A Tisket, A Tasket, Oh For Spudnuts In A Basket

Ever stuff down a Spudnut to the beat of Benny Goodman’s “Sing, Sing, Sing” booming from the jukebox?

“One potato, two potato, three potato four, five potato, six potato, seven potato more.”

The old stone Spudnuts doughnut shop in midtown Coeur d’Alene smelled so tantalizing with yeast and sugar, hot oil and chocolate frosting, that it obliterated from memory the gas station it used to be.

“Oh, I’d like to be there now,” says 90-year-old Regina Zimmerman, who opened Spudnuts with her husband, Ben, in 1948.

“Don’t sit under the doughnut tree with anyone else but me.”

Regina and Ben deserted wild Montana in 1947 for tamer Coeur d’Alene and arrived with two sons and no jobs. Luckily, they stopped on the trip in Bozeman for Spudnuts, the doughnuts made with potatoes.

“Oh, we loved those,” Regina says, showing just how much with a delicious giggle.

Regina had taught school for eight years, but Coeur d’Alene had enough teachers. It didn’t have Spudnuts.

The old gas station on Fourth Street was just big enough for a counter with spinning stools, a fryer, a jukebox and a small crowd of diners.

“How much is that doughnut in the window? I do hope that doughnut’s for sale.”

“People said, ‘What a difference!’ when they tasted those Spudnuts,” Regina says. “There’s no comparison.”

Dick Panabaker ate so many in 1953 that he got sick. He was 13 and always stopped at Spudnuts on his paper route. Regina knew food was tight in his big family and gave him a dozen Spudnuts to take home.

“I ate the whole works,” Dick, now 57, confesses.

Regina and Ben dished out chicken fried steak and 20-cent hamburgers, too, but people came mostly for Spudnuts and good conversation. Regina’s best memories stem from the nine years she helped run Spudnuts.

“We didn’t make much money, but we fed our family and had a good time,” she says. And made a lot of friends.

After Spudnuts closed, a bar opened in its place. But, when Regina turned 90 last month, her Spudnutters were there … by the dozens.

Weed wacky

My column last month on Jerry Niehoff’s problem with knapweed prompted Tensed’s Laura Reid to fire off a letter supporting the noxious weed. Laura says knapweed has medicinal uses, and she questions the Kootenai County Extension Office’s pamphlet that advises weeders to protect themselves.

Wearing gloves to weed anything seems common sense to me, but I’m no gardener.

Overlooked and underappreciated

Remember Lake City High’s Renaissance program and the drive to bring “Wheel of Fortune” to Coeur d’Alene? Jennifer Johnson is the parent power behind the program, but teacher Fred Patano makes everything happen on campus.

Jennifer and Fred still are collecting letters to Wheel of Fortune from anyone who wants to invite the show to town. “The Wheel” is interested. Take your letters to Lake City High’s office.

Swing time

If you’ve pined for the days when the USO threw parties at the YMCA and everyone danced as if there was no tomorrow, head to the USO Sock Hop at the Kootenai County Fairgrounds Nov. 15.

Adult Generation Enterprises had the good sense to mix nostalgia and great music to raise money for services for senior citizens. The dance starts at 8 p.m. and costs $10 per person at Rosauers. Don’t forget the white socks.

, DataTimes ILLUSTRATION: Photo

MEMO: Who’s your favorite elder and why? Spell out his or her story for Cynthia Taggart, “Close to Home,” 608 Northwest Blvd., Suite 200, Coeur d’Alene 83814; fax to 765-7149; call 765-7128; or e-mail to cynthiat@spokesman.com.