By: Bob Gunter
The first white man to come to the area was the
famed David Thompson, map maker and fur dealer.
He had traveled from Canada and built Kulyspell
House on the peninsula of Lake Pend Oreille.
The first white man to come to the area was the
famed David Thompson, map maker and fur dealer.
He had traveled from Canada and built Kulyspell
House on the peninsula of Lake Pend Oreille.
The history of Hope began in 1882 with the
coming of the railroad. The town was built on a
hill overlooking beautiful Lake Pend Oreille.
Any person living in the area today will readily
tell you that it is the most beautiful spot on
earth.
In the early days the Northern Pacific Railroad
built Highland House in Hope as a luxury hotel
for the use of Easterners. The hotel had three
stories and was well publicized as a place of
recreation and relaxation. The most famous
visitor to stay at the hotel was General William
Sherman of Civil War fame.
Before the Northern Pacific moved its division
point from Heron, Montana, Hope had only a few
families and some Indians living in the area.
The move resulted in over-night growth and Hope
became a center of activity. The town got its
name from a Dr. Hope who was a veterinarian with
the railroad. The town was plotted in 1896 and
in 1903 a petition for corporation was signed.
In the early days of Hope gambling and drinking
was the order of the day. At one time there were
seven saloons in a one-block area. One of the
popular saloons was located in the old Jeannot
Hotel. This hotel has been renovated and still
stands but is no longer in business. One of the
stores in early Hope was called Twin Woo
Company. The owner, Twin Woo, also managed the
Chinese who worked on the railroad. At one time
there were 300 Chinese workers employed in the
Hope area.
Early Hope sported a Post Office, two Hotels,
two restaurants, a lumber company, two barber
shops, a lath and shingle mill, two meat
markets, blacksmith shop, and a drug store.
Wagon, horseback, train or boat provided
transportation.
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