Yesteryear History of Southeast Idaho
A brief history of Roy, Idaho
Compiled by Darryl Quinn The beginning At the turn of the century there was no Roy, ID. The southern part of the valley was virgin ground, covered with sagebrush and native grasses. The valley was lonely until about 1908 when settlers began to arrive. The first family known to have settled in the area now [...]
Another day to remember
By Bill Ryan In view of the killer tornadoes that struck North Texas last week, I am repeating a column you might have read two years ago, in the spring of 2011. It happens every so often that there’s not just one tornado tearing things up around here, and there might be two or three [...]
Skunk meat tasty, according to pioneers
Editor’s note: This story is based on memories written by the granddaughter of Noah Reese and his wife, Margaret R. John, early pioneers of the Lava Hot Springs area. By Michael H. O’Donnell modonell@journalnet.com It took a real pioneer to live in a place called Blazer and dine on skunk. Noah Reese’s wife, Margaret, [...]
The buildings of historic Old Town Pocatello
This story about the many historic buildings in downtown Pocatello appeared in the History of Bannock County 1893-1993 book. For many decades downtown Pocatello was the center for much of the business, shopping, and social activity of a young, western city and county. As late as the early 1970s, the district still contained a higher [...]
Brady Chapel to be open for tours on Memorial Day
City of Pocatello news release: Each year on Memorial Day members of the City of Pocatello’s Friends of the Cemetery Committee host tours of Brady Chapel, which is found in the Mountain View Cemetery. This year is no exception, and citizens are invited to Brady Chapel Monday, May 27, 2013 between 10 a.m. and 4 [...]
Remembering former town of Roy
By Michael H. O’Donnell modonnell@journalnet.com South of Rockland lies a stretch of windswept land that has come full circle in terms of year-round inhabitants. Once home to a cluster of people eking out a living on the land, it is called Roy. Just down the road was the community of Landing. Both communities are gone [...]
Open house to be held for Center Street Underpass renovation
City of Pocatello news release: The City of Pocatello, Old Town Pocatello, Inc. and the project’s consultants invite citizens to participate in an open house for the Center Street Underpass Renovation project. The open house will be Monday, May 20, 2013 from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. in the Pocatello City Council Chambers, 911 North [...]
Packard Taxis once served Pocatello
By Bill Ryan There was a time when not so many people had cars and Pocatellans were more dependent on public transportation like buses and taxi cabs. Early postcard pictures show a small jitney bus struggling up the west approach of the Center Street viaduct. That would be the earliest picture of our public transportation. [...]
Honoring region’s history
By Greg Eichelberger For the Journal POCATELLO — Talk about “going postal.” Believe it or not, Mike Van Brunt, president of the Southern Idaho Rangers Old West re-enactors group as well as vice president of the Gate City Sports Shooting Association, is a retired United States Postal Service employee. You can’t make things like that [...]
Homesteader in Sterling area dealt with many challenges
Editor’s note: This story is based on histories of the James Henderson Claypool families as prepared by Vee Ann Weaver Williams of Blackfoot. By Journal Staff After moving West from Virginia in 1886 and losing a wife to illness, James Henderson Claypool finally homesteaded in the Sterling area between Blackfoot and Aberdeen back in [...]