn. There were a lot of cougars in the woods, hence the name Cougar Gulch. My mother was scared to death of them. She could hear them at night. She said their cry was like a human cry and it was very eerie . . . My mother had to hunt for the cows each evening. Scared as she was, she would leave us three [Lucia, Sam, and Emil Rodius] children alone. There were no fences and they would wander miles away. She would be gone as much as two hours . . . When I was six years old I started school. The school was a big log building just across the line from our upper forty. Ms. Boggs was my first teacher and she stayed with my folks, and I could walk to school with her. I think Ms. Boggs was as afraid as I was to walk through the jungle.

C.W. Mills poses with a cougar in Worley, 1910. REC-3-87

In her book, “On the Edge of the Ice,” Louise Shadduck interviewed a Cougar Gulch “Oldtimer” who said: In those days you could hear big mountain lions howling and screeching from the ridges and hills like they were right beside you. Girl, if you haven’t ever heard a cougar screech, you don’t know what its’ like to have a cold chill run right down both sides of your back bone. It’s the fit name, Cougar.

However, the Big Burn of 1910 that engulfed so much of North Idaho also impacted Cougar Gulch. The heat, ash, and smoke caused cougars and other wildlife to flee, and they were not seen again for almost four decades. Today, while Cougar Bay and the Cougar Bay Nature preserve are official geographic designations, the name “Cougar Gulch” remains an informal moniker reflective of a time when big cats roamed the stump Nicholas Rodius Homestead. HE-1-64 farms of an isolated and thriving mountain community.

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MUSEUM NEWS Staff

From the Executive Director

Executive Director Britt Thurman

April 1st marked the start of the 54th season for the Museum. With a new featured exhibit "Gadgets Galore! Transforming the American Household" and a front page story, we were eager to once again open our doors to locals and tourists alike. Every March is crunch time to get new merchandise and books ordered for the gift shop, train new volunteers, and clean exhibit spaces so the Museum sparkles when the first guests arrive.

Now we are under a new crunch time, and that's to raise the funds to complete construction on the new museum facility. It should be no surprise to anyone living in North Idaho that there are construction projects in seemingly every neighborhood.

Add rising materials costs and labor shortages to the high demand and you'll begin to understand some of the difficulties our capital project is facing. Take the underground exhibit gallery as an example. In 2020, we had a rough estimate of $600,000 to construct the shell of the underground wing. Two years later, that figure has risen to almost $1.5 million. The increased costs to our project mean we are working harder than ever to find new donors, and we could use everyone's help. If you have the means, please consider making a donation. If you can't donate, be an advocate. Share our project with your friends, family, coworkers, and neighbors. Help us get connected to the individuals and businesses who have a capacity to help us build our new home. Together, we can build the museum this community deserves.

- Britt Thurman, Executive Director

Programs Manager Jordan Thomas Accountant Lisa Turner, CPA Volunteers Deb Mitchell, Debora Petersen, Cedris & Steve Shepperd, Karin Gray, Jeremy Nunez, Dorinda Thurman, Rob Inabnet, Kelly Connaway, Dorothy Dahlgren, Bill Delyea, Gregg Thurman, Collette Turner, Karin Gray, Carol Fairhurst, Colleen Turner, Becky Powers, Jim Schramm, Jim Chapkis, Mark Weadick, Justin Peterson, Rod Schobert, Dennis Houchin, Dave Eubanks, Julie Champion, Robyn Bruns, Jenn Snow, Bridget Carter, Sherrie Peterson, Katrina Cook, Pattie Strub, Kevin Smith

Board of Directors President Steve Towles Vice President Marilee Wallace Secretary Courtney Beebe Treasurer Tom Richards Directors Dave Patzer Dick Sheldon Steve Widmyer Juli Zook Ann Rule Greg Thorhaug Bernie Rosen

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From the Board President

History is subject to perspective and interpretation and can mean different things to different people based on their current situation and their view of the world in general. Different exhibits in a museum setting evoke different feelings and insights for each viewer. When looking at the new “Gadgets Galore” exhibit at the Museum of North Idaho, I found myself remembering when we had one family phone and a party line. You had to be sure no one was on the line before using the phone and sensitive to other families who needed the phone as well. It evoked some good memories.

