James W. and Jessie (McCubbins) Blake were early Orofino pioneers. He helped subdivide major sections of Orofino and built the Blake home in 1910 when it stood all alone at the foot of the hill. He and his brother, Pat, a county commissioner, were active in Democratic politics and in the Fidelity State Bank. Jessie lived in the family home on Michigan for 52 years and was an authority on early day Orofino history. She told a wealth of stories about those days. She was involved in the Clearwater Historical Society, as well as church activities.

After James died,their son, George Blake turned the lower floor of the home into a funeral parlor and Jessie lived upstairs for several years before moving closer to some of her other children. The home which had flowering hawthorne trees out front was torn down to build First Security Bank (now Wells Fargo Bank).

Watch for photos of James and Jessie with a later issue.

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