This photo popped up a while ago on an Idaho History Page. I downloaded the photograph and wanted to share it. The photo is of the Heyburn Train Depot in the very early days of the City.
Growing up in the area, I never thought much of Heyburn. It was just in the middle as we were going somewhere. Now that I am the City Attorney, I have learned much more of Heyburn, its past and its future.
Heyburn’s name was changed from Riverton as apparently the Post Office thought there were too many. Senator Weldon Brinton Heyburn represented Idaho in the United States Congress at the time. He was a big man and had served Idaho since 1903. He collapsed on the Senate floor in 1912 and died some time later.
As an interesting bit of history, I thought I would share this Bureau of Reclamation contract with Heyburn from 1910.
As you can see, the contract is between the unincorporated Town of Heyburn and the United States Reclamation Service. I am not entirely clear how an unincorporated town signs a contract. Minidoka County had not been created yet, that is 3 years later, so this is in Lincoln County. Acting for the now Bureau of Reclamation was Charles H Paul, the project engineer for the construction of the Minidoka Dam and delivery system. As you can see, the contract is dated 19 February 1910. The City of Paul is named after Charles Howard Paul (1875-1941).
This was the agreement for the Bureau to delivery water for irrigation to the City each year. This contract is still in place.
Heyburn was incorporated in Lincoln County, Idaho on 18 January 1911.
Lincoln County Board of Commissioners Minutes, Book #2, pages 285-286:
“In the matter of the incorporation of the Village of Heyburn. This matter came on regularly to be heard and it appearing to the Board that a petition signed by a majority of the taxable inhabitants of the proposed Village of Heyburn, Lincoln County, Idaho, has been presented and duly filed, praying that they may be incorporated as a Village, designating “Heyburn” as the name they wish to assume and describing the metes and bounds of the proposed Village, and the Board being satisfied that a majority of the taxable inhabitants of the proposed Village have signed such petition, and that such proposed Village has not heretofore been incorporated under any law of this State, it is therefore ordered and declared that the said Village proposed in said petition be and the same is hereby incorporated under the name of the “Village of Heyburn” with metes and bounds as follows:
5 miles to the northeast corner of Section 1, thence south 10 miles to the southeast corner of Section 24 Township 8 South Range 15 East, thence west 6 miles to the southwest corner of Section 19, thence north 2 miles, thence west 1 mile, thence north 1 mile, thence west ½ mile, thence north 1 mile to the quarter corner on the north of Section 2 Township 8 South Range 14 East, thence west ½ mile to the place of beginning.
Lincoln County Board of Commissioners Minutes, Book #2, pages 287:
“In the matter of the appointment of five persons as Trustees of the Village of Heyburn duly incorporated and this being the time of the incorporation of said Village and for the appointment of Trustees for the same pursuant to law; therefore it is ordered by the Board that the following named persons possessing the qualifications provided by statute be and they are hereby appointed Trustees of the said incorporated Village of Heyburn to hold their office and perform all the duties required of them as such Trustees by law until the election and qualification of their successors: T. J. Smith, F. H. Adams, B. F. Kimerling, Lee St Clair, and George E. Schroeder.
In a photo album that belonged to my Great Grandmother, Berendena Van Leeuwen Donaldson (1898-1959), are these unknown photos. Hopefully someone may recognize one or two of them. I can tell some of them have Donaldson or Van Leeuwen relations, but I don’t know each are to name or upload to FamilySearch. Your help would be appreciated. I numbered the photos to help identify which is which if you have information to share with me or in the comments.
2
3
4
5
6 a Van Leeuwen boy? Herman?
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14 (believed to be Cora Biddulph Van Leeuwen)
15 (believed to be Cora Biddulph Van Leeuwen)
16
17 (Dena in the middle?)
18
19 (Dena in the middle?)
20 (Dena on the right?)
21 Maybe Dena and Dora Donaldson?
22 definitely a Donaldson on the farthest left, might be my Great Grandpa David Delos Donaldson on right
23
24
25 a dock somewhere in California?
26
27 another dock in California?
28 building says Virginia Court. Address or Courthouse?
