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Albeni Poirier

    Albeni Falls was named for Albeni Poirier, a Canadian immigrant who moved to Rathdrum, Idaho, in 1883 and discovered the falls on the Pend Oreille River.  Poirier remained in the area to become one of northern Idaho's leading citizens.  Using Indian trails as his guide, Poirier widened roadways to accommodate wagons and then began his own ferry enterprise at the falls in 1891.   Poirier branched out his business interests to include a saloon and a butcher shop near the falls that now bear his name, was active as a member of the school board, and participated in Democratic party politics.  The falls were eventually drowned by Albeni Falls dam in 1955.

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