Idaho

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Bicycling in Richmond

Jonas Family Home at 142 North State Street, Richmond, Utah in 1960

If this picture doesn’t conjure late 1950’s Americana, I don’t know what does. Norwood and Colleen Jonas built this home. The house still stands at 142 North State Street, Richmond, Utah. Colleen stands with her bicycle near the front door.

My mother, Sandy, stands holding the bike upright while Doug is crouched behind it for some purpose. Since Jackie was born in 1960 and Grandma is in maternity clothes, this would have been the spring or summer leading up to August 1960. Doug couldn’t remember which Beck boy this was with the bike in the front. Gary Beck was born in 1947, Kenny in 1949. I am guessing this looks more like a 13 year old than a 11 year old, so probably Gary Beck.

The Cadillac in the driveway is interesting. I don’t recall ever being told the family owning a Cadillac, I heard about Plymouths and Buicks, but never a 1953 Cadillac. In doing more research and a call from my Uncle Doug, the plates on the Cadillac are from 2C. While outsiders consider this unique, Idaho still follows this model. 2C is Canyon County. Vance and Millie Beck, Colleen’s sister, lived in Nampa in Canyon County. Doug also let me know that Becks did own a Cadillac like this and it eventually went to Preston to my Great Grandparents and roamed around Preston and the farm for a few years. Doug told me that he remembers this particular date and instance like it was yesterday!

The bicycle Mom holds is also interesting. It looks similar to an old bicycle I rode around Paul, Idaho in my youth.

This is a snap shot of another era.

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Let’s Go Fly a Kite

Okay, it was maybe more than a kite on a string. For Christmas last year I gave the kids and Amanda an airplane ride. I had coordinated it with my cousin to try and make it happen. Calendars, health, and a number of things had to be considered. But we made it happen. Here are some photos of our flying trip.

I want my children to experience new things. I want them to consider more of the world around them and the options that are available. The kids had made a numbber of observations in 2019 regarding birds, Hiram at one point talking about The Sword in the Stone. He referenced Wart and Merlin getting to fly and all he learned. It triggered a thought for an experience.

First we had to drive to the Twin Falls, Idaho airport, Joslin Field. We met up with family and made our way to the airport. We made it through the security gate and found our way to the hangar. Inside was this beauty waiting for us, a 2006 Van’s Aircraft RV-10.

We had to move another plane out of the way in the hangar in order to get this one out. We moved it out of the hangar and did all the checks necessary. Here we did a picture before loading up. Due to limited size inside, we had to make two trips for the entire family to make a flight. Amanda and I went up with the boys first, then with the girls.

The Ross Family getting read to start up and fly away to make some memories.

Here are a couple of photos of the inside of the plane before I get to some of what we captured outside the plane.

Hiram, James, and Amanda Ross waiting to get into the air.
Hiram Ross loving this flight.
Proof I was present, Paul Ross, in the front of the plane with Darrell Schmidt, pilot. We are very grateful for Darrell letting us impose on his time to go flying. Having passed 40, the hair is getting mighty thin up there, and that was not due to altitude.
Aliza, Lillian, and Amanda Ross waiting for the next turn in the air.
Aliza Ross loving her flight, Twin Falls, Idaho, in the background.
Amanda and Lillian Ross did not put their electronic devices away during the flight!

Here are a couple of highlights of what we saw flying over Twin Falls and Jerome Counties, Idaho.

The confluence of Rock Creek and Snake River at the junction of Rock Creek Canyon and the Snake River Canyon.
Beautiful Blue Lakes Country Club, Snake River, Perrine Bridge, and the mighty Shoshone Falls up the Snake River Canyon.
Shoshone Falls
Twin Falls Temple
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Andra Marriage Certificate

Bill and Mary Andra Marriage Certificate

I received a number of envelopes, documents, and photos from some cousins living in Arizona. Patricia Trimble and Twila Lemmons are the daughters of Golden Rulon Andra, brother to my Colleen Mary Andra.

