This is the conclusion of a story, begun last week, which documents the adventures of four Bonners Ferry women who in 1914 made the first automobile trip to Spokane by a group of Bonners Ferry ladies. The photo is a picture of an early North Hill road, and is an indication of the types of roads the Mesdames Brody, Fry, McGreevy and Walliss would have encountered on their five-hour journey to Spokane. To continue…

As to various adventures, anecdotes, episode and incidents during the whole trip, some are not of a nature to warrant publicity. In spite of what has been said regarding liquid refreshments, we have to confess to a bottle and a tin bucket, upon which Mrs. McGreevey kept tab in a very efficient manner, leaving the care of the Club sandwiches to Mrs. Fry. The latter not only took great care of said sandwiches, but prevented over-eating on our part by taking the lead herself in the consumption of the aforesaid delicacies. This may account for the statement by Mrs. Fry that the North Pole was in sight, and seems to suggest that she was “seeing things”, for the only North Pole we could see was a sign of that name. We therefore decided to postpone the annexation of the Pole till next trip, when we might be better able to travel the required distance.

In addition to the North Pole seen by Mrs. Fry, we saw the Pageant, where a graceful elephant performed a sylph-like dance; the Hieland Laddie at the Orpheum; and the Tango at the Casino. Each of these sights entranced our bucolic eyes so much that even the prospect of return to the Pend d’Orielle Valley failed to inspire us with joy.

One remarkable thing we observed was the fondness one of the party evidenced for the bath tub. It was no difficult matter to guess that she lacked this aid to health and beauty in her own domicile, and intended to get a year’s bathing ahead. We do not mention names in this connection, lest others of the party take offense at the implication that they did NOT bathe! It is to be noted as peculiar throughout the trip the scenery so impressed us that Rathdrum appears to be the only place to be noticed! This place is on a beautiful site for a city; and in order to fully appreciate its beauties we went through its back alleys on the outward trip, and through the front alleys on the homeward journey.

This does not mean that when going we were in no condition to show ourselves on the front streets, so scoffers may beware!

We would insert a few of the anecdotes related en route, but many of them were too pointed (at both ends) to be desirable in a public record. It might, however, be well to point out the seriousness of the story anent a cow, and leave it at that. The present scribe is a lightweight anyhow, and prefers the safety of silence!

In concluding this momentous history, two facts are to be recorded; first, that the weather throughout the trip followed the signs of the Dutchman’s Breeches (whatever that may mean); and second, that we went and returned without a puncture or breakdown of any kind. The only thing that was broken was the “record” for time!

An interesting note, Rathdrum was the Kootenai County Seat. Boundary County was not established until 1915, when the county separated from Bonner County, which had separated from Kootenai County in 1913.

Visit the Boundary County Museum; winter hours Friday-Saturday 10-4.