I have previously written of George and Minnie Van Leeuwen. In that post, I shared a copy of the photo I received from the records of the Utah State Hospital. That photo was not dated, so I don’t know when it was taken. Here is the photo I received from their records. It was a photostatic copy and not very high quality.
Photo from George’s Utah State Hospital file
Now I am happy to report that a family member obtained access to the Utah State Hospital file directly and obtained a copy of the photograph in the file. As you can see, the quality is 100 times better than the photostatic copy of the photograph that was provided to me by mail. The personality, the life, the lines, are much more able to be seen than before.
Here is some of what I wrote before.
Gerhardus Hendrik Van Leeuwen (who went by George Henry in English) was born the fourth of nine children to Gerrit van Leeuwen and Elsebina Maria Catharina Weenig on 16 October 1856 in Oldenzaal, Overijssel, Netherlands. I have written of them at this link: Van Leeuwen-Weenig Wedding. He was a carpenter by trade, on the finishing side. He would also tune and service organs. After moving to the United States, he worked as a finishing carpenter.
You can read more of his family at the link above. But some additional notes.
Five children in back (l-r): Minnie, Annie, Elsie, George and Jane. Second row: George, Dena, Hermina. Front: Mary and Herman.
It was about 1885-1886 when George incurred a head injury. My Great Grandmother, his daughter Dena Donaldson, indicated he fell from a ladder. Other siblings reported to descendants that he was struck in the head with a board. This is believed to be the reason why the family moved back to Arnhem, that due to his inability to work, this may be the reason they returned to Arnhem to be near family and rely on them for help.
The family then moved back to Amsterdam perhaps in pursuit of employment again. It was in Amsterdam that the Van Leeuwens met with missionaries of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. George and Minnie were both baptized 4 June 1887. The story goes that George saw some men running down the street with people chasing them. Concerned for their safety, he pulled them into his home. He learned they were Elders of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. The missionaries taught the Van Leeuwen the gospel and helped them convert leading to their baptism.
A sponsor from Ogden, was to meet the family at the train depot in Ogden. But no one was there when they arrived. A man by the name of Mr. Dalbout, saw their plight, and he invited the family to go home with him. There was no place to stay for a long period, so they converted a chicken coop into living quarters. This is where the family waited until George could join them. She took in laundry from other families to support themselves until he arrived.
According to George’s 1932 death certificate, he suffered from epilepsy with psychosis for 45 years. That would predate his immigration to the United States. His mental health could have become an issue when immigrating, and it may have been easier if Minnie and the children had gone first and established their new home. That may have enabled George to follow the next spring without risk of having the family turned back. Epilepsy had a stigma of illness that the family had to deal with, everything from wickedness to a contagious disease. This way, only he could potentially be turned away from entering the county. The plan was that with the family already in Utah, he would be permitted to join them in Utah. George arrived 21 March 1889 in New York City, New York on the S.S. Veendam having left Rotterdam.
George’s head and mental injuries continued to worsen as the years passed. The family either had to keep him safe during a fit and keep him calm to keep from inducing a fit. By the time 1911 rolled around, the family could no longer deal with his mental condition on their own. Dena referred to her “Daddy” as tender and sweet and then at the switch he would become angry and threatening. He had made enough threats and raised enough raucous that neighbors called the police. George was committed to the Utah State Mental Hospital in Provo, Utah, Utah in 1911. The family tried to get him out and succeeded. Unfortunately, he lost control again and ended up spending the rest of his life in the mental hospital. The family would drive down nearly every weekend to pick up “Daddy” and keep him for the weekend before taking him back. By the mid 1920’s, they could not even take him home on the weekends his condition was that poor and uncontrollable.
George died 5 January 1932 in Provo, Utah, Utah. He was buried 3 days later beside his wife.
Aliza, Paul, Lillian, James, Hiram, and Amanda Ross at Olympic National Park
Sometimes in life you have grand plans and then life takes you a different direction. This principle was taught to the Ross family again in 2020. We visited Olympic National Park and we told we had to go see Hurricane Ridge. “You have some amazing panoramic views from Hurricane Ridge.” To get to Hurricane Ridge you have to drive to Port Angeles, Washington and drive like 20 miles into the park.
