HUCKLEBERRIES: Mudgy & Millie: Bringing joy to us all

Many of us know the story.

A moose and a mouse play a game of hide-and-seek that takes them all around the town.

This town: Coeur d’Alene.

The tale of Mudgy Moose and Millie Mouse by Susan Nipp of Coeur d’Alene has thrilled children of all ages, from toddlers to pampering grandparents. And has inspired five bronze sculptures by local artist Terry Lee, which track Mudgy’s 2 ½-mile search for his tiny friend.

Fifteen years ago, at the first anniversary of the “Mudgy & Millie” release, some grasped how big the children’s book had become locally, including artist Terry Lee, who sculpted the bronzes.

“I had no idea it would be this popular,” Terry said in September 2009 at the book’s birthday party in the shadow of the Coeur d’Alene Public Library. “The whole city has embraced it so well.”

The belated anniversary event — the book was published June 1, 2008 — attracted a crowd of parents and their “mesmerized children (who) sang, danced, chanted and cheered for the iconic characters. The youngsters enjoyed cake and lined up for autographs from Nipp and Lee.

And they also, reportedly, set a Guinness record for children reading a children’s book simultaneously.

“Mudgy & Millie” sold 10,000 copies in its first year. And, according to KXLY, another 17,000 by 2018, its 10th anniversary. At that point, the sales had raised $150,000 for the Coeur d'Alene Public Library Foundation.

But author Nipp told the Coeur d’Alene Press on that sunny fall day in 2009 that she never worried about the success of the book.

“I just knew it was a great thing for kids,” she said. “It’s all about children. They are just thrilled. They are so excited. It brings joy to all of us who are involved.

Susan Nipp has authored four more Mudgy & Millie adventure books since the first one became a smash hit, all illustrated by Charles Reasoner of Phoenix, Ariz. The other books in the series follow the furry friends to different parts of the globe: Australia, Costa Rica, Africa and Hawaii.

In a world divided by war and hate, Susan has created a space for two lovable characters.

Steaks on Charlie

From 1981 until Sept. 19, 1999, locals knew that Charlie Nipp's Mr. Steak restaurant provided free meals on their birthdays.

Located at the northwest corner of U.S. 95 and Emma Avenue, Mr. Steak gave away an estimated 150,000 steak dinners during those 18 years. All the customers had to do was show valid IDs confirming their birthdays.

But Mr. Steak was another of those good things that came to an end.

Charlie, the husband of the aforementioned Susan Nipp, opted to tear down his popular restaurant for a higher cause — a parking lot. Kootenai Medical Center needed 110 more parking spaces to double the size of its adjacent North Idaho Cancer Center. And the cancer center was in the Interlake Medical Building, co-owned by Charlie through Parkwood Business Properties.

Still, Charlie said his decision to close Mr. Steak was the most difficult one in his then 25-year business career. To his lasting credit, Charlie helped find new jobs for about 75% of his restaurant workers.

Small town boy

Cecil Meyer moved to Post Falls in 1946 to flee city life. But the city found him again.

In 1969, after two years as Post Falls mayor, Cecil found himself living in one of the fastest growing cities in Idaho. The 1960 census had set the population of Post Falls at 1,971. And Mayor Meyer feared that the 1970 census would almost double that figure, to around 3,500.

Explanation for the growth was rather simple, as the mayor explained to The Press on Sept. 11, 1969: “Many California people are moving to the area, and they settle in Post Falls rather than Spokane because they do not want to live in the city. They’ll work in Spokane, but they will live in Post Falls.”

Meyer, a machinist for Western Fruit Express Co., of Spokane, did just that.

But he reiterated: “I don’t like the city.”

Fan mail

An item in last week’s Huckleberries (Sept. 8) mentioned the late Tom and Orlinda “Lindy” Gunning, who traditionally signified the end of summer at Lower Twin Lakes by throwing candy to gathered children. Emails Tim Skubitz: “For the last 22 years I have lived on Gunning Road (named after the Gunning family) at the lower end of Twin Lakes. We have heard numerous times over numerous years, from neighbors who have lived here for generations, about Uncle Tom's Resort and the end-of-summer candy throwing by Mrs. Gunning. Now we have a picture of the event. Keep digging through the archives, there's a keen interest in keeping history alive.”

