Shining the Light of Truth in Northern Idaho

History of Northern Idaho
1805–1899

Explorers from the Lewis and Clark Expedition 1803-1806 entered Idaho on August 12, 1805. Later on in 1807 famous explorer David Thompson came into Idaho from Southeast British Columbia.

By 1863, gold was discovered along Wild Horse Creek drawing great numbers of prospectors and pack trains into the region which extended from the Bonners Ferry Possession. Great numbers of men prompted the establishment of a ferry for the purpose of transporting supplies across the Kootenai River.

In 1888 William Eaton constructed a general store. The town was simply known as Fry. Richard Fry was appointed postmaster of the newly established post office. This settlement was named Bonnerport. Eaton then developed an adjoining townsite where St. Ann's was established. Both villages merged on April 15, 1899 to become the present day Bonners Ferry.

Catholic Presence in Northern Idaho

While American explorers scouted the Pacific Northwest, the Flathead Indians sent scouts to St. Louis to bring back the “Black Robes(Jesuits)” priests to teach their tribsmen and women the Catholic Faith. While the prospectors sought gold, the Indians brought spiritual gold miners to their people.

The Jesuits were on fire with missionary zeal to spread the word of God. It is from their pens, written at times in canoes, smoky wigwams and along the wilderness trails, that we get our wealth of geographic and ethnographic knowledge of the area.

Father Pierre DeSmet “The Apostle of the Rockies” founded the Jesuit Missions of the Pacific Northwest. He said Mass on July 23rd 1840 at Lake Henry. He met with a band of Kootenai Indians who camped on Pine Island (here in Bonners Ferry) in 1844. The Jesuit Fathers served the Kootenai Indians from 1840 to 1890.

The Oblate priests from St. Eugene's Mission in Cranbrook, BC took change from1891 to1926. Responsibility for the Kootenai Indians returned to the Jesuits from 1926 until 1931. Diocesian priests took over from 1931.

Church Buildings

The Jesuits serving the Kootenai Indians built a crude log cabin with a cedar-bark roof covered with clay in 1890. It served as a church for the Indians. In a few years, the roof collapsed. The building was replaced in 1907. All three mission churches were dedicated St. Michael the Archangel.

The plans for a church for Bonners Ferry began on September 22nd 1894 when Bishop Alphonse Glorieux visited Bonners Ferry. John Mulfield, a carpenter by trade and a member of the Catholic community, began work seven days later. He was assisted by Tom Desmond, a Catholic finish carpenter. The first Mass was said on May 25th 1895. The Catholic ladies held a 4th of July Benefit Ball and Ice Cream Social. The steeple was purchased on November 2nd of that year. The church was dedicated toSt. Ann, Mother of the Blessed Virgin. Due to increasing lumber operations the church was expanded in 1913.

The original St. Ann's was replaced by new church and rectory on December13th 1963. The location was moved to 6712 El Paso, Bonners Ferry.

The old St. Ann's, extensively renovated in 1980-1984, has been converted to the Pearl Theater 7160 Ash Street, Bonners Ferry.

On April 21st, 2016, St. Ann's Church was destroyed by a fire set by an arsonist. With help from the Diosese of Boise, A completely new church building was erected on the old parking lot. It was dedicated on August 14, 2018 by Bishop Christensen.