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Monday, 18 August 2008 |
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By Tagen Towsley BLACKFOOT — Saturday morning the Bingham County Historical Society celebrated the Blackfoot Railroad Depot’s 95th birthday.  Morning News - Tagen Towsley
Lola Dawn Hernandez serves cake to Philip Bauman from New York on Saturday morning in front of the Blackfoot Depot. Also pictured are Janet Alvarez, secretary of the Bingham County Historical Society, and Amando Alvarez.
Lois Bates, president of the the society, along with Secretary Janet Alvarez and Lola Dawn Hernandez greeted visitors and bicyclists by serving birthday cake.
“We do this every five years,” Bates said.
Tourists from California, and bicyclists from all over the country were stopping to eat cake, and to take a picture next to the giant Idaho potato. Ride Idaho had a pit stop for bicyclists in the parking lot next to the railroad depot. Saturday was the last day for the large group of cyclists biking across Eastern Idaho. Philip Bauman stopped to eat a piece of cake and to take a picture with his wife.
“We do bike tours all over the country and this is our first time biking through this area,” Bauman said.
The Oregon Short Line Railroad opened the Blackfoot Depot on Aug. 16, 1913. The depot was a stop for many passenger trains. Byrd Trego, the editor of The Idaho Republican newspaper of Blackfoot, gave the following advice to the community back then.
“When people come to town or go through it, nothing counts more for or against the place than the first impression made upon them as they look around where the train stops. If there is a little ramshackle depot and some loafers and hobos in evidence, it is repulsive. On the other hand, if there is a fine modern building with spacious walks and grounds, well-behaved people, pretty parks, clean orderly waiting rooms with an air of welcome and comfort and not a sign of the hoodlum element, the traveler will want to stay.”
Many travelers today continue to visit the well-preserved depot that now houses the Chamber of Commerce and the Potato Museum.
The Railroad Depot is one of the many projects that the Bingham County Historical Society is involved with. The historical society is located at 75 N. Broadway. The office is open from 1 to 3 p.m. on Wednesdays. Meetings are held the first Wednesday of every month at 7 p.m. except September and December.
“New members are welcome and the membership fee is only five dollars a year,” Alvarez said.
For more information about the Bingham County Historical Society contact Lois Bates at 785-3264.
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Last Updated ( Tuesday, 19 August 2008 )
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