Museum Musings
By: Gini Woodward
Sometimes it seems history comes to the museum. Recently Jay Cohn forwarded this e-mail
message:
“Hello, I have been researching local history in Pine County MN where I live. I have recently discovered a connection between my county and Boundary County. I am hoping you can get some answers for me. At the turn of the century, we had a famous sandstone quarry in business. In doing newspaper research I ran across an article from 5/27/26 in the Pine County Courier. It says a sandstone monument “7 feet square, polished and engraved” was shipped to Bonners Ferry, Idaho. The inscription reads “to commemorate the first route of travel across what is now the state of Idaho.” It was commissioned by the Historical Society of the Northwest. The archives for the quarry business have disappeared over the years. I would appreciate a picture and any info about this monument to display in the Sandstone History Center. Does this description ring a bell?? My gr. grandfather was a stonecutter in this quarry, so that is another reason for my interest. Any information would be appreciated!
Thank you, Alaina Lyseth, Hinckley, MN”
Yes Alaina, the description does ring a bell. Although the pathfinder monument now rests in the mini park outside the library, it was moved from its original location. Several months ago curator Sue Kemmis came across unidentified photos which appeared to be of the dedication of the monument near the old Great Northern Depot. Your inquiry gave her a date to work with and Sue found the original newspaper clippings relating to a grand celebration in Bonners Ferry on July 19, 1926.
On that date, at 8:30 in the morning, a special eighteen car Great Northern Railway train, called the Columbia River Historical Expedition, stopped at the depot at Bonners Ferry. Passengers on the train included railroad officials, three state governors, dignitaries, leading historians, newspaper and magazine writers, forty-three American and French High school students, and twenty-five members of the Blackfoot Indian Tribe from Glacier National Park. The visitors were met by M.D. Pace, E.E. Fry, A.B. Ashby, O.F. Howe, H.J. McCoy, and C.G. Prell, local high school students, and a large group of citizens. After the ceremony, the train left promptly at 11:00 a.m.
The Columbia River Historical Expedition began in Chicago on July 15, with stops in St. Paul, MN, Fort Union, Fort Benton and Great Falls, Mt. From Bonners Ferry the expedition continued to Spokane, Wishram, Portland, Seaside, and finally Astoria. Other monuments were dedicated on the trip, including the well known 125 foot Astoria Column. According to the Bonners Ferry Herald the pathfinder monument was donated by the Franco-American branch of the American Good Will Association. The French and American High School students were winners of a Good will Oratorical Contest of 1926. Winner of the Bonners Ferry contest was Walter Keith, who joined the Expedition as it traveled on, to Astoria. Members of the Blackfoot Tribe were in full regalia and included 95 year old Blackfoot warrior Chief Many Tails, seen in the photo. Spotted Eagle, a boy of about eight years led the first of several dances given by the members of the Blackfoot Tribe.
As I paused at the pathfinder monument by the library, looking at it quite honestly, for the first time, I was captured by the detailed carvings and poetic engravings. I wondered about the designer. One sentence in the Bonners Ferry Herald, July 22, 1926, provided a clue, “…was present, as was also E.D. Litchfield, the artist who designed the Bonners Ferry monument.” An internet search on E.D. Litchfield (1872-1952) revealed him to be a prominent New York architect and Town Planner. He designed many public buildings and monuments including the Astoria Column. With a little more internet sleuthing, I was able to determine the photo of the man in the white suit sitting on the monument with his back to us is most likely E.D. Litchfield.
The monument tribute to the early explorers includes David Thompson, Finnan McDonald, William Kittson, Red River Emigrants Warre and Vavsour. The inscription on the reverse side reads “Down the Kootenai, Thence to the Pend d’Orielle and Spokane, the Railway Follows the Route of the Explorer, Trader, and Missionary, which From Time Immemorial Was the Highway of the Indian.”
Paul Flinn says that history is a disease, and I guess I’ve caught the virus, have you? Local lore says the pathfinder monument was moved to the mini park when the Great Northern Depot was torn down, but it sure would be nice to know who and when. Do you have any leads? Thanks to Alaina Lyseth of Hinkley, MN, the Boundary County Historical Society is able to document the historical evidence of one of our community treasures.
Museum Musings – Written by Museum staff for publication – 2008
