Overall, our trip was uneventful, and that’s a good thing. Jim and I are thankful for safe travel and no near misses in our 3,000+ mile trip. We had great traveling weather EXCEPT for a massive lightning show and brief (but powerful) downpour in SW Wyoming. Semis. Cars. Vans. SUVs. All heading somewhere on roads leading to parts unknown. Some highways more well-traveled than others. We encountered wide open spaces (with no bathrooms for miles), fast-moving traffic on multi-lane Interstates, congested downtown areas with pedestrians at every crosswalk, traffic jams in the middle of nowhere, and even dust storms that went on and on. We drove around blind curves on narrow roads without guardrails (Jim drove! I prayed!). As flatlanders, we wondered how pioneers cut such switchbacks in canyon walls and WHO it was who first thought THIS was a good way to get from Point A to Point B. Stay tuned for those pictures!
In the cemetery at Woodland Friends Church is a gravestone that read “Died on the Pardee Grade!” That’s not hard to believe because we drove on that, too…until we found the only ‘wide spot’ in the road and decided there wasn’t anything further down that we really needed to see. The 3-point turn ended up being a 10-point turn, but we headed back up the mountain.
Pardee, Idaho was the ‘happening place’ at one time. The abandoned tracks are basically all that remains in Pardee but in 1913, it was an essential transportation hub for Woodlanders. Pardee is more easily seen from the other side of the Clearwater River.
But, back to the highways. These weren’t in place when Grandma traveled (1913-1914). Even the cross-country railroads were fairly new at the time. Motor vehicles were not common at all. In fact, Grandma doesn’t even mention seeing the “machines” (as she called them) until she was in Oregon in November of 1913. Once in California, they were more common.
Can you just imagine the transportation changes made in the last 111 years? From horse and buggy days to cars that drive themselves. As I said in my mini-memoir, All Aboard! The Adventures of Miss Ratcliff, our ancestors lived in challenging times, and did quite well. I doubt many of us would be willing to return those days, myself included!
Between the SLC area and the Caldwell area, Jim and I visited Twin Falls, home of Shoshone Falls (perhaps our best selfie). There are more pics of the Falls in “All Aboard” Revisited – Part Two. Evel Knievel’s ramp (the windblown selfie) was just a couple of miles from the Falls. In 1974, the motorcycle daredevil made an unsuccessful attempt to cross the canyon in a rocket-powered SZ Skycycle. There was a parachute malfunction, but Knievel survived. Were you watching on TV that day?
The signage to the ramp wasn’t prominent, probably due to the upscale subdivision that now surrounds it, but we finally found a road meandering back there. A local guy looking quite buff came while we were there. He stretched, took a deep breath, then ran to the top without stopping. Needless to say, we didn’t BUT we made it. Shotgun, with Jim, turned around to taunt me…”Come on….you can do this!” And, I did. Notice the chasm behind us in the selfie. I took a pic of Jim after Shotgun and I went down. I wish I could have captured the perspective. The last picture shows the ‘end’ of the ramp in the foreground, with Kneivel’s intended target on the other side. It’s quite a chasm!
Traveling with a pet is not easy (or cheap). Since he was a puppy, Shotgun was on the road when Jim worked away from home. He was used to ‘riding shotgun.’ Then Covid hit, pipeline construction ended, and Jim retired. But, Shotgun adjusted well to being in the truck day after day.
Our lodging had to be pet-friendly and whenever we were out of the truck, Jim locked the doors but kept it running so Shotgun was in air-conditioned comfort. Our average miles per gallon was affected by all the ‘idle’ time, but that’s okay. It almost looks like he learned to read the map, doesn’t it? Shotgun – like us – did well but is glad to be home.
Idaho has so many ‘scenic byways’ I hoped to see, but we were ready to find our apartment. To get out of the truck. It’d been a long (but good) day.
Grandma’s first leg of her journey ended in Caldwell, Idaho. Ours ended in nearby Nampa where a lovely sunset greeted us from the upstairs window of our little apartment. A beautiful blast of color to end our long day on the road.
When Grandma arrived at the Caldwell depot 111 years ago, it was the middle of the night and she was greeted by pesky mosquitos. Remember? She hung out inside the depot until morning came then ventured out to downtown Caldwell for breakfast after her long train ride.
I love the cander with which Grandma journaled. Transcribing and deciphering her posts was fun. Grandma gave her breakfast two-thumbs-down that morning. I think her exact words were “No good!”
