Eagles Going Where Others Haven’t Dared

It may be the first Kellogg-Wallace consolidation in history.

School districts have studied it, hospital districts have discussed it, but the 100-year-old rivalry between the two towns has always brought any notion of a merger down in flames.

Until now.

Members of the Fraternal Order of Eagles are soaring from Kellogg and Wardner past the century-old barrier to join the Eagles in Wallace.

“The reason I’m so happy is not so much for the Eagles, but for the Valley,” says Chuck Herrod, who belongs to the Wallace group, Aerie 54.

Chartered in 1900, Aerie 54 has prospered partly because it owns its building, Herrod explains.

“Wallace and Kellogg aren’t large enough to support two fraternal orders,” he says. “Even Coeur d’Alene has problems, and they’re way bigger than us.”

Bill Elliott, treasurer of the Kellogg group, Aerie 170, says the decision to merge wasn’t hard.

“We’re down to so few members, it was either that or give it up altogether,” he says. “It feels all right. It’s a load off our shoulders.”

The new group will have about 75 members. You’ll find many of them at Murray’s Molly B’Damn days next weekend.

Herrod talks about renaming Aerie 54 the Silver Valley Eagles.

“We’ve got to start thinking along these lines,” he says. “I think it’s great that the Kellogg folks decided to join us, rather than just fade away.”

For membership information, contact Herrod at 753-5051.

Pack your picnics

Everybody loves to visit Murray, that colorful gold rush town with its turn-of-the century bars. But it’s hard to find a place to sit down there, short of a bar stool.

That’s about to change. Walt Almquist, former owner of the Spragpole Bar and Museum, last year donated four lots to the town. Now the Molly B’Damn Committee, a non-profit organization formed to raise money for the community, has decided to turn the property into a park.

“We’ve always wanted a place for people to have a picnic lunch and just enjoy the town,” says Connie Roath, Almquist’s niece and the Spragpole’s new owner.

Water lines are already in. Volunteers are constructing a gazebo. After Molly B’Damn Days next weekend, they’ll plant grass. The committee wants to add picnic benches, volleyball and basketball courts, and playground equipment, as money allows.

Recently the Chili Appreciation Society International agreed to cook up a fund-raiser for the park. They’ll be a tasty addition to next week’s festival.

Volunteers galore

With Jack Dooling, the Mullan Volunteer Fire Department always came first.

“Come hell or high water, he was ready to go,” says Helen, his wife of 53 years.

He was an exceptional member of an exceptional organization. Founded in 1894, the department has never hurt for volunteers.

“We have 25 members. We’ve always had 25. And there’s a list of 15 or 20 people waiting to get on,” says Fire Chief Paul Sala.

The department is funded entirely by donations and proceeds from the 25th annual Fireman’s Fun Festival this weekend.

Today’s events include a parade and street dance, as well as kids’ games and notoriously funny competitions between the Silver Valley’s various fire departments.

Dooling, 78, had been a volunteer for 57 years when he died in June. The heart attack struck while he was mowing the lawn. His wife says his friends from the volunteer fire department were there in minutes.

“They responded very well,” she says. “But then, they always do.”

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