Bismark Ranger Station, Nordman
Nordman, Bonner County
- Grants: 2024– Barn roof restoration
Location: State Highway 57, south of Nordman Idaho 83848
The various buildings that comprise Bismark Ranger Station, located a couple of miles south of Nordman on Highway 57, were constructed between 1909 and 1937. Prior to 1927, the outpost was used as a packing/staging site for teams exploring deeper into the forest. The Station was actively used by the Forest Service from 1927-1965, serving as the headquarters for the region for 36 of those years. Several outbuildings and the foundations of the bunkhouse and district ranger house still remain at the site, which has since been renamed Bismark Work Station.
The two-and-a-half story log barn was built in 1919 and has a nearly square 28′ x 30′ footprint. The structure offered shelter to mules, horses, and other pack animals, which were used to deliver supplies to the fire lookouts, firefighters, and other satellite stations in the district. The barn had stalls, windows, a farrier table, saddle racks, hayloft, and a working cistern. Each animal had a designated stall, and the posts between stalls still have hand-stenciled numbers next a nail meant for holding the bridle. The stalls had personalized nameplates for the animals at one point, as well, though sadly those have been lost to time. The original barn doors, ladder, cistern, and some glass is still intact, however.
Pack animals such as mules and horses played an integral role in the early history of the Forest Service. They were able to traverse the crude trails and lighter wooded areas, making it much easier to provision these remote outposts. Barns such as the one at Bismark provide a visual reminder of their place in history. Through small details like the individualized nameplates, you can see how important these animals were to the people who relied upon and cared for them.
As of 2024, the barn roof has all but collapsed, and the hayloft and floor is rotting. Plans are to immediately repair the roof, as the rest of the walls are still plumb and true and then continue to restore the rest of the building as needed. The project is spearheaded by the Priest Lake Museum and the Forest Service, who are aided by a group of dedicated volunteers committed to restore the barn to its original state and open it up for educational and recreational activities.