As you can see, we made it to Hurricane Ridge. The interpretive sign points out 17 different peaks all viewable from the overlook. You can also see two rivers and a glacier. Except we couldn’t. We just saw a wall of clouds and had to use our imaginations.
View from Hurricane Ridge on 6 August 2020
While we did not capture the view from the outlook, I think the drive up there was the most beautiful road I have ever driven. The views were magnificent on the way and the wildflowers were abundant. Our drive up was worth more than the destination. Another lesson we apparently needed a reminder.
First Sunday of church at home in 2020 thanks to COVID-19
Two years ago COVID-19 threw us all for a loop. Nobody knew what was going to happen or what to expect. Idaho shut down most social gatherings, which included church gatherings in Burley. Fortunately we were authorized to regularly hold Sacrament and the rest of church at home. This was our first week of church at home thanks to COVID-19 in 2020.
The above photo was snapped after our little Ross home Sacrament. The one below I snapped while Amanda was doing our Sunday School/Primary portion of church. These were golden days. I am very glad to be back to church in a full social setting, but the intimate home setting was also treasured.
An interesting side note, that little tie Hiram has on my Uncle Doug Jonas wore when he was young.
This photo caught my attention the first time I saw it. My mother was born in the Logan LDS Hospital in Logan, Cache, Utah. My mother was born with in a block of where I was married to my wife. I likely have an ancestor or relative that passed away in the same hospital. I have written before of my long ancestral ties to the Logan Utah Temple. I wonder what additional ties I have to the Logan LDS Hospital and its history.
The aerial photo above with the hospital and temple appear to be before the late 1970’s renovation of the temple that replaced the annex and placed the parking down the hill on the temple grounds (it doesn’t look like it even had parking on the temple grounds). The hospital is in full use, so before the construction of the new hospital in 1980.
Here is a short article I found from the Cache Valley Family Magazine.
Utah-Idaho Hospital opened in 1914
“A century ago local physicians and businessmen worked tirelessly raising money to fund construction of a hospital through the buying and selling of shares on which they knew they would never receive dividends. They weren’t investing in their own financial future, but rather in the community they loved. “The opening of the Utah-Idaho Hospital in 1914 was really the birth of not-for-profit healthcare in Cache Valley,” said Tina Murray, communications specialist at Intermountain Logan Regional Hospital.
“The three-floor, 60-bed Utah-Idaho Hospital, which stood on the corner of 200 North and 300 East in Logan, was a major milestone for the community. Although there had been private residences transformed into hospitals for a decade before, this facility was the first modern hospital built from the ground of for the primary purpose of being a hospital. It had many modern conveniences such as operating rooms, x-ray, classrooms, business offices, a hand-operated elevator, and kitchen and laundry facilities.
“In 1925 the Utah-Idaho hospital was expanded and became the William Budge Memorial Hospital. According to the story of the Budge Clinic by J. Clare Hayward, M.D., the first baby delivered in a hospital in Logan was born that year.
Logan LDS Hospital in the late 1950s
“In 1948, the LDS Church acquired Budge Memorial Hospital as part of the church’s health system. The hospital’s name was changed to Logan LDS Hospital until 1975, when The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints turned it over to Intermountain Healthcare and it was renamed Logan Hospital. By the end of the decade construction began on a new facility, and in 1980 Intermountain Logan Regional Hospital opened in its current location on 1400 North.
Logan LDS Hospital shortly before its removal
““Throughout the past century, access to improved technology, expanded services, and a broadened range of specialists has distinctly changed and enhanced the quality of healthcare the valley’s residents enjoy today,” said Murray.
““While a lot has changed, the overall mission established by visionaries in the early 1900s — to provide the best available medical care following a not-for-profit model of delivery — has not changed. This same vision is effectively being carried out at Logan Regional Hospital 100 years later.”
I was working through some old mission photos and realized I have not shared many of those photos. I thought I might start out with the places in which I lived and what photos I have of those locations. This will be a little bit of everything of what I could find.
Our MTC District, I only know four of the 11. From l-r, #5 is Elder Olson, #9 Elder Scow, #10 Elder Young, #11 Elder Ross. The rest were going to Peoria, Illinois if I remember correctly.
