Photo: History of a Frontier Community Marker

Photographer: Barry Swackhamer
Taken: May 5, 2018
Caption: History of a Frontier Community Marker
Additional Description: Captions: (top) This early 1900s view shows the town separated by Mount Stuart. The area to the right of the photo shows the confluence of the Clearwater River's South Fork and Middle Fork as well as the depot and train tracks. The green star indicates where you are standing today.; (middle left) A packstring winding down Main Street was a common spectacle in the early 1900s.; (bottom left) James Stuart is shown above left with his trusted horse Chechopath, and above right posing with his wife in these turn-of-the-century photos.; (center row, top to bottom) Early 1900s Kooskia flour mill was built on the west bank of the South Fork Clearwater River near the base of Mount Stuart. There was a tram from the mill to the Camas Prairie gran fields from 1909 to 1939. The tramway carried 30 buckets on two cables running the entire length of the 1.25 miles.; January 3, 1913 Within a four-hour period and pushed by a brisk wind, fire raged through Kooskia's business district. It was thought the fires started in the pool hall and engulfed the town's other wooden structures Very few buildings survived the fire.; May 22, 1948 Kooskia was flooded when the South Fork Clearwater River overflowed its banks. A week later, the Middle Fork swept over its banks. Soon thereafter, levies were built to secure protection from high water.; (side bar on right) Bitterroot Forest Reserve employees pose in front of the Kooskia headquarters in May 1907. Today the building, at the northwest corner of Front Street and A Avenue is a residence.
Submitted: August 8, 2018, by Barry Swackhamer of Brentwood, California.
Database Locator Identification Number: p439065
File Size: 3.362 Megabytes

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