History

Preservation Group

History Protection Group

Did you wave when the trains went by as a child?

We did. They were a part of our lives and now
theyre a part of our history. Its a history we believe
is valuable enough to preserve.

(Y)Our Accomplishments

The depot was an iconic building during the early 1900s because it
provided a cultural center for the Palouse. The history is important, but for
the HPG, the future matters as well.

The HPG hosts events in the depot that help create a sense of
community and generate funds to help with renovation. In 2009, the
Annual Depot History Day and Speeder Races began, marking the HPGs
most popular events.

Concerts are held in the events venue inside the depot. A

refurbished boxcar serves as an outdoor stage for larger
events. Both of these areas are available for public use.

An X5 Wood Caboose was recently donated to the HPG for
restoration in hopes of providing another element to the depot that would
allow for further historical attraction.

(Y)Our History

For over one hundred years, the Washington, Idaho and Montana
Railway has served the forests and farmlands of North Idaho on a route
stretching nearly fifty miles through the Palouse.

It served as a major source of transportation for the region, providing transit for freight and passengers. It operated as a logging railroad
that branched through the heart of the Palouse and provided a
more efficient way to transport timber.

To preserve the rich heritage of this railroad, the

Washington, Idaho, & Montana History Preservation
Group was formed in 1988.

Jim West, founder of the HPG, is restoring the towns lost identity by restoring the Washington, Idaho & Montana Railway train depot.
The History Preservation Group (HPG) is located in Potlatch, Idaho in a
restored train depot. The depot was the first commercial building erected
in Potlatch when the town was built in 1906. Potlatch was founded as a
logging town and constructed with state of the art technology.

Today Jim West and volunteers around the area are restoring some
of the towns lost identity, by restoring the Washington, Idaho & Montana
Railway train depot. In renovating the depot, Jim and his colleagues also
hope to kickstart the local economy.

1905
Town and sawmill construction
begins November 12.

1906

The sawmill cuts its first board

September 11, 1906.

Railroad construction
continues through
Princeton, Harvard, Yale,
Stanford, Vassar and
Cornell; 50 miles to the
end of the track at
Purdue, two miles north
of the new community of
Bovill.

The Potlatch train depot isnt complete. The entire second floor is
under constant renovation and needs to be finished. The first floor and the
depots exterior has been completely renovated.


With a strong history of community assistance and steady weekly
progress, the HPG only needs more support to accomplish our goals. Jim
West predicted that the depot can be completed by 2017.

1910s-1920s

These decades are prosperous

times for the railroad, though
business always fluctuates with
the ups and downs of the
lumber industry.

1930
Passenger traffic dwindles,
leading to the creation of the
Bug railcar to carry mail,
express, and the occasional
passenger.

1938

Bug railcar wears out, The Potlatcher railcar, replaces it.

1950
Alco S-3 #30 arrives as the
WI&Ms first diesel-electric
locomotive.

1955

Passenger services
are discontinued.

(Y)Our Vision

The bass is buzzes, a crowd collects and the stars shine brightly
among the black night sky. The band debuts outside the newly-completed depot. A cool breeze rolls in off the Palouse, and the first note
of the night is strummed to a cheering crowd of all ages. Drinks are
served inside; people stream through the depot to have their cups filled
by a friendly bartender, but not before passing through the well-lit
hallway showcasing the communitys history. People linger throughout
the depot admiring the photoboard wall as they admire the black and
white photos of the town. Photos of giant locomotives and hefty lumberjacks capture their attention.

Music thrums through the newly renovated foundation of the
depot, and the crowd starts dancing and swinging in unison, but still a
few people stay inside with the photos.

The dream for the HPG is to finish creating a space that will
continue the railways legacy. The depot is a place where people of all ages
can come together and relive the memories of the railways. It means more
to the Potlatch community than simply serving as a museum, the depot
allows people young and old to bond over their shared history, and create
a history of their own.

The Washington, Idaho & Montana Railway History Preservation

Group doesnt want to only create a museum. We want a home for
the history of the Railway; a place that will reiterate Potlatchs cur
rent cultural values while preserving its historical significance.

(Y)Our Projects

Potential tenants have requested occupancy in excess of the 2,000
sq. ft. usable capacity of the second floor. Fully rented, the second-floor of
the WI&M Railway Depot in Potlatch Idaho will provide rental proceeds
of $15,000 or more annually.

Because of funding limitations, we must
renovate the second-floor offices in halves. The
east portion will include six offices, the central
hallway, rest room, janitorial closet, and staircase.

The cost of renovating only the east side
offices estimated to cost $75,000. However, the
HPG is more than $40,000 short of the funding
and in-kind resources needed to install the offices.

A business incubator is needed in Potlatch.
Startups, sole proprietorships, farmers, and craftsman all would profit
from the co-op benefits a Potlatch Depot business incubator would offer.

(YOUR) Involvement
1960s-1970s
The Milwaukee Road purchases
WI&M.

1980
The Milwaukees Lines West
close. The Burlington
Northern purchases the railroad
and operates it until after the
1995 merger that created the
Burlington Northern Santa Fe.

1981
The Potlatch Mill Closes.

1988
HPG is formed.

1996

A record flood damages bridges

on the eastern end of the line.
WATCO purchases the line
from BNSF. Palouse River and
Coulee City Railroad abandon
the line beyond Harvard.

The depot still needs renovations. It deserves to see

its completion because it is the Potlatch community cornerstone. The depot serves as an important historical landmark, a place of community gatherings and quite possibly,

the very heart of the town of Potlatch.

The depot has already been returned to life with a
new purpose. All that we need is your support in seeing
our mission fulfilled. The constituents of the HPG
appreciate your contribution to complete the Potlatch
train depot.

There are a number of ways in which you can support the HPG. Any monetary donations are extremely
appreciated. Donations allow us to purchase more
materials for our renovations and move us one step closer
to completion. Volunteering is also an excellent way to
support the HPG!
Here are ways to show your support:
Donate to our Razoo.com page
Volunteer
Follow us on Facebook and Twitter
Spread the word
Come to our events and enjoy yourself!

2001
HPGs vice-president Jack Coyner
receives a $500,000
Transportation
Enhancement
restoration of historic transportation
structures grant
through the Idaho
Transportation
Department (ITD).

2007

Operations pass on to the

Washington & Idaho Railroad,.
Initial restoration begins by raising the structure, replacing the
old foundation, installing a new
roof, and restoring the depots
exterior.

2010

Interior restoration of a portion

of the first floor was accomplished
by HPG volunteers.

2013

Insulation and a heater

installed in former freight room.
Seventeen tons of plaster
removed from the depots
second floor.

2017

Goal for completion of the depot!

Get Involved
Mailing Address:
WI&M Ry. HPG
PO Box 547
Potlatch, ID 83855
HPG President:
hpgpres@wimryhpg.com

Mission Statement:
To locate and preserve, and archive all items of a historical nature relating to
the history of the WI&M Ry; to issue publications on this and related subjects; to
encourage public interest in the history of the WI&M and the Potlatch Lumber
Company; and, to acquire objects and property appropriate for a museum and/or
any purposes listed above.

razoo.com/WIMRYHPG
kickstarter.com/HPG
www.wimryhpg.com
The WI&M Ry HPG is a 501
(c) (3) nonprofit educational
corporation registered in the
State of Idaho