Out There with Lea & Larry: Idaho

Enjoying our last beautiful day along the banks of the Reservoir at Willow Bay RV Park just below the dam in American Falls, Idaho. We decided to spend a few extra days here to rest and explore. American Falls is where my Grandparents lived (Mother's side) and where we, as young children, traveled by Greyhound bus to stay with them for short periods of time. I tried to conjure up memories of the area and the best I can come up with are vague memories of Grandpa taking us out to the dam to fish. I remember Grandma always requiring us to take our shoes off as we entered their house. Us kids just thought how ridiculous this was. Why at our house, Dad was known to bring a horse into the house - shoes and all! I do recall a Halloween here in Idaho and store-bought costumes. I remember Grandma being very loving. Gramps, I think, was more serious and quiet. Maybe he just tolerated us kids. I know you can never really "go back" into your childhood, but I'm seeking some visuals to go along with my vague memories. And Larry, patient - and better with directions - is helping me re-discover...

Our first day here, we set up camp and hurried to find the street where Gram & Gramps had lived. Much phone discussion was had between my brother, Fred; sister, Jessie Ann; and my cousin, Debbie concerning the actual house number. Was it on the corner? Not a two-story....?? Left side or right side of the street? We did find the street and the general area. A visit to the courthouse and its back-room with all the big ledgers, hanging plot maps and micro-fiche machines yielded the correct lot and block as well as the address. Unfortunately, the house is no longer there and mobile homes take up the lots. Debbie says Grandma always pointed out with pride that the home was along the Oregon Trail and indeed, American Falls is part of that early trek. After finding the old home-site, we set out to locate the cemetery where Grandma is buried. Again, thanks to cousin, we were able to find Falls View Cemetery and the marker. Her date of birth was 5 August 1917 and date of death was 18 November 1985. Grandpa's info. was also on the marker - DOB: 31 August 1916 and DOD: 28 December 1988 however, cousin says she doesn't believe he's actually buried there. He married again (Lois) and probably was buried where she wished or maybe he was cremated. We speculate that someone in our family completed the dates on Grandpa's side of the headstone for future genealogists. We also located the marker for Debbie's brother who was one of a set of twins that died at birth. Floyd: 25 July 1958. Later in the week, we took beautiful spring flowers to both graves. Standing at Grandma's final resting place brought a wave of emotion; a sense of closeness and peace.

We met a lovely couple who had memories of my grandparents. We swapped contact information and I expect we'll be keeping in touch.

Between looking for old family history, we traveled the area and learned about it's history.

American Falls is located along the Snake River and was named after a group of American trappers whose boat went over the falls. It is the first US town to be totally relocated. Large equipment was brought in to move entire homes and buildings. The town was moved for the construction of the new dam in 1925. There is still a tall grain bin visible in the reservoir where the old town was situated. Locals tell us that late in the summer, the water level reverts back to nearly its original banks as the water is pulled from the reservoir for irrigation, etc. and then you can see the streets of the old town. We visited the dam and fish hatchery, the local parks, and restaurants - I had my first piece of oatmeal pie which is just like pecan only with oats instead. There are beautiful farms in this very fertile valley surrounded by mountains - crops are potatoes (of course), beets, and grain. We took day trips to visit Fort Hall, Massacre Rocks, Register Rock, Blackfoot, and Idaho Falls. We went to Indian Springs Resort and looked for another old home-site. We visited the Potato Museum and enjoyed hash browns made from dehydrated potatoes. We attended the high school drama production - "Agatha Christie Made Me Do It." We also enjoyed our campground with its beautiful views and the neighbors next door from Florida. I can't articulate what a wonderful experience being here again has been. Let's just say it was time well spent... I have lots of new memories and new friends too!