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 No one got the correct answer. Ed Brooks is the answer for Week 183 of Orofino History Trivia a special feature to celebrate the history and heritage of Clearwater Country. Join in the discovery! Monday: Planted locusts and other trees at the base of a rock bluff Tuesday: Repaired radios Wednesday: Prepared bills of lading for shipments Thursday: Hand-cranked movie projector Friday: Developed a beach with two cabanas Saturday: 1930s depot agent Monday: Peck Tuesday: Used locomotive power to move boulders Wednesday: Provided a gathering place Ed Brooks was the Peck depot agent during the 1930s and it would seem from his description in Marion Kaylor’s book, Early Days in Big Canyon Country, also the instigator of a variety of entertainment.
The Peck Railroad Depot was located at the base of the granite rock bluff on the north side of the Clearwater River about 1/2 mile upriver from Big Canyon Creek’s mouth. During its 50 years of existence, the depot was the hub of Peck’s commerce. Kaylor describes the depot as being dark red with a green roof and 24 x 60 feet in size. Brooks and his wife had quarters in the east end of the depot. There was also a waiting room and agent’s office in the building. Brooks was an expert at radio technology and would repair radios for local people. He also had a special interest in moving pictures that prompted him to purchase a hand-cranked movie projector for showing one-reel movies. He held these showings on Friday nights in the old newspaper building. Electricity was unavailable, so he would give a school boy a free ticket in exchange for turning the projector crank. Attendance soon grew to the point they moved to larger quarters and electricity powered the projector. Noticing a sandbar forming near the depot property, Brooks got the idea to make the area into a beach that could be used by the whole family. He even used locomotive power to move some of the large boulders. The beach eventually had two cabanas, a sturdy raft and a swimming area that was eight feet deep. After the deport closed and Brooks retired, the river reclaimed its earlier shape. Sponsored by: At Glenwood Pharmacy We are concerned about the issues that arise from flushing old and outdated medications down the toilet and polluting water systems. We will be accepting expired medications at the pharmacy and see that they are disposed of in a more environmentally appropriate way from now on. We will also be accepting old prescription bottles for recycling. |
