Lecture Series to Focus on Heritage Wall

       A lecture series, “The Way We Worked in North Idaho,” to be presented at the Coeur d’Alene Public Library in January, will focus on the images from North Idaho’s past depicted on the library’s Heritage Wall.

Robert Singletary

The series of three programs will be presented on Wednesdays at 7 p.m. in the Community library’s Room – 702 E. Front Ave. – by regional historian Robert Singletary. The series will  include: “Soldiers, Silver, and Timber: The Early Years,” Jan. 4; “Working on the Railroad: Transportation,” Jan. 11; and “Merchants and Tourist: Changing Economies,” Jan. 25.

The series is in conjunction with the traveling Smithsonian exhibit, “The Way We Worked” at the library through Jan. 28.

The Heritage Wall in the library’s Community Room was created by local artist S. Joseph Sharnetsky. It recognizes 50 families and groups who contributed at least $10,000 to the Building Fund for the library and who have been in North Idaho for at least 50 years.

The wall also offers 90 photos from the Museum of North Idaho Archives and from the Coeur d’Alene Tribe reflecting more than 100 years of local history. An interactive computer kiosk provides information about the photos and names listed on the wall.

Many of the images also reflect the working life of North Idaho residents and Singletary’s slideshow will expand on the information they provide.

A frequent speaker at the library, Singletary is an active historian in the region. He wrote a weekly history column for the Coeur d’Alene Press for 10 years and taught history at NIC and Lewis-Clark State College. He also served as a trustee for the Museum of North Idaho and the Idaho State Historical Society. Singletary owns History Unlimited, which specializes in historical tours, lectures and living history performances.

This presentation is funded by a grant from the Idaho Humanities Council, a nonprofit organization that serves as the state-based affiliate of the National Endowment for the Humanities.

“The Way We Worked” is part of Museum on Main Street, a collaboration between the Smithsonian Institution and state humanities councils nationwide. Support for Museum on Main Street has been provided by the United States Congress. The exhibit has been made possible in Idaho by the Idaho Humanities Council and the National Endowment for the Humanities “We the People” Program, and the Inland Northwest Foundation. The Museum of North Idaho is a local community partner.

Patrons who need accommodation to participate in library programs or services are asked to contact the staff prior to the activity by calling 208-769-2315. For more library information visit cdalibrary.org. The library is a department of the City of Coeur d’Alene and a member of the Cooperative Information Network, cinlibraries.org. Library Director, Bette Ammon. Library hours: Monday to Thursday, 10 a.m. to 8 p.m./Friday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m./Saturday and Sunday, noon to 4 p.m. For regular updates follow the library on Facebook and Twitter.