Stephen S. (S.D.) Taylor published the maiden edition of the Kootenai Herald on Saturday, July 11, 1891. Little did he know that his weekly newspaper would become the oldest business in Boundary County, Idaho.
S.D. printed his paper in a small “shack” on Cottage Avenue (Ash Street) near the Catholic Church (Pearl Theatre). He later moved to a building on the corner of Main and Arizona Streets (site of Lenhart’s building). S.D. renamed the newspaper the Bonners Ferry Herald on December 31, 1904, and sold the paper to C.W. “Charlie” King in 1912.
C.W. King’s printing office sat under water during the devastating flood that washed the entire valley, including Bonners Ferry proper in 1916. In 1917, C.W. moved to a new one-story brick building (site of Pace-Kerby).
It was on February 1, 1946 that Richard W. Myers and William A. Chubb purchased the Herald from C.W. That partnership continued until November 27, 1952, when Chubb purchased Myers’ interest in the paper. This advertisement, from 1966, ran while Bill Chubb (Sr.) was publisher. Bill Sr. sold to Bill Jr. in 1969.
(Historical information about the Herald was taken from History of Boundary County, Idaho Vol. 1. For “the rest of the history” about the Herald, you can find it in the history book.)
Although the Museum remains closed, every Tuesday (through September) from 10:30-12:30, there will be a Sidewalk Sale. Items to be sold are the 2021 Historical Calendar – $5.00; Badger Tales (on a thumb-drive) – $10.00/$15.00; Re-Rites notepads made from recycled paper – $3.00/$5.00, and a few “free items.” Come down to the front of the Museum building on Tuesdays and say “Hello.” Thank you for your continued support!