Memories of Snyder

Snyder Guard Station circa 1951

Author unknown (please tell us if you know who wrote this!)

I spent the autumn months of 1953 at Snyder after we folded our Forest Service summer tent

camp on Keno Creek. Most of the crew drifted away when college started; Lee Hoglan and Jack

Long hung on a little longer, but for the last few weeks I shared one of Snyder’s log bunkhouses with Moses Joseph, who later became Chief of the Kootenai Tribe. We were finishing up some late season burning.

Al Flory was the boss.

There wasn’t much to do at Snyder in 1953 by today’s standards. We didn’t really lack

television, because no one had televisions then. There were pack mules at the Station but no

private cars. However, the Spokane International railroad still carried a passenger coach on

each of its trains, and you could hike out to the track and flag one down if you really had to get to Bonners Ferry. The fare was 35 cents one way.

It wasn’t hard to keep entertained at Snyder, though. The Moyie River ran through with good

fishing, and deer hunting was at the doorstep once the season opened. We had some mild

excitement when aged dynamite had to be removed (gingerly) from the explosive bunker and

some fun when the cook had us dispose of several dozen aged eggs. After dark a few Webb

Pierce records on the portable phonograph, or a card game in the cookhouse, kept us amused

until early bedtime.

Forest Service pay was $1.60 per hour, with $1.10 a day deducted for room and board. The

room was just functional, but no expense was spared on the board.

Most of those who were at Snyder in the instant of time I remember are gone from this earth,

but not forgotten.

Al Flory leading a fire fighter training session out of Snyder Guard Station in 1951.

One of the saddle horses that worked out of Snyder Guard Station in the 1950s.