As I worked through some of the photos and papers I came upon this document. It is the original. A thick vellum like paper with the handwriting written on it. I sat down and stared at it for a very long time. I tried to imagine the day. I imagined which of the sealing rooms in the Salt Lake Temple this sealing took place in 1920. I don’t know. But 10 March 1920 was a day a long life and large family formally began for William “Bill” and Mary Andra. They would both live for another 70 years. 12 children, 46 grandchildren, and many more descendants. Most of those years were spent near Preston and Whitney, Idaho. Both are buried in Whitney.

Alvin Fielding Smith (1874-1948) was the sealer, son of Joseph Fielding Smith (1838-1918). Peter James Sandberg (1852-1921) and Thomas Biesinger (1844-1931) were the witnesses. Interestingly, online, in October the same year, both were the witnesses with the same Sealer. Not sure if witnesses were also a calling then or not, but more than six months later all these men performed the exact same act as they did for Bill and Mary. I understand that their Bishop while living in Salt Lake City/Sugar House was LeGrand Richards (1886-1983), he was Bishop from 1920-1925, so very likely a true recollection.

Bill and Mary Andra Family. Back (l-r): William Fredrick Jr, Golden Rulon; Middle Row: Sergene, Mildred “Millie”, Colleen, June; Front: Donald Wanner, Larry Eugene, William Fredrick, Dale, Mary Louise, and Ross Leslie Andra.

This photo was also included in the photos. I understand from the family that Millie was pregnant in this photo in 1946. Gary was born in January 1947, so that seems to fit. Grandpa Andra always joked this photo made it look like he had flowers in his hair. It does look like that. This photo is a constant memory of my childhood, always sitting on my Grandmother’s vanity. She mentioned it to me often, I probably asked about it to start the conversations. There was an obvious fondness. I believe it is for those reasons that I also hold a fondness for it. I never had a very good scan of the photo and even online the copies were pixelated. I am happy to report this one is scanned and uploaded to FamilySearch in its highest quality.

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Little Moments

There are so many little moments in life that I wish we caught more and recorded. Not necessarily in photos, but just that they were preserved. I am also cautious about what and how much I share on an open blog due to privacy concerns.

I pulled out my camera at a little birthday dinner for Aliza with Amanda’s parents, Bryan and Jill Hemsley, on 6 November 2020. (I know, we missed Guy Fawkes…) I don’t know what they were looking at on the cell phone, but this just showed how much these kids love their Grandma! Shout out to great food at Denny’s in Burley, Idaho. A regular favorite due to their clearly telling us what is gluten free on the menu. Oh, the joys of having Celiac in the family.

James, Lillian, Aliza, and Hiram Ross surrounding Jill Hemsley

The other photo I captured of the night is the attempt of James to drink root beer and milk simultaneously.

James drinking root beer and milk at the same time
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Jonas-Melycher Wedding

Back (l-r): Milo Ross, Willie Melycher, Doug Jonas, Brook Jonas; Middle: Sandy Ross, Jackie Jonas Melycher, Colleen Jonas; Front: Paul Ross, Andra Ross

I have mentioned earlier that I was given scores of Andra photos. I have been scanning them all, preserving them, and uploading them to FamilySearch before I divvy them out to family members. In those photos, I stumbled upon this one. I remember this day, 23 July 1988.

William Francis Melycher Jr and Jackie Jonas, my Aunt, were married at my Grandmother’s home in Paul, Idaho. First time I ever wore a tuxedo. I got into trouble for making the 2 liter containers of ginger ale blow up in the driveway. Of course, shaking and throwing them into the air to see which way they blow up when they finally explode. That was after the festivities…

It was a fun day for us as kids. But I think this is one of the best family photos I have for my own family as well as my Grandma’s family.

Dad just looks so huge. Everyone commented on how big Dad is/was. To me he was Dad and he was always that size.