Recently I have been reading a book called The Dawn of Everything, and the authors dare to challenge some of our long-held notions about history. For example, the authors posit the notion that our concepts of freedom and an egalitarian nation did not come from Europe, which was heavily authoritarian, but from some of the native tribes around the great lakes region who valued their freedom and lived in an egalitarian mindset where all members have equal standing and are valued. The Jesuits wrote about this in a series of Chronicles that were published in Europe. Although they were against the notion of egalitarianism, they created much discussion by many Europeans. Hence the phrase “All men are created equal” in our constitution.

Different historical perspectives help us understand more of who we are, where we came from, and what is really important in our life. Isn’t that worth the time, energy, and resources it takes to create a lasting opportunity to deepen our own life experience? It is what the Museum of North Idaho is about.

- Steve Towles, Board President

Moving History Forward

Featured Exhibits

Well, the staff and Board of Directors of the Museum are surely getting a crash course in construction timelines as we work to build our new home. We are still awaiting permits but anticipate breaking ground on the site development within the next couple of weeks. Stay tuned for lots of activity coming soon.

Back in Stock!

From Hell to Heaven chronicles the devastating death-related mining accidents in North Idaho's history, including the Sunshine Mine disaster.

Uncover the histories of these 19th century objects, and how their invention led to the gadgets that are Purchase your copy for just integral to our lives today, through the traveling exhibition Gadgets Galore! Transforming the American $24.95 in the Museum's Household, on display only until May 22nd. gift shop or online at Sponsored by Seright's Ace Hardware, TDS, museumni.org/shop.

J.A. Bertsch Heating & Cooling, and Avista Utilities.

Home Where It Belongs

Last year, the Museum discovered lights that once hung in the Wilma Theatre on Sherman Avenue were for sale at an antique store in Canada. Through the generosity of our community and individual donors, the Museum was able to purchase one of the restored lights and bring it back home to Coeur d'Alene where it can be preserved and shared with our local community once again. The Wilma Theatre light is on display in the Museum's lobby, so come in today to see this illuminating new artifact.

From 1920 to 1933, the manufacture, sale, and consumption of alcohol was illegal across the country.

In the small towns of North Idaho, moonshiners, bootleggers and smugglers kept the region stocked with booze. The Rum Rebellion tells the scandalous stories of corruption, federal raids, and speakeasies and how the panhandle of Idaho was anything but dry during during the nationwide prohibition. On exhibit from June 17th - October 29th.

Sponsored by Allegra Printing, TDS Fiber, and Dave Smith GMC.

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Upcoming Events Monthly Lecture Series - May 25th @ 5:30 pm Each month we will feature a guest lecturer who will present on a regional history subject at the Fort Sherman Chapel. All lectures are free and open to the public.

Light refreshments will be served.

Movies on the Lawn - June 4th @ 8:30 pm Bring your lawn chair or blanket and come watch the '80s classic Ferris Bueller's Day Off in the lawn of the Fort Sherman Chapel. This event is free and open to the public. Snacks and drinks available for purchase.

Speakeasy Fundraiser - June 16th 7-10 pm Join us for a joint fundraiser for the Museum of North Idaho and the Arts and Culture Alliance.

Tickets are $60 for members or $75 for the public.

Monthly Lecture Series - June 22nd @ 5:30 pm Each month we will feature a guest lecturer who will present on a regional history subject at the Fort Sherman Chapel. All lectures are free and open to the public.

Gatsby Garden Party - July 7th 6-10 pm Party on Lake Coeur d'Alene and raise funds for the new Museum facility. Tickets are $85 for members and $100 for the public and can be purchased at the Museum or online at museumni.org/events/gala.

