Click for the latest Bonners Ferry weather forecast.
Print Version

Home   News   Sports   Social   Obituaries   Events   Letters

Eagles party slated for kids Jerre and Jack

September 7, 2012
A birthday celebration for two Boundary County young 'uns, Jerre Stemmene, a kid at 85, and her little brother, Jack Snodgrass, a baby at just 75, will be held from 2 to 4 p.m. Saturday, September 15, at the Boundary County Eagles Aerie, 7159 Second Street, Bonners Ferry.

Despite their youth, both Jerre and Jack go back a long way in the history of Bonners Eagles Aerie #3522.

Just out of her swaddling clothing, Jerre Snodgrass was born in Colorado on Friday, November 25, 1927. On the same day, the International Radio-Telegraphy Convention was signed in Washington, DC, by representatives of 51 nations.

Earlier that year, the first transatlantic telephone call was made and the first live sports broadcast in history aired as Teddy Wakelam called the rugby match between England and Wales on BBC, which England won, 11-9. The phrase, "back to square one," is believed to have come from the method used to call that historic match.

The U.S. Bureau of Prohibition was founded, Philo Farnsworth transmitted the very first television pictures, the Academy Awards were established, the first "talking" movie, "The Jazz Singer" created a sensation and Charles Lindberg made an historic flight across the Atlantic in "The Spirit of St. Louis."

In the 1930s, Jerre moved with her family to the Copeland area of Boundary County, and it was here she married and raised her family; son Bill and daughters Carol and Tammy.

Though still a pup herself, she loves spending time with her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren when she's not in her garden tending some of the most beautiful flowers grown in Boundary County, or traveling.

She spent many years staying young by working with the kids at the Restorium, and she's been a member of the local Eagle's Aerie for 15 years.

Baby brother Jack was born Monday, June 28, at the family home in Copeland. A day later, the Civilian Conservation Corps was founded to help put men to work to dig the nation out from beneath a Great Depression. Just a few days later, aviatrix Amelia Earhart and her navigator disappeared after taking off from Papua, New Guinea, during her attempt to become the first woman to fly around the world.

Earlier in that year, "oh, the humanity!" enters the American lexicon as the airship Hindenburg bursts into flame in New York, and Howard Hughes set an aviation speed record, flying from New York to Los Angeles in a bit less than 7 1/2 hours.

While all that was going on, Jack grew up in Copeland. In he 1960s, he moved to Everett, Washington, where he joined the Eagles.

He came back home 14 years ago, transferred his membership to Aerie #3522, and has been active in the organization ever since.

While gifts and gaudily-wrapped presents are typically expected when a kid has a birthday, organizers of this event say these kids will be content with good company and fond memories.

To find out more, call (208) 267-3024. No diaper jokes, please.
Questions or comments about this article? Click here to e-mail!