Nason Creek USFS Campground, WA
Idaho Veneer Company
Though I visited Idaho Veneer Company on Monday 14 May and drove to Old Mission State Park the next day, I waited for correct information from Rick Palmiter on Idaho Veneer, his former employer, before writing this post.
During the last ten years, essentially the 1990s, of my career as a commodity broker, Idaho Veneer was one of my two hedge clients. [That is, in order to offset losses to their inventories if lumber prices fell, they sold lumber futures short. If lumber prices rose, they lost money on their short position(s), but their inventories were worth more.]
Here's Rick's description and answer to my question as to whether Idaho Veneer was a wholesaler, retailer, or both, of plywood. "IVC is neither a retailer nor wholesaler of plywood. They are manufacturers. They actually quit making plywood in '86. They currently sell 'face' veneers to other companies that manufacture hardwood plywood. Their customers also include window, door and furniture manufacturers."
When I showed up Monday at Idaho Veneer Co. just before lunch and asked the receptionist if the same family which owned the company in the 1990s still owned the company, she told me yes. As I was asking her about some of those I remembered a tall fellow came out of his office just as I was asking about Tom Martinek. It was John Martinek, the most tech-savy person in the company back in the 90s when I maintained a BBS [Bulletin Board System] with commodity price data for some graphics programs I had written.
"I thought you were heavier," John said, but after shaking his hand I replied, "No, I'm like you -- scrawny."
Two others appears from their offices: John Malloy, son of Leonard Malloy, 83, who founded the company in 1953, and Bob Lackey, who, along with Rick, was a salesman.
Since they usually went out for lunch, Bob had the presence of mind to phone Rick, who was already on his way elsewhere; but he made a U-turn & headed for the Post Falls restaurant the IVC fellows liked.
When Rick arrived I not only asked him why he decided to move from San Jose, CA, to Post Falls, ID, but also how many kids he had. [His wife Colleen's favorite book was Cheaper by the Dozen.]
Since both he and his wife are Catholic, they were attracted to the Idaho Panhandle by good Catholic schools, outdoor activities, and the nearness of a large city (Spokane, c30 miles to the west).
Finally, Rick admitted that they had reached Colleen's objective: 12 children. As far as I know, they didn't "brand them" #1, #2, etc., but managed to come up with 12 names -- which are presumably either Irish or Biblical -- or both.
....
After we returned to the Idaho Veneer Company office I told everyone except Rick that it was great to have faces now to go with the voices I heard back in the 90s. As for Rick, he could probably get away with Jack Benny's 39-routine for several more years.
--
Old Mission State Park After I parked near the Visitor Center I took this photo of a replica of Sacred Heart Mission. (As you can see, there was a group of students ahead of me.)
While one is not allowed to take photos of the 5-6 minute film created by the Coeur d'Alene Indian tribe, the $5 admission fee is well worth the price.
Another shot of the Catholic Mission just after the school bus left. The construction of the original mission was supervised by Father Jean Pierre DeSmet, a Belgian who ran away from his home country to train to become a priest in he middle of the 19th Century in Missouri, if memory serves.
Why wood and not adobe? While mud is available in the Coeur d'Alen River, ponderosa pines and Douglas fir trees are much more abundant.
While not of stone or adobe, this Catholic Mission seems almost as ornate as those I've visited in California and Arizona.
The main altar of Old Mission.
The entrance of the mission as viewed from the front. Note the confessional booth as well as what appear to be two organs.
A look at the floor, which was clearly crafted by hand and not cut in a sawmill.
As the plaque states, Father DeSmet and those who succeeded him were Jesuits.
[Click once to enlarge; press ESC to return here.]
Da Bell!
For $1 residents of Coeur d'Alene could take a steamer across Lake Coeur d'Alene and up the Coeur d'Alene River to a landing near the mission.
From Mission Landing, which has a boat ramp, a look to the east at the snow-capped mountains of Montana.
--
Links:
- Idaho Veneer Company website
- Wikipedia article on Sacred Heart Mission
- Old Mission State Park on Idaho's Park & Rec website
F 25 May Actual Route: Wenatchee Walmart - Leavenworth - Nason Crk USFS CG
Sa 26 May Actual Route: Nason Crk USFS CG
Su 27 May Actual Route: Nason Crk USFS CG - Stevens Pass - Sultan - Monroe Safeway
M 28 May Actual Route: Monroe Safeway - Snohomish - Lake Stevens - Arlington bd
T 29 May Actual Route: Arlington bd - Mount Vernon - Mt Vernon RV Pk
W 30 May Actual Route: Mt Vernon RV Pk - Oak Harbor - Coupeville/Port Townsend Ferry - Port Townsend bd
Th 31 May Route: Port Townsend bd - Sequim - Sequim Bay State Park
F 1 Jun Actual Route: Sequim Bay State Park - Sequim - Port Angeles - Heart O' the Hills NPS CG
Sa 2 Jun Route: Heart O' the Hills NPS CG - Port Angeles
Finding Campgrounds:
- RV Campgrounds from TrailerLifeDirectory.com
- Family Camping Directories from Woodalls.com
- Free campsites website
- Info on finding BLM Campgrounds
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