Looking back: Hunter loses his horse after moose suddenly appears, and Idaho Falls bridge opens
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IDAHO FALLS — EastIdahoNews.com is looking back at what life was like during the week of Nov. 27 to Dec. 3 in east Idaho history.
1900-1925
RIRIE — A local man was the victim of a “cowardly act” that happened in Ririe, The Rigby Star reported on Nov. 29, 1917.
A.S. Wilkinson, a well-known man in Rigby who was previously employed by Tanner and Cragan as an engineer, was supervising the laying of the water mains in Ririe.
Frank Lee, a man who had been working for Wilkinson, struck him with a broken pitchfork handle. Wilkinson was talking to friends in front of a Ririe pool hall when Lee reached over the shoulders of several men and struck Wilkinson. He suffered a “painful” cut below his left ear.
“The angered friends proceeded to hold Mr. Lee until he could be placed under arrest,” the paper explained.
Lee was taken to Rigby, where Judge Groom fined him $100.
1926-1950
IDAHO FALLS — A $70,000 bridge over the Snake River opened to traffic in 1928, The Rigby Star reported on Nov. 29, 1928.
Thousands of spectators — including Sen. M.B. Yeaman — attended the dedication ceremony of the bridge. Joe D. Wood, state highway commissioner, spoke at the event. He talked about the progress which had been made in road and bridge construction in Idaho.
“(He mentioned) the new link (bridge) as an important part of the highway which will soon unite all of the Americas and will do much to promote good will among the nations of the continent,” the article stated.
Lois Clark, 7-year-old daughter of Mayor B.W. Clark, cut the flowers and ribbons that were stretched across the bridge. Following the ribbon cutting, Richard Hygham, who helped build the bridge, and a group of old-timers were driven across the structure.
“Taylor’s toll bridge, built in 1865, was the nucleus about which the present town of Idaho Falls was built,” the paper wrote. “The structure was washed out by high water in the spring of 1866 after serving freighters of the country for only a year.”
In 1890, a steel structure replaced the second bridge built by Taylor, according to The Rigby Star.
“Idaho Falls was known for many years as Taylor’s Bridge and later, in 1872, as Eagle Rock, after which it was given its present name,” the paper said.
1951-1975
ASHTON — A hunter lost his horse to a moose, the Idaho State Journal reported on Dec. 1, 1957.
C.E. Hawkins, 40, was hunting in an area northwest of Ashton when the incident occurred. As he was riding, a moose “jumped out” of the underbrush and frightened his horse. The horse fell to the ground and Hawkins was thrown off.
“The moose then came at Hawkins, but he managed to keep the animal away with a rifle blow to the moose’s head that broke the weapon,” the Journal mentioned.
The article continues, “Just then the horse got to his feet and caught the moose’s eye. Hawkins said he last saw the moose and horse headed into the timber with the moose’s antlers caught in a rope hanging from the saddle mounted on the horse.”
1976-2000
POCATELLO — A teenager was arrested for alleged larceny, the Idaho State Journal reported on Dec. 1, 1976.
The 15-year-old Pocatello girl was arrested at Highland High School. Police said the girl was charged with taking money from school lockers.