Usually the first place a missionary stays is at the Missionary Training Center (“MTC”). I went to Provo for the MTC. I have written previously and shared other photos I have from the MTC. I thought this photo was interesting because the Provo Temple is going to be renovated and will look entirely different.
Once arriving in Manchester, England my first stay was in the posh Mission Home in Altrincham, England. Here is the only photo I have from that occasion. I didn’t go search my journals, but I believe we arrived in England on 22 December 1998.
President H Bruce and Cheryl Stucki, and Elder Paul Ross
My first area in which to serve was Liscard, England in the newly created Moreton Ward. At this point I am focusing more on physical locations. Here is a photo of my sleeping area/space on the third floor of our flat at 6 Belgrave Street, Liscard, Wallasey, England.
My study space, bed with used duvet, closet, and heater. The door on the left went down the stairs.
There were six of us in the flat on Belgrave Street. That wallpaper did not cause any nightmares that I am aware. My companion could not stand my wind-up alarm clock and so it was locked away. I am standing at the foot of his bed to take this photo. Some of my little Christmas presents from the Duncan family are on the shelf. My coat, backpack, it was frigid in that little room. I first read Covey’s Seven Habits of Highly Effective People cuddled in that duvet. My companion, Elder Harris snored loud, so I was often fully inside my duvet. I remember such irony that my little clock kept him awake, but yet his snoring must have kept up the whole flat.
Elder Ross, Elder Harris, Elder Mueller, and Elder Lewis at Belgrave Street flat, my transfer day
This is the same flat I arrived at days before Christmas to find more than a dozen boxes of reject Cadbury chocolates given to us by the members. We literally poured ourselves bowls of chocolate and would pour milk over them for breakfast. I still cannot stand mint or orange chocolate to this day. There were six in the apartment, yet only four are shown above. Here is a photo of the six of us going Christmas caroling in our whites.
(l-r) Elders Llewelyn, Lewis, Harris, Mueller, Ross, and Knight
Elder Bert Llewelyn, Lewis, Jeremy Harris (my trainer), Nathan Mueller, me, and Knight. Some day I will have to see if I have Knight and Lewis’ first names and update. Last, here is a picture of the house across the street from my third floor flat window.
1 and 3 Belgrave Street, Liscard, England
Then it was off to Dukinfield to serve in the Hyde Ward and Glossop Branch. Jumping across Liverpool and Manchester headed for the Moors.
Elder John Peters before 37 Dukinfield Road
There were four missionaries in this flat when I arrived. Elder John Peters, Christopher Giddings, and Elder Moreton. This apartment had problems. It was musky, moldy, and only had a bath tub. It had the water storage in the attic and nothing seemed to work right. When the buses drove by you could see the curtains move with the air. Sometimes even dust and such would fly. And the bathroom… Imagine four missionaries trying to bath in a tub presumably every day for years. No amount of cleaning would ever get it clean, and we did not try very hard. I don’t have any photos inside 37 Dukinfield Road. But I found this one that was on the canal walking to church that was not far behind our flat. Which, looking at Google Earth, is no longer a large factory behind our row of homes.
Elder John Peters moved on and both Elders Giddings and Moreton were shotgunned out. Elder Jarem Frye moved in as my companion and we were the only two in the apartment. He had some illnesses and missing limb, so it was a slower time. It was a great time for work though and in the mornings I was able to read the Book of Mormon more than once a month and the entire History of the Church in the downtime.
Elders Ross and Peters on canal between Dukinfield and Hyde England
My next flat was in Patricroft, England serving in the Eccles Ward. This one was in a fairly rough neighborhood. We had a number of issues we had to avoid and had a few run ins with yobs. I replaced a British Sign Language missionary and was paired with a BSL missionary (who was native Spaniard, which made for some interesting mis-translations). I was expected to learn BSL in addition to the more interesting learning some Spanish and Swedish.
Looking at our apartment of 24 Lewis Street, Patricroft, England
This photo is from St. Johns St looking at our apartment at 24 Lewis Street. Ours is the one with the old slatted windows, not the newer windows of those on both sides. This is the flat I learned about my Grandmother’s passing. This is the apartment that crazy kids fired fireworks in through the mail slot of our door on Guy Fawkes Day 1999. This is where we played an epic prank on greenie Elder Theobald. My first bedroom with a sink in the corner which I have desired ever since.
