A rich history by any name
This year marks the 100th year of the city of Athol, Idaho, as an incorporated city.
The little town that everyone enjoys poking fun at is celebrating its centennial with the traditional Athol Daze parade and fair in the park on Saturday.
Once asked how Athol got its name, Mayor Lanny Spurlock replied, “Thumbody with a lithp.” Actually it was named after the Scottish Duke of Athole. A subsequent duke changed the spelling for the obvious reason. He dropped the “E” at the end and substituted an additional L. In later years, the L was dropped and Athol became the accepted spelling.
The first settler in the area of what is now Athol was a homesteader, A.H. Noble, back in 1892. As more settlers moved in, the Northern Pacific Railroad established a section crew and depot for refueling and watering steam engines.
By 1903 Athol had a thriving business center with a general store, S.H. Watkins, and the Butler Brothers Drug Store. A second general store was owned by J.A. Williams. Athol became official when the U.S. Postal Service established a post office in 1895, and along with a blacksmith shop, feed barn and the Pacific Hotel, a city was born.
The first lumber mill was built in 1902 by Hackett & Wilson and was incorporated Jan. 1, 1903 as the Athol Lumber Co. Water was hauled to the mill by train and stored in a huge cistern, since a well had not been dug yet. The mill burned down in 1912.
More than 50 years later, the town faced another fire-related crisis. The all-volunteer fire department had fallen apart. In the early days, women often filled political positions. Some women, mostly mayors, councilpersons and past holders of those positions, also became members of the Athol fire brigade.
Most of the men were either working at the mill or out in the woods logging. Former mayor and fire Chief Joreen Bohn said, “Most of the men were working either in the woods, the mill, or for the railroad. Those left in town were old, disabled or drunk.
“The department originally had 17 members, but as all-volunteer organizations, some dropped out or had babies.” There was, however, always a core group including Bohn, Ruth Hunter-Ewing, Marie Allen and Vicki Upchurch. Ruth has died, as has Marie Allen.
The centennial celebration will include the largest parade ever, with two bands. One is a Scottish bagpipe group, Albeni Falls Pipers, which given the city name’s history is appropriate. Also marching will be another band, a llama and two camels. Jeanene Christ, camel trainer, will offer camel rides after the parade at City Park. Athol requests that parade participants preregister. The parade kicks off Saturday at 10 a.m.
For more information about Athol Daze, call city clerk Sally Hansen at (208) 683-2101. Following the festivities at the park, the American Legion, Athol Post 149, will hold an old-timers’ jam session under the gazebo behind the legion hall. It is open to all and starts about 4 p.m. Organized by Larry James, the featured group is Larry’s old band, Hwy. 54. The band, which broke up several years ago, is holding a reunion with all of the former members, along with the ever-popular Bell’s Family and more than 30 other outstanding area musicians.