IDAHO GOES DOWN EastIdahoNews.com examines the history of east Idaho by examining what life was like during the week of June 23 to June 29.
1900-1925
BLACKFOOTA On June 29, 1916, The Bingham County News reported that an unidentified individual had attempted to break into the county’s liquor vault.
Someone tampered with the lock on the county’s liquor vault in the courthouse basement, waking Deputy Sheriff Thompson from his slumber.
Thompson climbed up, switched on the light, and peered out a window to see the figure fleeing south.
Thompson discovered the powder meant to be used to blow off the lock on the floor and an empty Winchester cartridge from which the lead had been removed when he walked to the entrance of the liquor department.
According to the report, the cop claims that he could have shot the escaping criminal if he so desired, but he guarantees that the next man who tries to tap the liquor cellar and is discovered will undoubtedly end up with a dosage of buckshot in his legs.
1926-1950
FALLSA TWIN On June 28, 1934, the Rexburg Standard announced that a 105-year-old pioneer had passed away in Twin Falls.
After a brief illness, Horace Hart, who arrived in this neighborhood when the Twin Falls strip initially opened in 1905, passed away in the county hospital. On July 20, he would have been 106 years old.
Hart was born on July 20, 1828, in Oneida County, New York. Hart joined the Eighth Illinois Cavalry Regiment during the Civil War. He was wounded in the Battle of Fredericksburg and the Battle of Antietam and served for the full four years of the war. During the Battle of Gettysburg, his horse was shot.
He rejoined the military after the war and was part of escorts headed west to guard pioneers.
According to the article, a community gathering was held recently to honor his birthday. Additionally, a tree was dedicated in his honor by an organization.
According to the publication, Hart never married and had no known family.
1951-1975
The Rigby Star reported on June 23, 1960, that a guy from Rexburg had tried to break into a local jail.
According to the article, there was a new crime at the Jefferson County Court House on Sunday morning.
It stated that at around two in the morning, Rigby State Patrolman Ron Eggleston entered the courthouse and apprehended Kenneth Simmons trying to enter the jail. Simmons had used his hands and a waste basket to smash in two plate glass windows.
Simmons was ultimately charged with intoxication, sentenced to 30 days in jail, and fined $50.
1976-2000
POCATELLOOn June 23, 1977, the Idaho State Journal reported that the source of a flash fire that burned the inside of a Pocatello pizza shop was unknown.
The Red Baron Pizza fire occurred soon before two in the morning on Sunday, around twenty minutes after staff members had gone to bed.
Firefighters saw flames jumping around the swamp cooler on the roof of the cinder-block building at 1005 S. 5th when they arrived. In roughly an hour, the fire was extinguished.
It’s a mystery. Willet O. Downey, the fire marshal for Pocatello, said, “I would like to know what happened.”
According to Downey, there was not much structural damage, but an explosion of some sort caused one wall to detach from the roof by a few inches.
He said the gas company looked into the potential of a natural gas leak but found no issues with the lines. He stated that the amount of time spent attempting to identify the cause was uncommon and that he was unsure whether to suspect arson or other causes.
He claimed that the front wall protruded. As though confined fumes had flared up and spread forth. However, no one in the vicinity heard an explosion.
He said that if there had been a bomb, people might not have seen it because trucks traveling north on Fifth Avenue occasionally backfire.
The management of the restaurant had not informed Downey of the reopening date or whether it would happen.
