I didn’t know there was a subtle Northwest bias against ex-Californians until I became one.
It first surfaced during the 1977 Fourth of July weekend in Kalispell, Mont., as my wife and I moved into a small rental house, owned by Publisher C. Patrick King of The Daily Inter Lake.
A neighbor voiced his dislike for Golden State refugees while helping unload my U-Haul. Seems ex-Californians were to blame for higher housing prices, clogged roads, odd political ideas and every annoyance under the Big Sky except the unpredictable weather.
I didn’t take offense. My neighbor was open and friendly. And I needed his help. I didn’t know anyone in town after relocating from Stockton, Calif., to become news editor — and later managing editor — of Duane Hagadone’s Montana daily.
I was 27.
My neighbor was impressed that I arrived in Flathead County with a decent job.
And that’s when I learned something about wary Pacific Northwesterners: They were fine with outsiders, even ex-Californians, who were productive and minded their own business.
Now fast forward to September 1990. I was a reporter for The Spokesman-Review in Coeur d’Alene when The Press spotlighted the ongoing California invasion. Was it good or bad?
“I think a large number of families have relocated to Coeur d’Alene from California because of the quality of life,” Art Elliott, a chamber of commerce official, told The Press.
In July and August 1990, the chamber fielded 338 inquiries about the area from Californians. Washington was next with 53 inquiries, followed by Arizona with 49.
The passion of some Californians for all things Idaho was a mixed bag.
Californians had boosted tourism, according to Marci Maas of The Coeur d’Alene Resort. About 15-20% of The Resort guests were from California, she said. And they spent more money and stayed in higher-priced rooms.
Of concern, however, the North Idaho Food Bank reported that about half of the 445 new customers in August 1990 were ex-Californians.
Few locals in the early 1990s were concerned about population growth. After the doldrums of the 1980s, some welcomed it. There was room. And the infrastructure was adequate.
Ex-Californian Susan Kraft, who fell in love with the area while visiting other ex-Californians, didn’t expect Coeur d’Alene to become more than a summer tourist area.
She told The Press: “Californians don’t like winter.”
Neither did I, at first.
Smooth delivery?
Only the baby delivery went smoothly for Melody Cossey 30 years ago, as unorthodox as it was.
On Oct. 2, 1995, after two hours of contractions, the Spirit Lake woman headed to Kootenai Medical Center with her husband, David, and mother-in-law Becky Cossey. But the trio made it only as far as the Sports Arena Pizza lot in Rathdrum before the baby started coming.
Officer Tomi McLean made it there first.
The Rathdrum cop helped Melody lie down in the front seat. And she then tried to calm the expectant mother. Officer McLean, who had no formal training in child delivery, changed her tune from “Don’t push!” to “Push!” when the baby’s head crowned.
With an assist from Melody’s mother-in-law, the officer delivered the baby three minutes before the Post Falls Ambulance arrived.
Later, Melody said from her hospital bed: “It was very scary.”
And that’s how Taylor Lynn joined her 2-year-old sister, Leigh Ann.
Hiking Tubbs Hill
Tubbs Hill rabbits today may be related to bunnies that Don Ingalls dumped there in 1942.
On Sept. 23, 2000, Ingalls, then 76, told The Press: “I didn’t know what to do with them.”
Ingalls and 1,400 others formed a human chain in a failed attempt to encircle the hill. Twice as many people were needed to accomplish the goal, according to Hands Around Tubbs Hill organizers, like current City Councilwoman Kiki Miller.
The stunt, however, did raise $6,000 to protect the sanctuary.
It attracted all ages, including 101-year-old Nelle Bell, who first visited Tubbs Hill in 1936 when her family moved to Coeur d’Alene. Three other generations of her family helped her “hike” Tubbs Hill in a wheelchair on that ideal fall day.
Virginia Atwood, a Lake City resident for 80 years, told The Press: “This was my playground. It’s a whole little ecosystem, right next to concrete.”
And, thanks to the town’s hill huggers, it will remain pristine forever.
Because you asked
Old-timers enjoy saying that they were born in the parking lot of the Iron Horse.
And they aren’t entirely wrong.
Coeur d’Alene’s first modern hospital — Lake City General Hospital — occupied the site behind the restaurant until 1966. Opened on Feb. 1, 1930, the hospital was sold to Dr. Otto Husted in 1941 and later expanded to include a maternity ward.
Husted’s partner, Dr. E.R.W. “Ted” Fox, handled most of his 4,000 baby deliveries there.
Why bring up the old hospital now? Music promoter Michael Koep asked to see a photo of it.
Huckleberries
• Poet’s Corner: Oh comely pizza, hot and cheesy,/the most alluring fragrance greasy/bewitches like a siren’s call — /I curseth my cholesterol — The Bard of Sherman Avenue (“Pleasures Now Forbidden”).
• Did You Know? Legendary Evel Knievel was one of us. Sorta. On Sept. 17, 2000, he led 20 motorcyclists on an annual ride around Lake Coeur d’Alene. After a singular stunt career of jumps and bumps — and 36 months of hospital stays for a Guinness World Record 433 fractures, the retired Evel split his time between Florida and here.
• Something New: Old King Solomon said, “There’s nothing new under the sun.” But he didn’t see that 4-pound, 10-inch pine cone that Tony Riggs of Coeur d’Alene found while walking to school in October 1995. Graciously, Tony told The Press that he planned to keep the giant cone forever and to show it to anyone who asked to see it.
• On Vacation: It’s time for a vacay with my adult kids. I’ll be on vacation for the next three weeks. Huckleberries will return Oct.19. Thanks for reading my scribblings.
• Memoriam: Flamboyant Lois Land-Albrecht died Sept. 15, 1995. She was a “crusty old broad” with a sharp tongue who skewered Coeur d’Alene’s high and mighty — and fought for her barking dog Bandito’s right to annoy neighbors. She flung barbs freely, once referring to an incumbent commissioner as “Mr. Peanut.” She’s still missed.
Parting shot
Use Judy Meyer to measure candidates for nonpartisan offices this November.
She’s done it all: Idaho Board of Education president, North Idaho College trustee (1995-2017), Community Library Network trustee (30-plus years) and much more.
On Sept. 20, 2005, Judy and her husband, Steve, capped their long history of community service and generosity by donating $1 million to North Idaho College. Their gift guaranteed the ongoing purchase of high-tech equipment for the Meyer Health and Sciences Building.
Bottom line? Judy epitomizes the type of person who should serve on our nonpartisan boards — a longtime resident devoted to her community.
Judy isn’t running for office now. But voters should support others like her — not newbies who offer little but ideological claptrap and chaos.
• • •