History - Pend Oreille Lodge Remembered
by Bob Gunter
The two old chimneys still stand like two fingers pointing to the heavens. They are all that remain of what once was a show place along the banks of Pend Oreille Lake. They keep their vigil, year after year, to mark the place where once stood the beautiful Pend Oreille Lodge.
The lodge was located on Contest Point two miles across the lake from Sandpoint. James (Jim) Moore and Delbert (Dee) Haynes built it in 1947 just after World War II. It was constructed of native rock and cedar and could be reached by a two-mile boat ride or a six-mile trip along a narrow, winding road. Room rates were $10 in the luxurious lodge and gourmet meals, such as fresh salmon steak, cost $2.25. The Pend Oreille Lodge operated until 1949. It was then purchased by the Society of Jesus to be used as a summer retreat for theological students.
The lodge on the lake reopened December 1965 and offered furnished rooms and dormitory accommodations for skiers. James Veilleux, manager of the lodge, stated, " …it has turned essentially into a dinner and supper club type." It was in March of 1968 that fire totally destroyed the grand old lodge.
Here are some memories about the lodge:
Annabelle Riffle said, "I was working at the time of the fire at the Edgewater and I saw the lodge burning across the lake."
Bob Nelson recalled, "We used to go out there by boat for dinner. Some people who went by boat could not return because of a storm on the lake and they had to spend the night at the lodge."
Jim Parsons, Jr. remembered, "I worked there opening night in the kitchen with the head chef Katie Pierce. We traveled back and forth to work in wooden boats powered by a 71/2 hp Scott Atwater outboard motor. A great lodge built before its time."
Edwin Nurmi recalls, "I remember going to a Shrine Club dinner at the lodge soon after it was built. A boat took us from the City Docks to the lodge."
Lana Kay Hanson played piano with a group that performed at the lodge. She has both good and bad memories, "It was an amazing building and I remember the beautiful cedar wood. They did not use nails but it was put together by wooden pegs. The fireplace in the lobby was large enough to walk in. The view from the lodge was incredible and especially from the cupola. We had played there on Saturday night and left most of our instruments and equipment and it all burned when the lodge burned down."
The two old chimneys stand today as a memorial to the beautiful Pend Oreille Lodge that was built before its time.
To see more great old photos of Sandpoint and the surrounding areas :: Click Here ::
All photographs have been used with permission of the Bonner County Museum.
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