HUCKLEBERRIES: Hydromania ran out of gas in North Idaho

The Diamond Cup races on Lake Coeur d’Alene unofficially ended 55 years ago today with the Coeur d’Alene Press announcement: “Diamond Cup Canceled.”

After 10 years of a thrilling, albeit sometimes turbulent, series of races, the main event that defined Coeur d’Alene’s summers from 1958-68 ended with a whimper.

Organizers couldn’t find enough volunteers, especially new ones, to stage the 1969 contest. As other factors in their tough decision, they cited increased costs and soft community support.

“Business-wise, the races have been good for the city,” said Councilman Howard Hudson. “However, over the past 10 years, a few hundred persons have had to support the race.”

Ed Jones, president of the downtown merchants’ association, said the races “should have been canceled four years ago.” Said Jones: “The races do not do that much for the town, and there are places that the effort and money could be spent that would benefit the community now.”

The races helped the tourism industry by attracting thousands of vacationers. But promoters struggled to break even. In 1968, after a year’s hiatus, the races realized a profit of only $581.

Supporter Tom Dotzler Sr. said he was surprised that the races lasted as long as they did: “Until the beginning of the Diamond Cup races, this community never did really get behind any type of community effort. After the races became old hat, they lost what community support they had.”

The Diamond Cup exploded onto the local scene when town leaders persuaded hydro officials in Detroit, Mich., to schedule a 1958 race in Coeur d’Alene. And they did — on June 28-29. Such was the hydromania in town that an exhibition run by Miss Spokane on Hayden Lake that summer drew 40,000 spectators.

From 1961-64, the two-day races were beset by downtown disturbances on Saturday nights when young drunks roamed Sherman Avenue. Memories of those troubles — some called them “riots” — would be used by opponents in fall 1985 to vote down an effort to revive the races.

A handful of attempts were made to resurrect the Diamond Cup in the decades after the 1969 decision. But only one was successful — in 2013. And that one was beset by money problems.

The glory days of the Diamond Cup live on in the fading memories of old-timers who heard thunderboats roar and watched rooster tails spray in the late ‘50s and ‘60s on Lake Coeur d’Alene.

Also, they are commemorated in a memorial, east of The Coeur d’Alene Resort, to decorated Air Force veteran Warner Gardner and other drivers who died chasing fame in the dangerous sport.

Gardner, who saved fellow driver Mira Slovak after a 1963 Diamond Cup crash, participated in the 1968 races before being killed weeks later in a hydroplane accident at Detroit. That tragedy brought the curtain down on an era now found only in local history books.

No longer afraid

Bob Pearl had feared the Post Falls Dam since April 24, 1989, when he and three others on a small boat, including his brother, were swept through the roaring third channel.

But he faced that fear on the 20th anniversary of the family disaster by returning to the site to reunite with his rescuers and find closure. He had immediately recognized — and hugged — his rescuers. There were tears.

“I’m not frightened of this place anymore,” Bob, then 33 and a Mercedes salesman living near Chicago, told The Press.

Bob recalled the tragedy clearly.

Launched from nearby Q’emiln Park, the new boat carried four: Bob’s step-grandfather, William Pfeiffer, 58, of Coeur d’Alene; family friend Frank Cordell, 46, of Post Falls; brother Donald Stahl, 7, of Coeur d’Alene; and Bob, then 13, also of Coeur d’Alene.

The craft drifted toward the floodgates after the engine sputtered, hit the side of the dam and then flipped. Miraculously, Bob survived and, helped by onlooker Phil Gunn, pulled Cordell’s body to shore 150 yards downstream. Rescuers also recovered Pfeiffer’s body that day. But it would be another four months before Donald’s body was found, in Spokane.

The tragedy led to safeguards at the dam. Buoys with lines strewn among them now provide a final measure of protection for anyone caught in the current. And boats aren’t allowed to launch from Q’emiln Park during spring runoff.

Bob was glad to see that the accident made the river safer. But he offered a word of caution for adventurers: “Know your surroundings before you head out for the day. Just don’t wing it.”

