When Winter Was Winter

There was a time when almost every winter in North Idaho was winter.  Winter as in cold and snowy.  

It wasn't unusual to have lake families and students cross the ice to go shopping or to school.  It was a lot shorter than driving around the lake.  [And if you think Idaho roads are bad now, imagine them in the first two thirds of the 1900's.]  Remember that the lake was a main transportation route for decades, summer and winter.  Steamboats were constructed specifically to serve as icebreakers to keep the lake open in the winter.

The above photo was taken by Kyle Walker in the early 1950's.  Take a good look before you read the next line and see if you can tell where it was taken.  Got it?  Yup, right off City Beach in Coeur d'Alene.  The trees in City Park are the background and a couple of the great old classic homes on West Lakeshore Drive are clearly visible on the left.  

What a nice guy this was, taking his tractor out on frozen lake Coeur d'Alene to clear an ice skating area.  He had to be Mr. Popular by the looks of all the skaters.  This looks to be perhaps 100 feet from the shoreline.  No telling how much that John Deere weighed but we must assume the ice was thick enough to hold it.

When was the last time you remember lake Coeur d'Alene freezing over to this degree?  In my 54 years, I can only recall a few times it froze at all, let alone getting ice this thick.  Fernan freezing is one thing, but it has to be cold for a long time to close in Coeur d'Alene.

After two record breaking snow winters, this year is a cakewalk.  While I do worry about snow pack up high, I for one don't miss shoveling my driveway this year.  But, winter ain't over yet!

dw

This Day in Idaho History

January 26, 1931    Mountain Bluebird adopted as Idaho State Bird

The Mountain Bluebird (Sialia currucoides) is a medium-sized bird weighing about an ounce, with a length from 6–8 inches. They have light underbellies and black eyes. Adult males have thin bills. They are bright blue and somewhat lighter beneath. Adult females have duller blue wings and tail, fake grey breast, grey crown, throat and back.

The Mountain Bluebird is migratory. Their range varies from Mexico in the winter to as far north as Alaska, throughout the western U.S. and Canada. Northern birds migrate to the southern parts of the range; southern birds are often permanent residents

A Huddy and a Beer?

Once upon a time you could get a Hudson Hamburger and a beer.  Or a cocktail.  Seriously.

In the 1960's and into the 1970's there was a place caled the Pub Lounge located at 205 1/2 Sherman, right next to Hudson's at 207 Sherman.  There was a little door about 8"x8" between the two and if you were in the bar and got hungry for a burger you could ask the bartender to order you one, or two.

As a kid I remember sitting at the counter, eating my Huddy burger and seeing the little door open and an order passed to Roger Hudson,  The order was filled, passed back through the little door and cash handed back.  About the time I came of age The Pub closed and things changed forever.

You'll have to get a to-go order and take it to wherever your brew is nowadays, but rest assured, it's the same great burger cooked on that very same grill.