In the early morning hours of April Fools Day of 1915 Council experienced the worst fire in its history when Freehafer’s restaurant on the north side of Illinois Avenue downtown caught fire. Flames quickly spread along that side of the street and then jumped across to the big Overland Hotel complex. Carlos Weed (Carl’s son) was about 7 years old and told me how he watched the fire from his home at the east end of School Avenue. (The stylish old Weed house still stands, but has been abandoned for years.) When daylight dawned, much of downtown Council lay in ashes.
That summer, many of the brick buildings on the north side of Illinois Avenue were built to replace the burned businesses.
In 1916 Bud Addington erected a big garage and hotel that we now know as the Ace Saloon building where the Overland Hotel had burned. He started selling Model T Fords to those who could afford them. Also that summer, a beautiful three-story courthouse was built on the solid rock hill south of downtown. The sign over the formal entrance was evidently ordered before construction, as it read “1915.”
Both of the big new brick buildings were wired for electricity, which had just reached Council in September of 1915.
1917 newspapers mention the G.M. Winkler hardware store, Deputy Sheriff Jim Winkler and Council Postmaster Bill Winkler.
In 1918 George M. Winkler sold his interest in the hardware store. The Leader said he was in that business with C.T. Doughty to M.C. Fuller. The next summer (1919) the Leader announced that Carl Weed and Jim Winkler had “purchased the fixtures of the grocery store conducted by the late Mr. Rainwater and are preparing to open a grocery in the Weed building, across the street from the Council Pharmacy. It will be called the Council Grocery Company.”
Leo Rainwater had died of the flu, which is why his store and contents were being sold. His store building still stands in Council – most recently operated as Sam’s TV and now becoming a computer store. The Weed building (former Winkler hardware, becoming the Council Grocery Co.) was owned by Carl Weed, on the NE corner of Illinois and Galena – today it’s a parking lot.
In 1919 the Winkler blacksmith shop was in the news. I’m not sure what had happened since George Pfann had started running it in 1912, but the Leader said, “Geo Phann Pfann, who has been employed as a machinist for the ‘Pin’ road has taken charge of the Winkler blacksmith shop.” George ran a blacksmith shop, or a similar business, in Council until he died in 1956.
About 1918, Ernest “Si” Winkler, son of George M. and Elizabeth Winkler, started his career in merchandising. He was probably working for Sam Criss.
George M. Winkler spent the winter of 1919 – 1920 in California. On his way back to Council in March of 1920, he stopped in Payette to visit his daughter, Artie ( Artiemecha) and her husband, William Donoho. He had been afflicted with “Brights Disease,” which is now called “nephritis,” which is an inflammation of the kidneys, caused by toxins, infection or autoimmune conditions. While in Payette, this health issue suddenly became worse, and he died on March 19. He was 63. His body was taken to Council for burial in the Odd Fellows Cemetery.
Adams County Leader, Aug 20, 1920: “Postmaster Winkler has asked that we call public attention to the fact that there is an electric light, with switch located just inside the door, available at the postoffice for those who wish to get mail at night and that it is desirable that such light be used in preference to the striking of matches. It is quite usual for patrons to scatter paper upon the post office floor, and in the evening when there is no office help on duty the throwing of matches or cigarettes upon the floor is particularly dangerous.”
Many homes didn’t have the new miracle of electric lights yet, and old habits died hard.
Continued next week.
100 years ago
February 1, 1924
Edward S. Jewell Died January 24 at Los Angeles. “He was born in Wisconsin in 1845 and came to Idaho about 1861. He later made his home in Idaho City where he married Mary A. Markham. In 1870 moved to Salubria Valley, which place was given its name by him. He is survived by one brother, Albert Jewell of Boise, and the following children: William E. Jewell and Earle C. Jewell of Los Angeles, Mrs. Esther Kavanaugh, Holtsville, and Mrs. Sarah James, San Diego, California; Mrs. Salome Coon, Boise, Idaho and Fred M. Jewell and Mrs. Grace Eckles, Cambridge, Idaho.”
Died: Florence Rose Michael. Born in Missouri in 1869, she came West with her parents in 1881 and has lived in Middle Valley since then. She married Joseph Hague in 1886, and they had two daughters and one son.
Highland – Mrs. Rose Muir and Mr. Fred Tony were married at Weiser on the 25th.
James Ruth, a pioneer of the Heath district, died at his home Wednesday, January 30. Burial will be at the Cambridge Cemetery.
A girl was born to the Tony Thomason home on January 19. A boy was born to the Lony Thomasons on January 27.
“Farmers near Midvale and Cambridge have signed up to grow nearly 200 acres for sugar beets so far.”
75 years ago
February 3, 1949
“Indian Valley: Genevieve, youngest daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Al Baldwin, was married to Ben Johnson, Jr., January 8 at Moscow, Idaho.”
Idaho lawmakers repealed a bill that made “every person who sells or furnishes firearms or ammunition to any Indian guilty of a misdemeanor.” The statute was enacted in 1879.
Since December 15 the temperature has dropped below zero 42 out of the past 49 nights. Snowfall recorded this winter is now over 63 inches.
Mary Frances Booker, born in 1869 in Missouri, died January 26, 1949 in the home of her daughter, Crystal M. Bays at Goodrich. Most of her life was spent in Oregon and Washington in farming as well as teaching. Burial at Tillamook.
A daughter named Helen Alberta was born at the Council hospital January 24 to Mr. and Mrs. Scott Qualls of Midvale.
A girl named Marcia Darlene was born at the Weiser hospital January 27 to Mr. and Mrs. W. W. Dale of Midvale.
49 years ago
January 30, 1975
Married January 5: Deborah Kay Bair of Boise, and Alan Raney, son of Mr. and Mrs. Harold Raney of Cambridge.
Married December 28 at Midvale: Nicholas L. Partin, son of Mr. and Mrs. Loren Partin of Filer, Idaho, and Joyce Ann Doggett, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Robert Doggett of Midvale. Both are students at the University of Idaho.
A girl named Tonya Lynn was born at the Ontario hospital to Mr. and Mrs. David Springer of Midvale.
25 years ago
February 4, 1999
“Cambridge Telephone Company has now expanded its calling area to include all of the exchanges that they serve. It will now be a free call between Cambridge, Council, Indian Valley and Cuprum.”
Died: Valera Isabelle Clelland Rudger, 90, of Weiser. She was born in 1908 at Midvale, the daughter of James Edgar and Lucinda Simmons Clelland, and grew up in the Midvale area. She married Rudolph Rudger in 1926.
Died: Ada Mae Lacey Norton, 88, formerly of Cambridge.
