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History::
Earl Rusho
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Charles
Cook
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Poirier Pioneers
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Away From Worry l
Naming & Taming of Albeni
Falls
History of
Blanchard, Idaho
By Charles S. Cook
Written August 1, 1959
Blanchard is located about 30 air-miles northeast of Spokane,
Washington, and about one and one-half miles east of the
Washington-Idaho state line.
In 1883 Louis Poirier, a French Canadian, homesteaded a piece of
land in the valley where Blanchard, Idaho,
is now located.
Shortly after Mr. Poirier’s arrival other homesteaders and
squatters arrived. As more people settled in this little valley
the community became known as White, Idaho. A United States Post
Office was established here in 1900.
In 1908 a railroad was built through this valley, extending from
Spokane north, and eventually terminating at Metaline Falls,
Washington. At that time the Post Office name of White, Idaho,
was changed to Blanchard, Idaho.
The name Blanchard was chosen in honor of a pioneer named
Blanchard who had homesteaded on a near-by creek, which became
known as Blanchard Creek. Due to the fact that this creek ran
through the little settlement and paralleled the new railroad,
White, Idaho, Post Office, became Blanchard, Idaho, Post Office.
In 1912 the first store was established in Blanchard: the
Blanchard Trading Company. Louis Poirier and several other men
established this store, but later it became the property of
Fielden L. Poirier, a son of Louis Poirier. Fielden L. Poirier
conducted the business until a few years ago when he retired.
The business was then taken over by Claude B. Blanchard, a
grandson of the old pioneer for whom Blanchard, Idaho, was
named.
Mt. Spokane, in Washington, (elevation 5808 feet) is about ten
air-miles southwest of Blanchard. Mt. Spokane is a Washington
State Park and claims one of the major ski “slopes” in the
Northwest. A very efficient Columbia Broadcasting Company radio
and television-sending station occupies the top of Mt. Spokane.
Blanchard is in Bonner County, about 30 miles southwest of
Sandpoint, the County Seat. We are about 20 miles due west of
Lake Pend Oreille (pronounced Pond o ray’), one of the largest
freshwater lakes west of the Rocky Mountains. This lake has
produced the largest rainbow trout caught in the United States.
The record weight was 37 pounds plus.
Blanchard is located in the heart of big game country where you
can hunt black and brown bear, white-tail, black-tail and mule
deer, elk, cougar, bobcats, coyotes, and many kinds of smaller
game and upland game birds. We are located on the north-south
flyway for wild ducks, honker geese, swans, and cranes, many of
which make stop-overs on our little lake during their spring and
fall migrations.
Blanchard is situated in a beautiful little valley surrounded on
three sides by mountains ranging up to 5,000 feet. We are thus
protected from most of the rough weather experienced by other
sections of the Northwest. We have authoritatively been credited
with having an ideal year-‘round climate.
In the early days this valley was occupied by a magnificent
stand of mixed timber, dominated by very excellent yellow pine.
Naturally the chief industry for many years was logging and
sawmill operation. In the past 50 years much land has been
cleared and converted into modern farming, dairying and cattle
and sheep-raising land. There are still thousands of acres of
growing timber and many hundreds of acres are being maintained
as privately owned Tree Farms, mostly located on hilly and
mountain land.
The little valley, as a whole, has made vast improvements since
1900, when it was still a happy hunting ground for two friendly
tribes of Indians. Today the homes and ranches are all
electrically modern with an abundance of the best mountain
water.
Blanchard proper is an unincorporated town of about 150 people.
It is located on a branch line of the Milwaukee Railroad and on
State Highway 41. Most people own their own homes. Some men
still follow work in the woods, and some work in nearby saw
mills and lumber mills. A few own timber and farm land.
We have our own local fire department, which was acquired after
our schoolhouse burned down about one year ago. Our Children
travel 12 miles by bus to a school at Newport, Idaho. We have a
very active chapter of Farmers’ Grange, which owns a Grange
Hall. We have a non-denominational church with an average
attendance of 65 in Sunday school, 85 in church and 25 in youth
fellowship. We are holding services in the Grange Hall at
present; however, on Easter Sunday we held groundbreaking
ceremonies for our new church building.
In 1912 the original Blanchard Trading Company store was 30 by
60 feet in size. Today it can boast a floor capacity of 12,000
square feet. From its pioneer stock of the necessary commodities
it has advanced to a complete line of everything needed in the
home and on the ranch.
We are very proud of our little community!
Idaho Vacation Wonderland
By Charles S. Cook, Blanchard
Did you ever have a feelin’ that you owed yourself a debt? And
you’d like to know the answer as to just what you should get.
You worked and fought to win the war, and saved and did without.
The dreams you dreamed, of things you’d get, and how you’d gad
about.
So now the war is over and you’re wondering where to go. Let me
suggest to you, my friend, that you visit IDAHO!
No difference where you live, my friend, your time will be well
spent. For the grandeur you will see there will make your heart
content.
Where the unspoiled work of nature bids you welcome to this
land. And wildlife is abundant and the climate simply grand.
It’s the place you’ve heard so much about, where the best
potatoes grow. Yes, the Indians loved the place
so well, they
called it IDAHO!
How often have you wished that you could catch the biggest
trout? And tell Bing Crosby fish tales that you need not lie
about.
Well “Der Bingle” caught some dandies in the grand lake Pend
Oreille (Ponderay)
But the one he likes to tell of is the one that got away. Yes,
there’s deer and bear and moose and elk and lovely winter snow
in the evergreen-clad mountains of dear old IDAHO!
There’s a land of milk and honey, which you’ve no doubt heard
about. And the state that is all sunshine, where it rains like
all get out.
And the place where lovely palm trees grow and hurricanes
trespass. And that famed old Bourbon country where fast horses
feed on blue grass.
Since you seem so undecided, here’s a fact that you should know.
To enjoy a real vacation, you should visit IDAHO!
Oh! The beauty of this scenic “wonderland”
Where mother nature calls you and takes you by the hand.
And you see the magic grandeur, with which nothing can compare,
The gorgeous mountain scenery and the lakes that nestle there.
All your troubles are forgotten by you lucky folks who go, to
this grand vacation wonderland
in scenic IDAHO!
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