Elder Wood eating a famous kebab in our Patricroft apartment
There were four of us in this flat. I was first serving with Elder Jose Hernandez from Ibiza, Spain. Then my companion was Elder Jason Wood from Roy, Utah. Poor Elder Hernandez is the missionary who got really upset one night on the way home about always talking about the gospel so he sat by himself half way up the bus. I told him we still were supposed to sit together, even if he was upset. He still moved. Somewhere around Irlam a brick came through the window and knocked him out cold. Elder Wood was in love with the Spice Girls, particularly Sister Halliwell.
Elder Hernandez sorting through garbage
As you can see from the above picture, Elder Hernandez accidentally threw something away and thought he would bring the garbage in to sort through it. It stunk and we were not happy with him. I do not recall if he found what he lost.
Zone Meeting in Eccles. Sitting on the floor is Elder Cory Meehan. The four of us in the back are Elders Van Hensen Van Unigen, Klomp, Ross, and Jose Hernandez. Then sitting from Elder Van Hensen Van Unigen are Elders Matthew Dean (face partially hidden), Richard O’Dea, Mark Cutler, Jake Smith (Red), Nick Smith (Black), Jarem Frye, Tracy, and Mark Thatcher with Vicente Garcia kneeling before him.
We had a Zone Meeting in Eccles for some reason. However, we liked to do Zone Meetings in Levenshulme for the Pakistani kebabs there, so I do not know why they ventured up to Eccles on this occasion. My journal probably tells, but I have not spent the time to research it.
Another photo of me enjoying some Jello shipped in by someone from the United States.
Elder Ross eating stateside Jello
And a picture of one of my bruises after a good couple of punches in my arm with an idiot. But you can see the wallpaper at the top of the stairs.
Only real damage after a few punches with an idiot.
Here is a photo of me about to get a haircut by Elder Wright in the front room of our flat, downstairs. That mirror and location are the same in which we blessed a deaf man to be healed. We used the mirror so he could read our lips while blessing him. He began to gain hearing and then I was transferred and I lost contact shortly afterward. Wish I knew the rest of the story.
Elder Wright about to cut my hair over pages of the Church News.
Elders Thaddeus Wright and Viktor Johansson were together when I arrived. Elder Wright was replaced by Elder Brad Theobald.
Elders Johansson and Theobald
The next area was Runcorn for the Runcorn Ward and Northwich Branch. There we lived at 29 Handforth Lane, Halton Lodge, Runcorn.
Elders Ross and Hales at 29 Handforth Lane, Runcorn, England
This one has a couple of photos in it. Here is where we prepped and weathered Y2K. Also, my second Christmas in the UK.
1999 Christmas haul for Elders Ross and Hales. Also see our Handforth Lane kitchen.
Elder Brad Hales opening Christmas gifts at 29 Handforth Lane
This poor area had to put up with me for 7.5 months! Elder Hales for 6 months!
Elder Paul Ross opening Christmas present 1999 at Handforth Lane, still wet from the rains
Elder Paul Ross at Handforth Lane bus stop
The time serving in Runcorn and Northwich was a very prolific time of the mission. There was a time our District and Ward had baptisms every week with ongoing interviews and visits to companionships. We loved this Ward and we believed they loved us. It was a spell of excitement and growth in this area, both personally and for those we served. Very fond of my time here.
Elder Paul Ross and our flat after a heart attack. I still have all these!
Trying on Elder Hales’ present, a Royal Mail Postal Carrier’s bag and jacket
29 Handforth Lane, Runcorn, Cheshire, England
Last area of the mission was off to Scholes for the Wigan Ward. This flat was located at 2 Lorne Street, Scholes, Wigan. This flat was owned by the same owners in Runcorn, the Pass family. They took good care of us even though this flat had a number of issues. You can see the wall on the end had to be fortified and I understand the one that stood beside it had to come down, but I second guess that knowing our flat was #2. Who knows?
Elders Dean and Cutler in front of our apartment and the mission Vauxhall Corsa.
