Join us for our Centennial celebration of the historical Leonard Paul Store! Let us take you back in time, to a world where it took two days to reach the lake, instead of 30 minutes.
A world that allowed us access to the most beautiful place on earth -Priest Lake.
We invite you to join us Saturday, July 18th in remembrance of this historical building being built as it stands today.
Stop by the Coolin Civic Center to see the artifacts that were used in the store 100 years ago. Then, come down the hill to a delightful celebration which will include the Ross Hall Priest Lake Collection.
We will have food, drinks, live music, and historical displays throughout the store for you to immerse yourself into a time that we can really only imagine.
The artifacts will be available for viewing July 16th-18th at the Coolin Civic Center.
We hope to see you there, and hopefully we can share how truly special it is to be such an important part of Coolin's history with you all. -The Leonard Paul Store
December 19th, 1952 – March 20th, 2026
JP passed away peacefully at his home in Nordman, Idaho. He was born in Columbus, OH and as a young man JP joined the Army and served for 4 years. After the Army he made his way to Priest Lake, Idaho working for the U.S. Forest Service.
JP decided to leave the Forest Service and started his Construction Company, JP Construction. He worked in construction and had a successful career until his retirement in 2019.
JP was an incredibly talented musician, playing Banjo, Guitar, and vocals. He performed in the area with Mike Wagoner, John Stoll and Jaco Purdie in the Trapper Creek band. This was one of his favorite things to do.
JP was known by everyone and was an Icon at Priest Lake. He had many, many friends. If friendships were the currency of success, JP would be considered truly wealthy. He loved Lake Life and everything that came with it. He will be missed by so many.
There will be a Celebration of Life later in the Summer.
The Priest Lake community is being called upon to build something that will last beyond the dedication of any single individual. Joan, one of the founding volunteers, has contributed her time for over 25 years and, at 85 years old, continues to volunteer twice a month. Due to limited space at the food bank's current location, food has often been stored in Joan's outbuilding at her home.
With the acquisition of land on HWY 57 and plans to break ground in April, the food bank is launching a campaign to construct a new facility. A generous donor has pledged to match every contribution dollar-for-dollar, up to $34,000.
The community is encouraged to help build a lasting legacy that honors the generosity and commitment of volunteers like Joan. Donations can be made online at PriestLakeFoodBank.org or mailed to 151 Pettit Lane, Priest Lake, ID 83856.
