Lenore, Idaho, was a major railroad station during the early 1900s. In fact, it had its own post office, general store and hotel. It was also the location of the largest grain tram on the lower Clearwater River.
The tram would carry the grain four miles from the top of the canyon and then down the river to the railroad freight stop. Between 75,000 and 100,000 bushels would be carried to the railroad tracks from Camas Prairie each year. Camas Prairie was located 1,600 feet above at the top of the ridge.
In 1937, a fire destroyed the tram, and it was never rebuilt.
Historical Marker Inscription
In 1898, after rail service from Lewiston reached Lenore, a tramway was begun to ship grain from Camas Prairie (1600 feet above) to a new freight stop directly across the river.
Previously, grain wagons descended a long steep hill from the prairie. Gravity moved full tram buckets down, sending empty buckets back up the cable loop. By 1903 the completed system carried up to 100,000 bushels of grain each year. In 1937 a fire destroyed the entire system.
Location
46° 30’ 22.908” N, 116° 33’ 10.338” W
37966 US-12, Lenore, ID 83541, United States
Historical Markers of the World 