This was my last area. Initial memories was a bed bug problem for Elders Dean and Cutler just in their bedroom. My Romanian companion fighting off a cold with an entire head of garlic in one meal, Elder Gheorghe Simion. Training my last companion Elder Garrett Smith. Some pretty amazing personal revelations, of which both companions also were able to partake. Very blessed in this area.
Elders Wright and Smith goofing off in front room
Elder Gheorghe Simion pondering
Elders Dean and Cutler were shotgunned out the same day bringing in Elders Wright and Hulse.
Elders Ross, Dean, Cutler, and Simion in front of St. Catherine’s on Lorne Street, across from our flat
Here is another shot of our flat looking up the street.
Rose and John Byrom stopped by on their way through Wigan
For the last area of the mission, these 3 Elders became brothers to me. Closer than the other areas in which I had served. Like Runcorn, we engaged well with the Ward. One of the best kebab houses in the whole mission was located here, Kebab King. I tried to stop in 2008, but it was closed both days we stopped. Wasn’t sure it had been open for a while.
Well, there are all 5 areas of the mission. All the photos I could find of our flats in which we stayed. I will have to work on sharing and telling the stories of the other photos I have.
Another historical Paul photo I thought I would share. This old gas station is still on the south side of West Ellis Street in Paul, Minidoka, Idaho. I was started and operated by Clyde Richans and later by Jim Brown. It was bought by Snyders who added on to the west end of the building.
I have only ever known it as owned by Snyder’s, but did a little digging.
Richfield Oil was founded in 1907. Richfield Oil and Atlantic Refining merged in 1966 to create the Atlantic Richfield Company, known as ARCO now. This photo likely predates that merger with the use of the Richfield logo. I do not know how long this little gas station operated, but by the time I was running around in the 1980s, it was no longer a gas station. I do not know if it ever used the ARCO label or not.
I did a little homework on Clyde Richan. Clyde Lavar Richan was born 15 February 1927 in Tooele, Tooele, Utah and on the 1930 Census was living in Ely, White Pine, Nevada. By 1935, his family had moved to Rupert, Minidoka, Idaho. His father was also named Clyde Richan (1904-1992). Clyde had a brother who lived to be 6, Eldon Leo Richan (1928-1934), but that was all of the children for Clyde and Verona (1905-1989).
Clyde married El Vera Louise Bott (1927-2018) in 1945. Her obituary included some insights into her and Clyde. Apparently he also started the Tri-City Rebuilders, which I knew on other side of Paul.
RUPERT – ElVera Louise Richan, a lifetime Minidoka County resident, joined her beloved husband, Clyde Richan, on Saturday, August 18, 2018. Her life has been an ordinary and interesting journey. She was born the second child of Ottone “Toni” Bott and Esther Garbardi Bott at home on a farm near Paul, Idaho, on March 1, 1927. She attended the Paul Grade School, graduated from Paul High School, and went on to further study at Idaho State University and College of Southern Idaho.
On a very important day in June 1945, she married her high school sweetheart and best friend. They moved to San Diego, California, where Clyde served in the United States Navy and ElVera worked for the American Red Cross at the Regional Naval Base. They returned to Minidoka County, their roots, to raise their two children, Toni and Ted, to work, and to enjoy their lives.
While her husband started two successful businesses, Paul Automotive and Tri-City Rebuilders, ElVera worked at Idaho First National Bank for 22 years as a commercial and agricultural loan officer. She had previously worked for the Minidoka County Courts and Schools.
ElVera was active in the community serving on the Project Mutual Telephone Board, Minidoka Hospital Board, and Rupert Library Board. She was also treasurer of the Minidoka County Highway Board for 32 years and a lifetime member of the St. Nicholas Catholic Church in Rupert.
Snow skiing, water skiing, hiking, camping and golfing, were activities she enjoyed with her husband, children, grandchildren, and many wonderful friends. So many great memories!
She is survived by her daughter, Toni Marie Merz; sister, Dolly Kidd; grandchildren, Christopher Merz, Ted S Richan, and Tonya White; other close family, Sharon and Mark Kidd; and 13 beautiful great-grandchildren.
Sagacity 