Huckleberries: Mining memories from Mullan

First, you should know that Mullan is that little Silver Valley town near Wallace at the foot of Lookout Pass. Then, you should know that Art Anderson has lived in Mullan, off and on, for 60 years, and has a good idea how you can tell if you’re a native. Yes, this is another in the Huckleberries series re: the characteristics of natives of various North Idaho locales. You can tell you’re from Mullan, according to Art, if … You rolled rocks down the hill at Rocky Point and hoped they didn’t hit passing cars. You watched the Morning Mine burn down. You remember it took at least 30 minutes to drive the seven miles of pot-holey, winding, narrow, two-lane road to Wallace. More time if you had to dodge moose. You were surprised when you got a little older and discovered that Finn Gulch and Knob Hill weren’t real place names. You remember when the Lucky Friday mine wasn’t much more than a dog hole. You remember when Lookout ski hill had rope towlines. You not only have been there, but you know that No. 5 refers to a mine tunnel exit above Mullan from the Star mine in Burke. You could judge the temperature of the fresh water in the unheated Mullan pool by its murkiness. You know where Old Baldy is. You remember when the town actually had retail businesses. You know who burned down the Victor Hotel. You know which bar in town you could go to after hours to buy a jug from “the swamper.” Clark’s and Harwood’s drug stores were your regular stops as kids because they had all kinds of penny candy. Next: Sandpoint.