From the Bonners Ferry Herald, August 3, 1922:
“Among the exhibits in the art section of the Boundary County Fair this fall will be three framed pieces for wall decoration and a dresser in a very unique and artistic finish, all made and decorated by William H. Rideout of Porthill.
Nearly all the decorative work on the four pieces was accomplished by the use of moths and butterflies of the area. In decorating the dresser, 2,655 butterflies were used and 7,913 ornamental cuts made. The frames of the wall pieces are made from Boundary County cedar and tamarack. The words are traced with moth wings; the rest is butterfly wings.”
William Rideout wanted to raffle the items during the fair. However, the Herald reported:
“W.H. Rideout, of Porthill, who had on exhibition at the recent fair a fancy dresser decorated with butterfly and moth wings which he intended to raffle off after the fair, selling tickets at that time, has called the raffle off. Rideout stated: Mr. Wilson told me it is against the law for anyone but a church society to pull off a raffle in the state of Idaho, so I got the Ladies’ Aid Society to take this and run it, but for some reason they have backed out and wrote me to that effect. So all I can do is return the tickets. So please write your name and address on your ticket and leave it at the Herald office or at Brown’s store and I will return your money.”
Where did the pieces go?
William H. Rideout – Born July 29, 1876 – Died July 29, 1946 at the age of 70.