I would give ours, on the other hand, a two-thumbs-up! We found such a great little cafe.
After Jim and I had breakfast our first morning in Nampa, we drove to Lake Lowell and Deer Flat National Wildlife Refuge. Grandma visited there when it was simply known as the “Big Reservoir.” Lake Lowell is just south of the Greenleaf-Caldwell-Nampa area. It was constructed between 1906 and 1908 to provide water to high desert areas. Today, nearly 200,000 acres of land are still irrigated by these waters.
Grandma mentioned learning about the irrigation projects while she was in Southern Idaho. It was a big deal in Idaho and relatively unheard of in Kansas at that time. Many area farmers helped with the construction of canals, dams, and lake. Their livelihood depended upon that water.
I don’t know exactly where Grandma’s cousin Myrtle (and her family) lived but I know it was within eight miles of the lake most likely to the North and East – possibly in this photographed area.
Grandma wrote in her journal that twenty men, women, and children – mostly extended family – piled into horse-drawn wagons and went on dry, dusty roads for two hours to get there. According to local history, a nice pavilion was completed at the lake in July 1913; built by a local businessman. I wonder if that’s where they ate on August 9th of that year. Grandma told about fishing and boating, too. It was an all-day outing according to Grandma’s journal.
Jim and I walked across the dam on a beautiful coolish day (compared to the temps neighbors were enduring back in Kansas). At the Visitor Center, we saw old pictures of the early construction of dams, the finished pavilion, and people taking boat rides. I wonder if any of those pictures of shirttail relatives? Could be.
Long after Grandma was there, 1,800+ workers from the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) and Works Progress Administration (WPA) helped build a massive rock wall that still stands today atop the 74′ embankment. Over time, stones have ‘disappeared’ leaving gaps in the structure, but what a work of art. (Don’t worry – I didn’t take one, though it crossed my mind!) Notice the seagull and tiny ducks. Such a peaceful spot.
After our morning walk, Jim and I were off to find the train depot in Caldwell where Grandma arrived so long ago. Remember those tracks heading west from Mankato? That was the beginning of her journey. These tracks welcomed her to Caldwell several days later. Of course, she had to change depots and trains, then spent a couple nights in hotels along the way, but this was Grandma’s first destination. She would stay in this area two weeks in the summer of 1913.
When researching for All Aboard!, I learned the Caldwell depot was historically restored. I couldn’t WAIT to see it. Imagine my disappointment to find the depot locked on that Saturday morning. Oh well, I got some GREAT pics by standing on my tiptoes and peering inside. It really is a well-renovated link to the past. I loved the architectural elements that were so prevalent on this building – both inside and outside! Beautiful!
The historic district of Caldwell is awesome and I would have loved to wander around the shops and outdoor areas. Unfortunately….our four-legged friend prevented much of that kind of sight-seeing. I wondered, as I stood by the railroad cart that day, if Grandma’s trunk was loaded on it when she arrived? Perhaps it was.
Before spending another night in the area, we went to Greenleaf. This area (both Greenleaf and Caldwell) was settled by Quakers who migrated west shortly before Grandma’s visit. It’s still home to Greenleaf Academy. I tell more about its history in my book, but it was great to SEE some of the history of a place I’ve heard about all of my life.
Grandma’s trip was made to visit relatives and friends from back home. Many Burr Oak (KS) pioneers moved locations across Idaho and beyond that were first settled by Quakers – Whittier and Anaheim, California, to name a few. Grandma’s address for her uncle was simply “Route 3, Anaheim.” Imagine that!
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This has been a long post….there’s so much to say and show, it’s hard to quit. I hope you’re enjoying the journey WITH us.
Two things…first of all, any guesses the location of the featured image at the beginning of this post? Send your guesses in the comments. I’ll reveal it next time. Isn’t it a GREAT picture though, with the sun’s rays illuminating a beautiful tree-covered hillside. I love it.
And…secondly…I will introduce you to more Ratcliffs in my next post. When we packed up and left Nampa, we headed north through some beautiful scenic areas, and ended up near Indian Valley, Idaho where we were treated like family — that’s because we ARE family. I got to see my dad’s cousin (who I hadn’t seen since I was nine and he was 25!) and I got to meet his daughter. She and I became online friends a couple of years ago, but were THRILLED to finally be able to meet. She hosted an impromptu family get together, and I met lots of shirttail relatives. What a way to spend the day. Just wait til you read/see more about that highlight of our trip.
All for now!
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