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This page is reserved for comments we receive and conversations that may emerge about a potential National Heritage Area for the Coeur d'Alene Mining District.

Please send messages to roizen@cebridge.net and then check at this web page for your postings and those of others.

Mike and Janet Feiler write (9/12/07):

I just spent an hour on the Wallace Chamber web page reading the National Heritage Construction Kit.  Frankly I'm astounded that I knew nothing about your great effort. I am a history buff and very interested in the story of the Coeur d'Alene Mining District. At any rate, my wife and I have been working for the last three years on a project I hope is making us more fit to support your effort in some way.

We are restoring a home in the Valley and plan to retire there in a couple years. Every hour we spend in Wallace gives us a deeper understanding and appreciation not only for the colorful history and beautiful geography of the Coeur d'Alene Mining District but also of its rich and unique culture.

Nothing short of getting to know, appreciate and love the people we have met in Wallace tells the story better than Gregg Olsen's book "The Deep Dark". It uses the backdrop of the greatest tragedy in the history of the District to show the real strength, faith and bond of the people who live there. That book and this web page should be added to your list of resources http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=4657449.

That meandering takes me to here. Please don't overlook the diverse architecture and strong neighborhoods in the residential area in the main part of Wallace. Two things prompt that suggestion. First is the amazing number of tourists who collar my wife and I and want to talk about how enthralled they are with the town and how it feels like what they remember  about their grandparent's hometown.

Second is a comment from our then seven-year-old grandson a couple years ago. He was helping us do some work in the house and after a long day suggested we should walk downtown and buy a jigsaw puzzle. Even though we had made this walk many times before, the route and what he saw this seemed to be of special interest to him.

We got back to the house about half an hour later where he walked over to my wife. "Grandma",  he said, "in Wallace, everything is in our neighborhood".
That says it all. There are few places left that can still make that claim.

I hope the rich culture of the people of The Silver Valley can find a prominent place when you complete the final draft of your proposal.

Meantime, please add us to your e-mail list as a strong supporter of your efforts.


Link to Suzanne Jacobson's article in the Shoshone News-Press titled "Mining District Offers History"; article was published in the paper on June 30, 2007 and posted to the paper's web page on July 3.

Suzi Neitzel (Idaho State Historical Society) writes (3/29/2007):

Thanks Ron.  I have often said that Silver Valley is a ready-made Heritage area.  Nice website.  Give us a call if you want a letter of support for the NPS.

Suzi  


Joe Grismer writes (3/29/2007):

Subject: Re: New Web Page for a potential Coeur d'Alene Mining District National Heritage Area

A few years back when I was very active with the Chamber of Commerce I approached the County Commissioners re developing a Scenic Byway from Cataldo/Enaville, along the North Fork, up over Dobson Pass, down through Nine Mile, through Wallace, up to Mullan, back to Wallace, up to Burke, back to Wallace, through to Kellogg and on back on I 90 to Coeurd'Alene.   They showed some interest but had no money to invest leaving it up to me to pursue.   I didn't as local Wallace projects took over.   As a starting point for developing a Heritage Community this may be an opportunity to look into further.

Joe