Photo Essay of Wallace, Idaho
In the short drive across the panhandle of Idaho, lost between the St. Regis billboards and the Coeur d'Alene mile marker countdowns, is the town of Wallace.
A built community of prostitutes, miners, and loggers founded Wallace, Idaho, a small town. Along with 21% of the world’s silver coming from this mountain town, it became known as the Silver Capital of the World, according to the City of Wallace website.
Dennis Clark sits across the street from the Shoshone County Courthouse giving out free Bible courses on Oct. 26. Knowing the history that built Wallace he explains the tunnels under the building, the mining layoffs that sent him to find work elsewhere and craftsmanship he learned from a local in pocket watch making.
A collection of mining hard hats sat for sale on the shelf at the Northern Idaho Trading Company on Nov. 11. A supply of Northern Idaho mining gear, warm leather coats, animal hides, and firearms fill the hallways of this small buy-sell-trade shop run by Brady Bougard.
As the sun falls behind the mountains on the evening of Nov. 11 the lights and Christmas decorations shine bright on Blackboard Cafe’s front entrance. Owners Luanne and Rob Wuerfel happened into Wallace driving through Northern Idaho and said to OutThere Outdoor Spokane Magazine that, “It was like walking into a Norman Rockwell painting. It just felt right,” to start a restaurant there.
Dennis Clark started his mining career in 1982 as a part of his Wallace Miners High School class. He then spent 25 years jumping between Wallace, Oregon, and California, working on underground projects until a mining accident in Oregon. Moving back with his wife Amber, they ended up back at home in Wallace.
“It's just some place where I grew up ever since I was about four years old. So, I've been here for, like, 56 years now,” he said.
Known for its copper, gold, silver, and lead, the booming time of the mining industry employed thousands of workers throughout its up-and-down history. The need for the production of these materials fluctuated as prices changed, workers demanded better conditions, and both World Wars created an influx of demand.
The production of roads, railroads, and further infrastructure exploded the Silver Valley mining industry. Natural disasters like the “Big Burn” of 1910 have devastated this small town, causing it to rebuild with brick.
Shamber Wamber takes patrons orders for a tasting flight sample at Wallace Brewing on Oct. 26. This brewery was started in 2009 with the goal to pay tribute to the notorious sex workers and mining history of the town. Featured in their interior design are decorated bras and mining axes and hard hats that build their logo.
While not always thriving, the brothels in town have always been a strong source of income. During this time, the government used the tax revenues from brothels, gambling, and liquor to build infrastructure. However, in 1972 Idaho made sex work illegal, but Wallace decriminalized it until FBI raids broke out in the late 80s, scaring off the last traces of prostitution, according to the Spokane Historical website.
Evan Ellison prepares his own coffee in between orders at Blackboard Cafe on Oct. 26. Ellison has been a bristia and server at the Cafe for the last two and half years. While named Blackboard Cafe, this shop and restaurant actually has “mediocre food, bad coffee, boring reads, and shabby clothes,” as their front signage reads.
Faith Bryant makes a hot chocolate on the evening of Nov. 11 inside 1910 Coffee Co. Being born and raised in Wallace the owners Zoey Zanetti and Aby Berger brainstormed with friends on how to include the town’s history into the name of the shop. They finally landed on 1910 Coffee Co. to pay tribute to the Great Fire of 1910 that burned one-third of the town according to Shoshone News Press.
Even though Wallace's unique history ended when Clark was still a young man, it remains his love and home to this day. Now semi-retired and working as the mining companies janitors, he and his wife speak highly of the beauty of Wallace. They both explained how they love the small-town community and the many animals that run through their backyard.
“We have a nice big yard; we have an acre and a creek behind it in the mountains, and it’s hard to leave that,” Amber said. “It’s hard being around a lot of people. We just love just love the small feel.”
Shamber Wamber pours a patron on tap beer on Oct. 26. The brewery has based its brand off the history of Wallace by naming beers things like, “1910 Black Lager,” U&I Wheat,” Hard Hat Harry,” and "Bank Street Brown."
Under the layer of fog covering the mountains surrounding the town of Wallace is the tiny drive thru 1910 Coffee Company. Aby Berger and Zoey Zanetti had the idea to build this coffee shop in their hometown in 2022 and with the help of the Wallace community it was built and opened in 80 days according to Shoshone News Press.
In the middle of Cedar Street in front of the Wallace Elks Lodge is the foggy covered mountains on the evening of Nov. 11. In the distance is the overpass of interstate 90 which crosses just over the edges of town.
Heading up 7th Street away from downtown Wallace are the tiny houses built on the incline of the mountains. The fall colored trees cover the historical 19th century Wallace Stairs that extend 100 feet or more throughout town into the steep south hills. Providing a unique overview of the town, these stairs have been the main form of travel since the 1880s when residents needed to climb to their homes.
As the sun falls further behind the foggy mountains on Nov. 11 the lights on The Fainting Goat Restaurant and Bar become more prominent. At the end of downtown Wallace on Banks Street and I-90 Business are the historical buildings such as the ASARCO mining company building and Rossi Insurance which was built in 1890 as the Bank of Wallace.