Book him

Fifty years ago, an alert Hayden Lake 14-year-old helped catch a kidnapper from western Washington and save his victims.

After shopping with her mother downtown on April 18, 1974, teen Karen Davis noticed a note sitting atop a restroom trash can at the old Andy’s Mobile station at Seventh and Sherman. It began with the word, “Help!” and was written by a woman from Everett, Wash., who, along with her 4-year-old son, had been kidnapped by her ex-husband.

The message gave a description of the abductor’s car and his license plate number.

Karen showed the SOS note to her mother, Mrs. James Davis, and then took it to Coeur d’Alene police, who issued an all-points bulletin. Spokane cops quickly caught the bad guy and slammed him in jail. No harm had come to the kidnap victims.

CPD Detective Doug Engelbretson said afterward that adults often criticized youth of the day — and today, for that matter — but youngsters like Karen “deserve credit when they perform a public service.”

Karen, whom The Press described as “quiet and somewhat shy,” reacted to all the hubbub about her heroism by blushing.

Huckleberries

· Poet’s Corner: In warm April sun; while birds sweetly sing,/there — on that tulip —/the first slug of spring — The Bard of Sherman Avenue (“Spring Is Now Official”).

· Did You Know — that Dean Haagenson, former legislator and founder of Contractors Northwest, took part in the first 23 years of Bloomsday — and likely more — from 1977 through 1999?

· Presto Chango? Downtown Coeur d’Alene looked much different April 26, 1989, when the first jackhammer broke concrete to launch a $2 million-plus revitalization project. The six-block overhaul included decorative streetlights, 50 benches, 127 trees and new streets and sidewalks. After years of false starts, downtown leaders Sandi Bloem and Brad Jordan rallied merchants to support the overhaul — and get this city moving again after the lackluster 1980s.

· The Streak: Entering the final months of his senior year, Blake Stilkey had never missed a day of school or been late for class — ever — according to The Press on April 29, 2019. The streak began in kindergarten at Winton Elementary. The key to Blake’s success? He was spurred on by the perfect-attendance pins he received in his early years of elementary school.

· Factoid: In March 1989, Coeur d’Alene produced a bumper crop of babies — 123 bundles of joy –— to break the previous record month of June 1988 (112 births). And nurse Millie Inkley was trying to figure out why a supposedly graying community was so fertile.

Parting shot

You might be a RINO (Republican in Name Only), according to the fussy wing of the local GOP, if you enjoy Carole King’s music — and that includes “You’ve Got A Friend,” the theme song for “Gilmore Girls.” King, a longtime Idahoan, is True Blue. She’s made a few trips to Coeur d’Alene to support Democratic presidential candidates, including Gary Hart. In late April 1984, King visited North Idaho College on Hart’s behalf, pitching the candidate’s “integrity, consistency and old-fashioned values.” Hart lost the 1984 primary to Walter Mondale. But was the frontrunner for the Democratic nomination in the 1988 race when a sex scandal upended him. Moral of this story? It’s naïve to tout any politician’s morality. But one thing’s for sure: Carole King is a superb singer and songwriter — and a credit to the Gem State.

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You can contact D.F. “Dave” Oliveria at dfo@cdapress.com.

    Survivor Bob Pearl (sunglasses) hugs Deputy Gary Dagastine, while Scot Haug of the Post Falls Police Department watches near the Post Falls Dam.
  

    Emergency workers remove a victim who was swept through Post Falls dam.
  

    Karen Davis of Hayden Lake shows Detective Doug Engelbretson where she found a kidnap victim’s note.
  

    Dean Haagenson practices for 1999 Bloomsday.
  

    Frank Gabriel of Norm’s Electric jackhammers concrete to launch 1989 downtown revitalization project, while Mayor Ray Stone and others watch.
  

    Chris Martin of Sign Service secures the historic Clark Jewelers clock for transport to a storage facility before downtown revitalization.
  

    Lake City High senior Blake Stilkey pursues a perfect attendance record.
  

    Carole King at North Idaho College.