In his fifth book about Lewiston history, author Steven Branting recounts the origins of the Lewiston Orchards in “Our Fruitful Dreams: The Orchards as it Once Was.”
At the turn of the 20th century, Lewiston and Portland capitalists saw money in the grasslands above downtown Lewiston. They proposed “to make Lewiston Orchards the most attractive fruit district in the world.” They came together to purchase lands and reservoir sites to construct an irrigation system that would fuel their dreams. Many of their names remain familiar today emblazoned on street signs and buildings: Powers, Glisan, Thain, Grelle, Bryden, Kettenbach, Burrell (correctly pronounced Burr-ELL, Branting notes).Stories of homes, farms, schools, stores, businesses and more are included in the book, along with numerous black and white photographs. The self-published book costs $26.95. Branting will release the book from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 8 at And Books Too in Clarkston and 1:30 to 4 p.m. the same day at the Nez Perce County Historical Society Museum.