Benefit Gala Thursday, July 7th 6-10 pm Grab a glass of giggle water and put on your dancing shoes, this glamorous event right on Lake Coeur d'Alene will surely be the bees knees, and you won't want to miss it! Music by the Zonky Jazz Band.

Tickets are $85 for members and $100 for the public.

All funds raised will go toward our capital campaign and historical programming. For more info, email programs@museumni.org or visit museumni.org/events/gala.

Movies on the Lawn - July 15th @ 8:30 pm Bring your favorite lawn chair or blanket and come watch the explosive film Dante's Peak on the lawn of the Fort Sherman Chapel. This event is free and open to the public. Snacks and drinks will be available for purchase.

Monthly Lecture Series - July 20th @ 5:30 pm Monthly guest lecturer will present on a regional history subject at the Fort Sherman Chapel. All lectures are free and open to the public.

Antiques Appraisal Day - July 30th 11 am - 3 pm Back by popular demand, an appraiser with the hit tv show will be at the Fort Sherman Chapel to help you uncover the value of the gems hiding in your attic.

Tickets are $25 and include an appraisal of two items.

Visit museumni.org/events or call (208) 664-3448 x 1 to purchase tickets or for more information.

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Speakeasy Fundraiser Thursday, June 16th @ 7 pm To skirt the fuzz, the location of the speakeasy will remain a secret until the night of the event. Get dolled up, bring your gang, and let's whoopee all night. We'll have live music, casino tables, prohibition drinks, raffles, appetizers, a costume contest & more!

Tickets are $60 for members and $75 for the public and can be purchased online or at the Museum.

The Tribe Gifts $100,000

Thank You to Our Donors!

An enormous thank you goes out to the Coeur d'Alene Tribe for their gift of $100,000 toward the Museum's capital campaign. The Museum has always valued its partnership with the Coeur d'Alene Tribe as we plan exhibits and programs that tell the whole story of our region's past.

Up to $100 John Broderick * Julia Harris * Geoffrey Wallace Jim Guy * Sally Barnett * Hecla Mining Co. Bill Boyd * Lorna Wasson $100 to $499 Laurie Beebe * John Yuditsky * Jim Hawkins The Happy Family Club $500 Marty Westbrook $1,000 JP Morbeck $10,000 to $24,999 Bill and Julie Gibbs $25,000 - $49,999 Anonymous $100,000 The Coeur d'Alene Tribe

We look forward to continuing to work closely with the Tribe as we design all new exhibits and programs in the new museum facility.

Thank you for your trust and support!

Grants Innovia Foundation - $9,000 toward the capital campaign Coeur d'Alene Rotary - $2,000 for landscaping and maintenance of the Fort Sherman Chapel

Your Dollar Goes Further Please select the Museum of North Idaho as your charity of choice through Amazon Smile and Fred Meyer Rewards. Both organizations send the Museum a donation every time you shop with them. It doesn't cost you a penny but provides much-needed operating funds for the museum. Contact the Museum at (208) 664-3448 x 2 for help getting set up.

Recent Artifact Donations Connie McGee - Checks from the Red Collar Steamboat Company.

Terri Librande - Photographs of the Antler Hotel Jim Hawkins - Portrait of William and Agnes Hawkins Ken & Virginia Wright - Photograph of Versa Virginia Camp Tubbs Joy Richards - Sweater, suspenders, portrait and other items belonging to John Richards

Corporate Sponsors Please join us in thanking the following businesses for their support which makes it possible for us to preserve and illuminate local history.

Northwest Specialty Hospital Seright's Ace Hardware TDS Fiber Avista Utilities Allegra Marketing, Printing, and Mail JA Bertsch Heating & Cooling Witherspoon Kelley Dave Smith GMC

New Corporate Members

Welcome New Board Members Bernie Rosen

Greg Thorhaug

Ann Rule

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PO Box 812 Coeur d'Alene, ID 83816-0812

Non Profit US Postage Paid Permit #10 Coeur d'Alene, ID 83814

The Museum of North Idaho preserves and illuminates our past to inspire our future.