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Harriet Reece and Ray Norton are the winners!

Beaver Dam on the North Fork of the Clearwater River is the answer for Week 165 of Orofino History Trivia a special feature to celebrate the history and heritage of Clearwater Country. Watch for more historical background.

Join in the discovery!

Monday: Dusty roads

Tuesday: Fish

Wednesday: Homes

Thursday: Families picnicking and swimming

Beaver Dam on the North Fork of the Clearwater River was a favorite place for swimming on hot summer days before the construction of Dworshak Dam. The swimming hole was located a mile or so above the current location of the dam along a dusty road. Also up the North Fork were homes, fishing areas and beautiful scenery. The area is now under Dworshak Reservoir.

Harriet shared these memories: "I have lots of memories of Beaver Dam. I spent summers there. One of my close friends was Ann Pappenhagen. Beaver Dam had lots of poison oak. It grew all around the structures built for changing clothes. Ann had a terrible time avoiding a reaction, and I never did get it. Many of the parents in our neighborhood took a picnic lunch every Sunday and they sat in the shade and visited while the kids--even through high school age--played in the river. There were rafts for floating from way up the river to Ahsahka while a parent drove to pick us up. As we got older and could drive ourselves, we took turns driving the shuttle. The Red Cross sponsored swimming lessons there and bussed children to the site for lessons. I learned to float at Beaver Dam. It was Orofino's swimming pool and summer recreation site. We swam off many of the sand beaches along the North Fork from Ahsahka to Dent, but Beaver Dam was best because it was shallow a ways out and small children could play there with very little current. There was lots of dry sand and room for great beach parties. Many were sad to see it go as the recreation changed on the North Fork. It cost very little to have fun at Beaver Dam."

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Bob and Joyce Spence are shown on the beach at Beaver Dam in 1949. (Photo courtesy of Clearwater Historical Museum)

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Orofino, ID 83544
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