Huckleberries

• Poet’s Corner (re: the unmourned death of Aryan Nations leader Richard Butler 20 years ago Sept. 8, 2004): “Now he and the Fuhrer/at last get to meet/and together complain/of the unpleasant heat” — The Bard of Sherman Avenue (“Richard Butler”).

• Has It Been — five years (Sept. 14, 2019) since public radio’s Garrison Keillor visited Coeur d’Alene on his own dime to appear with — and fundraise for — the Coeur d’Alene Symphony at sold-out Schuler Auditorium? He said: “I retired from radio when I was 74. I stood up and walked out the door. I’m busy, I’m OK, but yet I, oh I miss you folks more and more.” Ditto.

• Welcome, Bing: News that crooner Bing Crosby had bought the E.J. Gibson home on Hayden Lake 75 years ago (Sept. 14, 1949) for $75,000 had the town buzzing. The place had a badminton court, a two-story front overlooking the lake, and a guest house. The Press called the fully furnished residence “one of the colony’s most attractive country homes.”

• Mini Car: Arliss Sluder, of Coeur d’Alene’s Pendar Inc., excited downtowners Sept. 14, 1964, when he rolled out his miniature car: 7 ½ feet long, 38-inches high, and 37 inches wide. Each of the 5,000 parts was handmade. The car seated two adults. And reached a top speed of 42 mph. And traveled 55 miles per gallon of gas. Sluder claimed his creation was the smallest complete car in existence.

• It Floats! On this day 40 years ago, Fred Murphy and his crew at Casco Bay were busy constructing the three-quarter-mile boardwalk for The Coeur d’Alene Resort, assembly style. Murphy Towing and Barging had finished 40% of the boardwalk and were working on the break water. Murphy planned to have the boardwalk in place at The Resort by spring 1985. And he did.

• Did You Know — that wood from the old Freedom Tree at McEuen Park was used for a two-necked “Freedom Harp” guitar. Brothers Dave and Anthony Powell of Sandpoint crafted the unique instrument. Dave told The Press: “We wanted to make sure that this memory lives on. This is one of the ways to honor those fallen heroes and the ones who are still around.”

Parting shot

Horsewoman Sheila Richards of Hayden proved five years ago that you’re never too old to try something new. No, she didn’t skydive. Or bungee jump. Or buy a sports car. In September 2019, at age 80, she competed for the first time at the Post Falls Equestrian Center Dressage and Hunter/Jumper Series. And won — the Centurion Division. “I just did it for fun,” Sheila told the Coeur d’Alene Press afterward. She was the only contestant in the rarely entered classification. And you should know the rules before you think that age 80 is the new 100. The Centurion division combines the ages of rider and horse. Sheila rode Shannie, her 25-year-old Arabian mare. At the time, Sheila hadn’t shown a horse in 30 years. She wasn’t nervous: “I don’t get nervous because I’m concentrating just on my horse.” Now, get off the couch and get moving, Grandma.

• • •

D.F. (Dave) Oliveria can be contacted at dfo@cdapress.com.

    In 1999, owner Charlie Nipp, left, and restaurant manager Jeff Mallett posed near construction dirt with the Mr. Steak building in the background.
  

    In 1969, Mayor Cecil Meyer fretted about Post Falls growth.
  

    In 1979, as was her custom, Orlinda “Lindy” Gunning tossed candy to children at Twin Lakes.
  

    In 2019, Garrison Keillor entertained a packed audience at North Idaho College, accompanied by conductor Jan Pellant and the Coeur d’Alene Symphony.
  

    In 1949, singer Bing Crosby bought this Hayden Lake summer home.
  

    In 1964, Arliss Sluder showed off his miniature car to Mrs. Charles O’Malley, secretary for president C.S. Fisher of Pendar Inc.
  

    In 1984, Fred Murphy’s crew at Casco Bay built the floating boardwalk.
  

    In 2014, the “Freedom Harp” guitar was displayed at the Coeur d’Alene Public Library.
  

    In 2019, Sheila Richards, aboard Shannie, is shown with husband Tom and nieces Nicolle and Kirste.