Looking back: Local parents hear from their war prisoner son and kids encouraged to kill magpies, crows
Published at
IDAHO FALLS — EastIdahoNews.com is looking back at what life was like during the week of May 1 to May 7 in east Idaho history.
1900-1925
IDAHO FALLS — A fire broke out inside Ferrell’s department store on Broadway in Idaho Falls in 1908.
The Blackfoot Idaho Republican reported on May 1, 1908, the fire happened around 1 a.m. Monday morning.
Firefighters struggled to “locate the blaze” due to the amount of smoke.
“Soon the entire stock was drenched and largely ruined, while the goods in the basement where the fire was found to be located were completely burned,” the Blackfoot Idaho Republican stated.
The contents of the store were valued at $30,000 but only insured for $18,000.
“This is a great loss to Mr. Ferrell, who has but recently come here and had fitted up his store with a very fine line of goods,” the article reads. “However, he intends to stock up again as soon as time will permit.”
1926-1950
PRESTON — A Franklin County couple received a message from their son, a war prisoner, the Preston Citizen wrote in its May 4, 1944, newspaper.
Mr. and Mrs. A. E. Fuhriman received the message from Provost Marshall General, Washington, D.C., which “relayed an intercepted broadcast from their son, Sgt. Royce J. Fuhriman, prisoner of war in the Philippines.”
The message said, “Dear Mother, received letters from you, Monta and Mary. Pleased to hear everyone is all right. Still anxious about things in general back home. My health is fine. Love to all, Royce.”
1951-1975
RIGBY — Prizes were offered to kids who participated in a contest to help “get rid of magpies and crows,” according to The Rigby Star.
The paper said on May 6, 1954, Frank Call, president of the Jefferson County Sportsmen’s Association, announced details regarding the contest. He said it would run on a point system with one point being given for eggs and two points given for heads of either magpies or crows.
The contest was set to run until June 15. At that time, 10 prizes were going to be awarded. The article didn’t mention all the prizes but did say first prize was a new .22 rifle and the second place winner would receive a fishing rod.
Call said the eggs and heads would need to “be checked in at the Bishop Chevrolet” and that a “receipt will be issued each time.”
“Youngsters, here is your chance to help get rid of the pests and also win some good prizes,” Call said.
1976-2000
POCATELLO — A 24-year-old man who tried to escape police in his 1961 Econoline van ended up crashing his vehicle.
The Idaho State Journal wrote on May 2, 1977, that Elmer Young was trying to get away from officers by “passing northbound traffic on the median.” In the process, he lost control of his vehicle.
“It veered across both eastern lanes, then back across the western lanes and rolled over,” police said.
Young, who police claimed became abusive and attempted to strike an officer after the accident, was taken to Bannock County Jail and held in lieu of bond.