By the turn of the century, the little town of Harrison (founded 1891), was a bustling timber town of 2000 people and 11 lumber mills.
An important aspect of life and industry in early Harrison was the busy steamboat trade. Until the 1920's, Lake Coeur d'Alene boasted the most extensive lake steamboat system west of the Great Lakes. With the coming of the railroad, steamboats were no longer economically viable. Eventually most of the big boats were burned and scuttled.
In 1917, a fire swept through Harrison, destroying much of the town. The first house built in Harrison, the Crane House, survived and is now the local museum.
Over the years, fewer trees to harvest and increased efficiency in the timber industry meant a gradually decreasing population for Harrison, which now stands at about 230 residents. |
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