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By Emily Hone ARCO — The population of the little town of Arco swelled by several hundred people Saturday as area residents turned out to help celebrate “Atomic Days,” an event commemorating the day in July of 1955 when it became the first city in the world to be lit by nuclear power.
 Morning News - Emily Hone
Mountain Man Jack Montgomery, aka “Earpuller,” wears his personal capote and stands beside some of the creations he had for sale at Atomic Days in Arco Saturday. Montgomery who hails from Blackfoot, was one of the vendors hawking their wares at the city park. He earns a living selling the French trapper coats he makes by hand from woolen blankets.
The lighting period was a short two hours, but it put Arco on the map and gave the residents a reason for summer celebration.
On Saturday before heading for the city park and a day of fun, food and visiting followed by an evening rodeo they watched a parade that included horseback riders, floats, a marching band and members of the California/Oregon Trail wagon train that was passing through on its way to Nampa.
While softball and volleyball tournaments went on nearby and cowboys competed at the nearby arena in slack time left from the previous night’s rodeo, the city’s guests visited vendor booths offering homemade crafts from jewelry and pottery to wooden furniture and birdhouses to food.
They marveled over classic cars like a 1950 Chevrolet Fleetline Deluxe, a fancy 1956 Packard with leather seats, a block-long fiery red Cadillac Eldorado convertible with white leather seats, and a 1940 Ford coupe painted a shiny two-tone with flames on the fenders and hood.
Some lounged beneath shade trees for protection from the mid-day heat, while others lined up at the covered park shelter to sample the hamburgers, hotdogs and grilled Lost River bratwurst made up the road in Mackay that were being served up by volunteers in the local veterans booth and attracting the hungry with their delectable aroma.
Two of the vendors selling their unique handiwork were Jack Montgomery and Lyle Williams from Blackfoot. Williams, whose work is on display and for sale in his yard on the south side of Park Street across from the Eastern Idaho State Fairgrounds each year while the fair is in session, was doing a good business with his birdhouses, wishing wells, signs with pithy sayings and other items made from wood.
Montgomery was perhaps the most colorful character in the park, with an authentic Native American tepee set up beside his display of genuine French trapper capotes and dressed in Mountain Man style with silver and elk tooth necklaces, a beaded headband on his flat trapper’s hat and knee-high moccasins.
“Capote” means coat in French, he explained, and the long, belted and hooded garments made from genuine American wool blankets are an item coveted by people familiar with their use.
The garments are so practical their design hasn’t changed in 750 years, Montgomery claims. The capotes shed water and are wonderfully warm, split up the back so they can be comfortably adapted to motorcycle as well as horseback riding, or striding over mountains on foot.
And just wearing one attracts a lot of attention as well, said Montgomery, whose loquacity is an indication of how he came by his Mountain Man name, “Earpuller.”
He wrote offering one of his capotes to the actor who played the character, Sully, on Dr. Quinn Medicine Woman, Montgomery said.
“He wore it on the show and sent me an autographed picture in return,” he said pointing to a somewhat battered photo on a display table. “Women did that,” he said. “They were so excited when they saw it they would pick it up and rub it on their faces. Now I keep it in a frame.”
People who buy his capotes can rest assured they’re made in America and not China.
“I buy my blankets from Woolrich, Pennsylvania,” he said, “and every part of them is made in the USA. Handmade means I sew them by hand, not on a machine. I started making them as a hobby 30 years ago, and it just blossomed into a business.”
They’re sold under the name “Coyote Capotes,” and come in many colors and designs, each with blanket stitching and leather fringe trim, and can be viewed on his Web site
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, His booth also stocked quilts made by his wife, Debbie.
His normal marketplace is a rendezvous where the modern day Mountain Men meet, Montgomery said, where they’re quickly snapped up by his fellows, but Arco is a short hop from home and a good place to visit.
Making their debut at Atomic Days were members of the Lost River Valley Marketing Co-op, a group of artisans and crafters who are banding together to sell the creations from their talented hands.
Suzanne Edelman and Paula Davies said the group is made up of women from all over the Lost River Valley who are looking for a way to earn money with what, for most of them, started as a hobby.
“We’re having two target sales this year,” Edelman said, “and where we have the next one will depend on how well we do at this one.”
Their offerings included clocks, jewelry, needlework, pottery, paintings, basketry and more. Each one contributes 5 percent of their sales to support development of the co-op. Davies said they’re in the process of incorporating and writing by-laws, and are looking forward to great things.
They’re also looking for new members.
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