Get ready to celebrate: Boundary County Centennial blast coming up

January 8, 2015

One hundred years ago, late on a Saturday night in 1915, Moses Alexander, who had been Idaho's governor for only 19 days, signed Idaho House Bill No. 1. With that signature, on January 23, 1915, Boundary County was officially created.  (This area had originally been a part of Kootenai County.  Bonner County--which included present-day Boundary County--was broken off from Kootenai County in 1907.  Boundary County separated off from Bonner County in 1915).  On the following Monday, January 25, the big celebration began. Even though it was January and there was a cold south wind blowing, crowds gathered in downtown Bonners Ferry. Flags flew and horns blew. School children marched down Main Street, and the Bonners Ferry Band impressed the gathered crowd with rousing musical selections. Major W.S. Walker gave a speech, prophesying much prosperity for the citizens of the new born county. Company E of the National Guard marched through part of the residential district of the city, returned to downtown and gave a military drill, then fired a salute in honor of the new county. There were three cheers for Governor Alexander. Local citizens dressed as clowns entertained the crowd. The school children sang a song celebrating the new Boundary County, sung to the tune of "It's a Long, Long Way to Tipperary," an anthem popular at the time. Now, it is January 2015. This month, Boundary County is 100 years old. And Boundary County can party again, just like it's 1915. Again on a Saturday, the celebration will be Saturday, January 24. Where? Main Street of Bonners Ferry, of course. The party begins at 2:00 p.m. at the intersection of Kootenai Street and Main Street, just as it was 100 years ago. The celebration will include proclamations by the Kootenai Tribe, Bonners Ferry City Officials, and Boundary County officials, declaring January 23, 2015 as the beginning of Boundary County's Centennial Year. Following the celebration in the street, the party moves inside the Boundary County Museum, where all can enjoy a slice of Boundary County birthday cake. Click here to see the Museum's official poster of this upcoming event. Happy 100 years, Boundary County, Idaho!