They're Coming!

First to arrive in Potlatch with their speeders were Jerry and Karen Wagner of Eagle ID. This is their third year of coming to support the depot and they're excited to share the speeder experience with riders on Saturday. In this photo, Dave Cada, city councilman from Potlatch, helps Karen and Jerry unload their speeder. Incidentally, Dave's parents made their first home in the depot.

Sparkling Windows

Notice those sparkling windows at the depot? Thank Carol Cooley of US Bank for all the sweat equity on this one. Carol helped the depot last year and was back with her same enthusiasm this year. She cleaned all the downstairs windows inside and out, and probably would've done the upstairs windows as well if the ladder had been tall enough! Thank you Carol!

Waiting for the speeders.....

Only one week until the speeders come to town! Presale tickets go on sale Monday July 6 at the Potlatch branch of US Bank. Presale tickets let you choose your time and guarantee a ride, so it's advised that you get those tickets early. You can also get tickets for the Saturday evening barbecue with Tyler Renz serving up some of his original favorites. And don't foget that the Bennett boxcar stage will have music starting at noon. The Potlatch Historical Society, the HPG and the Latah County Historical Society will all have new displays, so check them out in the freight room....

Speeder Riding Tips

If you plan to ride the speeders in Potlatch on July 11 or 12, we post the following background and tips for a safe and fun experience:

Thank you for your speeder (motor) car ride ticket purchase. Below are a few tips and recommendations to enhance your experience riding the rails.

· The ticket(s) you have purchased indicate the ride departure time on the reverse side of your ticket. Please be present on the depot platform prepared to board your ride at least 15 minutes before your departure time.

· Please follow the instructions given by the platform and boarding personnel. Do not attempt to board your car until instructed to do so.

· Speeder cars by design have limited seating capacity. Every effort will be made to accommodate your group in the same car. However, due to the fact that most cars are unable to seat more than 2 persons in addition to the operator you may need to be split up. (We will not know until ride day which cars and capacities are available.)

· Children 8 years of age and under must be accompanied by a parent or guardian (16 years of age or older) and ride in the same car.

· Wear sturdy footwear. Walking along the rails to board and to turn your car at the end point can be quite rough.

· No smoking or consumption of alcohol is allowed while on board or for the duration of your ride.

· The owner/operator of your car is a member of Pacific Railcar Operators, an organization of railcar owners that enjoy riding on various railroads throughout the Northwest. Each operator has volunteered to provide your ride at his/her own expense. Please take a moment to express your thanks to your operator for the opportunity to have this experience of riding the rails.

· Proceeds from the sale of tickets are used by the WI&M Railway History Preservation Group, an IRS 501c3 non-profit organization, for preservation and restoration efforts of the Potlatch Depot and other projects.

· Above all, be safe and enjoy your day with the WI&M HPG.

· THANKS AGAIN for your support.

Getting Ready...

With the two-week countdown begun, Don Somers and Jack Coyner have been out weed whacking around the depot. There is no shortage of weeds to whack and no shortage of work!

Meanwhile, Jim West, daughter Tory and her boyfriend Jarred got the curtains hung in the boxcar in preparation for the music event. The blue velvet curtains are a perfect enhancement for the Bennett boxcar stage and everyone should be ready for some great bluegrass music and even some dancing! Thanks again to Troy High School for the donation of the theater curtains!

The Speeders Are Coming!

Speeder presale tickets available July 6

The 6th Annual WI&M Railway HPG History Days are slated for July 11 and 12. With keen competition for speeder car rides, presale tickets will again be available this year, guaranteeing rides at specific times. The presale tickets, on sale at US Bank (Potlatch branch) starting July 6, will be $15 for adults and $10 for age 12 and under.

Tickets purchased at the depot on the day of the event will run $10 for adults, and $5 for age 12 and under. Those tickets will be on a first come first served basis.

This year’s ride options include trips from Potlatch to Princeton, and from Potlatch to Kennedy Ford, with speeders starting the rides at 9 am. A silent auction will be conducted on July 11 for longer excursion rides to either Marshall WA or Moscow.

In addition to the speeder rides, there will be bluegrass and fiddle music on the newly painted Bennett boxcar stage from 11 am to 6 pm. There will also be a food court featuring Tyler Renz’s barbecue lunches and drink sales by the Boy Scouts. The Extra Fare Barbecue by Tyler Renz will be Saturday evening with tickets priced at $10.00 for adults and $6 for 12 and under. The barbecue tickets can be purchased ahead of time at US Bank or at the depot.

Inside the depot freight room, visitors can view the historical pictures and displays provided by the Potlatch Historical Society and the Latah County Historical Society, and railroad themed products will be for sale at the Company Store.

Plan to attend the full day of family activities!

Jim West Accepts the Award

Here is the official photo of Jim West accepting the Take Pride in Idaho Award at Sun Valley:

Karen Ballard, Administrator of Tourism for the Idaho Dept. of Commerce is holding the award, a photo of Sun Valley with a brass inscribed plate on the frame inscribed for “Governor’s Pride in Idaho Award for Historic Preservation – Potlatch Depot Restoration Project”. [Photo Credit: Idaho Tourism]

The official list of winners can be found at:
http://commerce.idaho.gov/assets/content/docs/ICORT/Take%20Pride%20in%20Idaho%20Awards%20Presented%20at%20Idaho%20Conference.pdf

An excerpt of the note today from Jim after returning from Sun Valley:

... when I gave my short speech on the importance of the depot that was no longer noticed, a structure that had housed the Potlatch Lumber Company offices which established the Weyerhaeuser/Laird/Norton group of Midwest lumberman’s move into the northwest, which led to the development of Boise Payette (Boise Cascade) and Weyerhaeuser, two companies, along with Potlatch, that became the lifeblood of the Pacific Northwest, both Earl Holding and Wally Huffman, [37 year] owner and [32 year] manager, respectively, of the Sun Valley Resort, nodded in agreement. I found their attention to my words very encouraging.

When the depot project slide show was introduced before I spoke, Ron Gardner, the emcee, put in a plug for us about needing money to complete the depot’s interior, and I reiterated our willingness to accept donations, large or small. I concluded with a request that all the luncheon participants open their eyes a bit more when they returned home after the conference, to look at their familiar surroundings with a more objective eye, for they, too, might have an unpolished gem awaiting notice in their own home town.

One humorous side note. I didn’t realize the award was a secret, so I let the cat out of the bag when I was introduced to our northern region representatives. When I told them why I was there, they gave a startled “whoop!”, then covered their mouths, since they had no idea our region was receiving an award! To their credit, and my relief, they pretended to be surprised when the time came for the “official” announcement.

The presentation was very nice, emotionally uplifting and rewarding. We are seldom acknowledged for preservation work, so I found myself a bit emotional when speaking. The luncheon was fantastic. It was our first time to Sun Valley, and Becca and I enjoyed being there, if only for a few hours.

Jim