NOTE: This is the history column I write that appears every Thursday in the Post Register. I would be curious to know how many BizMojo regulars read "Looking Back" in print, and whether my reprinting it here a day later would make them any less inclined to subscribe to the paper. If that is overwhelmingly the case I won't run "Looking Back" online, but I think local history is important and I would like to get it in front of as many people as I can.
100 years ago
The Consolidated Wagon and Machine Co. ordered 50 Ford runabouts to be used by its salesmen, solicitors and collectors in Idaho and Utah. "This is probably one of the biggest orders for cars ever placed in the west and would no doubt make a national record of automobile purchases for individual use," the Idaho Register said. "As soon as weather and road will permit all horse-drawn vehicles will be discarded and disposed of, as well as the horses. ... The cars are all handsomely lettered with the name of the company." Ernest N. Musselman of the Idaho Falls Auto Co. placed a large part of the order.
75 years ago
Two Idaho Falls men got their wings in late February and early March 1941. Stanley E. Gagon, son of Wendell and Ida Gagon, 264 Ninth St., graduated from the U.S. Army's advanced air Corp training station at Kelley Field, Texas, "the West Point of the Air." Based on his record, he was named an instructor. He followed Melvin Nielsen, son of Mr. and Mrs. Jesse H. Nielsen, 316 Sixth St., who had been transferred to active service. Nielsen went on to become a lieutenant-colonel and commander of the 79th Fighter Group, leading the first rocket mission in the group's history in October 1944.
50 years ago
The Women's Christian Temperance Union of Idaho Falls announced the winners of its annual poster contest this week in 1966. They were as follows:
Junior High Division -- Sharon Stickley, first, and J.R. Sermon, second.
Senior High Division -- Russell Brown, first, Kathy Schuldt, second, and Gigi Gruel, honorable mention.
25 years ago
Bonneville Joint School District officials estimated construction of a new high school, a new elementary school and a gym at Falls Valley Elementary School would come in at around $12.1 million. was estimated at $8.9 million high school; and Four E Construction of Rigby for Iona Elementary and the guys. Superintendent Richard Goodworth said he expected work to commence by April 1.
