Celebrating local history

POST FALLS — The oldest standing building in Post Falls will be honored Thursday during a celebration of the 50th anniversary of the National Historic Preservation Act.

As part of Idaho Archeological and History Month, the Post Falls Historical Society is inviting the community to visit the Jacklin Arts and Cultural Center to enjoy music, refreshments, artwork and the sound of the old church bell as it rings throughout the roughly 120-year-old building.

The JACC was originally two churches that were built in the 1890s and merged together after World War I.

"History records change. How do people roll with the punches? How do they survive?" said Kim Brown, Post Falls Historical Society secretary and past president. "In the case of this building, in the West, especially, things are discarded, so having a piece of our oldest history is a treasure and we want to share it on Thursday."

Post Falls Mayor Ron Jacobson will welcome guests to the free event, which starts at 6 p.m.

"Those of us in history, we don't want to keep it for ourselves. We want to share it," Brown said. "We want to invite them in, ring the bell. We want new residents to come in and at least have to opportunity to look inside ... we want to open the doors and have people come into a free event to take a look at what our forefathers put together back in the old horse-and-buggy days."

The JACC is located at 405 N. William St. in Post Falls.

Info: pfhistorical@roadrunner.com, 262-9642 or 457-8950.