Mom looks so thrilled. A look she regularly had throughout life.

Jackie is stunning.

Grandma is beautiful.

Andra and I have such blond hair, just like Jackie.

What a happy day it was and this photo reminds me of it.

My Grandma kept a beautiful home and yard. This photo gives a small glimpse of the pride she took in it.

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Overland Avenue looking north over Main Street

Looking north over Overland Avenue near Main Street in Burley, Idaho

When I saw this photo it caught my attention. I don’t recall the topic of the book this photo was in, but I took a picture of it.

I am guessing this is the late 1910s from the top of the Mayfair Building, I don’t recall the name on the building.

Of particular interest is the old flour mill in front of the grain silos. I don’t know when it came down, I don’t have any memories of it in the 1980s.

The truck was not yet in production, or widely available in Burley, for shipping commodities as these are all wagons. I cannot tell if they are waiting to go to the mill or if something else is going on. The line appears to keep going past Main, but not quite sure it goes all the way to the silos.

I recognize the two story buildings on the right as they are both still there. The building to their left, the old Thriftway Building was taken down about 1990 and is now just a parking lot.

None of the buildings between Main and the flour mill, including the mill, are still in existence.

I cannot quite tell if we are seeing the impounded water from Milner Dam in the background. Milner predated Burley so it is very likely the wide open space is Milner Lake.

I was thinking the flag could tell me a time frame but I cannot see the stars to any degree to tell if this is before or after 1912. This is likely the 48 star flag from 1912-1959.

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Eagle Scout Newspaper

Milo Ross, Bill McBride, Leon Taylor, Freddy Cox Eagle Announcement

The newspaper clipping from 1956 includes the following:

Awarded Highest Honor in Scouting

These four Plain City Boy Scouts from Troop 42 of the Pine View District received their Eagles badges at a recent Court of Honor.  They have earned a total of 84 merit badges.  Left to right are Milo Paul Ross, son of Mr. & Ms. Milo Ross; Bill McBride, son of Mr. and Mrs. Keith McBride; Leon Taylor, son of Mr. & Mrs. Everett Taylor, and Freedy Cox, son of Mr. & Mrs. Arthur Cox.  The Ross youth also attended the Boy Scout National Jamboree at Valley Forge, Pa., last summer.

I quote from the article above, but Dad pointed out that Freddy’s last name is Coy, not Cox.  But the newspaper has it incorrect.

Eagle Scout

I made this photo available earlier.  I assume from the same occasion.  I didn’t scan it so I don’t know if that is the original quality, even with the blemishes.

Milo in his scouting uniform about 1954

This is from their old home in Plain City with a few merit badges yet to go before receiving his Eagle rank.

Here is the clipping of my own announcement.

Newspaper clipping from the South Idaho Press.

I have written on my Eagle before, but I will include this picture too.

Dad shaking my hand afterward for a photo shoot. 

I certainly looked younger in 1993, I had just turned 14 years old.

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Paul Train Depot

Paul Idaho Train Depot

Another old photo of Paul, Idaho.  To the left, center of the photo is the Paul Train Depot.  The depot was located about half way between Main Street and 1st West Street on the north side of West Railroad Street and south of the tracks.  This photo was very early on, probably before 1917 as the Amalgamated drainage ditch does not appear in to be running through the photo.  Also, the buggy in the front and no parked cars elsewhere provide some hint.

Immediately behind from this view and across the tracks is the Watson Farm Supply Building.

Watson Farm Supply

Looking east down Idaho Street you can see the back side of Merrill’s Food Market.  On the following photo, you can see the north side of that building on the right side of Main Street before the bricked Adams Building.

Main Street near the tracks looking South in Paul, Idaho

If you look out to the very far left of the photo with the depot, you can see the first school in Paul.  That school was located on James Ellis land.  I don’t know when that school was built or when it was replaced with a school virtually in the block behind where this photo was taken.

Paul Idaho Train Depot