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Pieces of Bonners Ferry landmark unveiled at
museum |
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July 13, 2017 |
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For four sunny days in August 1988, the exciting
buzz of chainsaws could be heard on Kootenai
Street’s entrance into downtown Bonners Ferry,
Idaho. The Boundary County Resource Council,
with generous donations from the community, had
commissioned a well-known chainsaw artist, Dave
Clark of Eureka, Montana, to carve a sculpture
on site.
The newly carved structure would greet the
public as they turned into town by the Visitor’s
Center.
A 16-foot log from an uprooted yellow pine tree
off Katka Mountain arrived on a logging truck,
was cut in half and partially buried in the
ground. Amazed onlookers watched as Clark began
to carve a figure of a logger and one of a
farmer. The men faced each other and held in
their hands seedlings that represented the
renewable resources of Boundary County.
Between the logger and the farmer, Clark carved
two cedar slabs with scenes that represented the
beauty and heritage of the community and
welcomed people to Boundary County.
The sculpture welcomed visitors for 14 years,
but the effects of time and weather took its
toll.
With a concern for safety, the city had it
removed in 2002. The two figures were auctioned
off, while the cedar slab portions went into
storage, and in 2010 they were donated to the
Museum.
Gini Woodward, President of the Historical
Society at the time, offered the idea of having
the slabs converted into benches. Many ideas for
displaying the long heavy pieces were discussed.
Finally, in June 2017, with funding available,
The Boundary County Historical Society
commissioned North Idaho Ironworks to construct
benches using the two cedar slabs.
The beautifully carved wood pieces again
“Welcome” visitors to Boundary County, and
provide folks a place to rest while they visit
the Museum Railroad Courtyard. |
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