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Show wwjwwwyjn yih - - I ) VS r V" s (,a 4? ; :;: '4rf$ X Leonard, former Utahn, and now Idaho Fish and Game Director, listen to talk of the old times from George W. Casner, 85, Idaho City' oldest resident. Ros Mrs. J. C. Pennington work an old lock on a store in Idaho City th6t ha functioned perfectly for nearly 1 00 years, h still guards the front door. Rebirth of a Legend Idaho City plans a new boom, this time based on tourists rather than gohl mines - J-- fc. X. ly Doit Brooks T W: A PIONEER Idaho gold mining camp of Idaho City is a town that doesn't give up easily. And that bulldog spirit is starting to pay off. Idaho City is coming back. True, the basic economy will be plenty different than back in those roaring gold rush days of the early 60s when Idaho City had its birth in the timber-linedepths of Mores Creek Canyon. Then it was the electrifying call of strike that sent some 4.800 pioneer miners trudging and riding across the mountain trails of Idaho to the big bonanza. Today, it is historical and scenic interest that draws the visitors up a modern highway from Boise, 40 miles away. IDAHO CITY still has its gold mining. There are those who will tell you that a good man can still jrnake wages working over theumps. Rut there are others like George W. Casner, at 85 Idaho City's oldest resident, who will say, there are only traces left most of the gold is gone. There are men like J. C. Pennington, who runs the general merchandise store, who still keep their hand in .working the diggings, but who depend on' the camps newer, soundey future for their livelihoods. Plenty of gold came out of . . . Salt Lake City,, June 12, this camp in its youthful days. A sign at entrance to the town proudly proclaims that this basin produced more gold than all of Alaska. Idaho Cily is notable for several firsts in the Gem State. IT HAD the first Masonic Hall, the first newspaper building which housed the historic Idaho World, the first Odd Fellows Hall and "the first Catholic Church. Its streets are steeped In Idaho history. From its old Wells Fargo office millions of dollars in gold dust were shipped out by stage. It was Idaho City gold that saved the Union in the Civil War," residents proudly tell you. The I960 visitor walks with bared head and quiet step halls, through cathedral-liklined with mighty pines, that have grown up in the cemetery. Weather-beateheadboards, bafely readable, state simply that here is the last resting of someone's child, place mourned by the camp; or some road agent who received his just desserts at the end of a rope, unmourncd by the. camp. . ON JUNE 19 Idaho City will recapture the spirit of its infancy when a Gold Rush Rar-becu- is held. 19G0 e We will raise money for a on Pine Creek, said Mrs. Pennington. We expect thousands of visitors. But in 1963 we'll have our real celebration when the centennial is observed. We have struggled through some lean years. But now we are confident of Idaho City's future as a tourist at- state park traction. This writer thinks m so, too. 5iW3 4 frit " J. C. Pennington, Idaho City merchant, examines one of weatherbeaten headboards in the cemetery of the old Idaho mining camp. & f t- ' - Gt CD CD CD CD wwwiMwmniiwnrijtnii.iiii(iiirr 'i.MWHb.iui- Qj hwuhwii iwn iwnum rvTl i i.iT.Timffriii i wanyi - WELCOME TO IDAHO CITY This Basin Mas Produced Mors' Gold Than AH Of Ah A 3 THE FIRST MASONIC HAIL IN THE SI AH THE FIRST NEWSPAPER SIR If NO IN THE STATE, . I "IDAHO WORLD THE FIRST ODD FELLOWS HALL IN THE STATE TH E FIRST CATHOIC CH U RCH I N TH E ' STATE ; THE WELLS FARGO' BUILDING; - - Population. From tS65w:1888 fipprox.'.4j800 VISIT OTHER PlflCES OF inTEREST HERE V&l 't VWS- This sign greets the visitor to Idaho City, pioneer Gem little trouble with the word "Catholic but the facts are had a State mining camp. The there. Town plans a boom based on history. sign-mak- |
