From the quiet shore at Black Bay, it is easy to forget that Post Falls began as a working river town, built around timber and falling water. Just downstream from where the Spokane River leaves Coeur d'Alene Lake, the river splits into three channels, each with its own natural falls, before the channels join again. Frederick Post saw what that drop could do. He secured rights at the falls, built a sawmill, and laid a dam across the north channel to turn the river toward his mill.
About nine miles west of Coeur d'Alene Lake, the Spokane River does something dramatic. It splits into three channels, each one tumbling over a natural falls, and then gathers itself back together just downstream. For neighbors in Black Bay, that drop is part of the familiar sound and scenery of the river. Long before there was a town here, it was the falls themselves that drew attention, and one man who decided to build his future beside them.
Stand on the shore at Black Bay on a still morning and the Spokane River can look like it has nowhere in particular to go. The water moves, but gently, the way a lake might stir in a light breeze. That calm is a little deceptive. The river passing Post Falls is only a few miles into one of the great journeys of the Northwest, and Black Bay sits right along its opening stretch.
Mid-October is prime porch season. The leaves are turning, Halloween is two weeks out, and a front porch refresh is one of the fastest ways to boost your home's curb appeal — no renovation required.
Start with the classics: pumpkins and gourds. A cluster of pumpkins in varying sizes and colors — orange, white, green — arranged on steps or beside the door reads instantly as fall. Mums in deep reds and golds add color that lasts for weeks, and ornamental kale or cabbage tucks nicely into planters.
You've winterized the house — now it's the car's turn. North Idaho winters are hard on vehicles, and a fall once-over now can save you a tow-truck call in January. Here's a practical checklist for getting your car ready for the deep cold.
Start with the battery. Cold weather is brutal on batteries, and most fail with little warning. If yours is more than three or four years old, have it tested — most auto parts stores do it free. A weak battery in October becomes a dead battery in January.
Condo living is a team sport. In a close-knit community like Black Bay Village, the difference between a good place to live and a great one usually isn't the buildings — it's the neighbors. Here's a friendly guide to the small habits that make village life work for everyone.
Start with sound. Shared walls mean your late-night movie or early-morning workout travels. Keep the volume down during quiet evening hours, and if you're planning something louder — a gathering, a home project — a quick heads-up to the neighbors on either side goes a remarkably long way.
As the holiday season approaches, the distance between our village and a neighbor in need is shorter than most of us think. If you're looking for a way to give this year, two local organizations make it easy to keep your generosity close to home.
Holiday shopping season opens early — and locally — on Saturday, November 7, when the City of Post Falls hosts the 8th Annual Holiday Craft Fair from 9 AM to 3 PM. Admission is free, parking is free, and for Black Bay Village residents there's a special reason to go: one of the fair's two locations is Black Bay Depot, 1211 E. 3rd Avenue — right in our neighborhood.
There's nothing like a backyard fire on a crisp fall evening in Kootenai County. Before you light one, know the rules — Kootenai County Fire & Rescue spells them out, and they're simpler than most people expect.
