Bonners Ferry in Boundary County, Idaho — The American West (Mountains)
Railroad Services
Trains also provided mail service. Post offices opened, sometimes located in homes or mercantile. Trains picked up mail at regular stops or used the "on-the-fly" method of catching a mail bag with a hook from a stationary pole beside the track. At the same time, the railroad crew tossed the incoming mail bags from the train.
The railroad boosted domestic trade by transporting local fruit, grain, and dairy products. The locals sent their milk and cream cans into town on rails and retrieved their empty cans on the return trip. Trains hauled logs from logging operations to local mills and delivered finished lumber to markets. Ore concentrates from the Continental Mine were delivered to the valley and then carried by the railroads to distant smelters.
Eventually the rails of the KVRR were abandoned, but two lines continue to operate. Many of the places along the railroad have faded away, leaving only memories of the days when railroads helped settle and develop the area.
Erected 2009 by Boundary County Historical Society.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Communications • Industry & Commerce • Railroads & Streetcars.
Location. 48° 41.861′ N, 116° 18.693′ W. Marker is in Bonners Ferry, Idaho, in Boundary County. Marker can be reached from Main Street near Riverside Street, on the right when traveling north. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 7229 Main Street, Bonners Ferry ID 83805, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. Railroad Laborers (here, next to this marker); Spokane International Railway (here, next to this marker); Kootenai Valley Railway (here, next to this marker); Logging Railroads (here, next to this marker); Great Northern Railway 1892 (here, next to this marker); A Town is Born Along the Way (here, next to this marker); Semaphores (here, next to this marker); Pelton Wheel (within shouting distance of this marker). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Bonners Ferry.
More about this marker. This marker is located on the backside of the building at 7229 Main Street near the entrance to the Boundary County Museum.
Credits. This page was last revised on September 6, 2018. It was originally submitted on August 31, 2018, by Barry Swackhamer of Brentwood, California. This page has been viewed 166 times since then and 7 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on August 31, 2018, by Barry Swackhamer of Brentwood, California.