I am simply amazed that Tom's family on both sides was here in the 1880s and involved in mining. And the tragic story of his great grandfather dying in a mining accident just before his wife and 10 children moved here. Incredible.
It's SO COOL that you are working at the Bellevue Historical Society Museum!! That explains a lot, as I have heard that things are really happening there--can't wait to visit! The "gathering of friends" sounds awesome.
As I read your column I almost couldn't believe what similar life paths we are walking right now. Monday will be my first day working at the Wagon Days barn that turns into a history museum for the month of August. Hours are 11-6 (I work M-Th). https://www.wagondays.com/events/ore-wagon-museum-and-wagon-days-headquarters
Was up there today briefly while the organizers were putting the place together. Your words really resonated for me: "In reality, one hundred and forty some years isn’t that long ago. So it shouldn’t be that hard to preserve the history. But it takes dedication, it takes a team, and it takes time."
I would love to connect and see you there--not sure if you've been? Maybe even meet Tom and hear more about his family and how/if they continued to play a role in the valley's mining history. And come see BHS Museum!
Liz! That's great that you're working at the pop-up museum this month! BHS has a number of items that Heather borrowed for it this year... You may even see a miner's bag, donated by Joe & Teresa Bergin. Yay! 3 cheers for our valley's history! Getting up to Ketchum is a bit of a chore these days (as you know), but we'll try to make it up, we do want to see the pop-up. And, if you come down to Bellevue, I'll be working the museum next Saturday. Also, plan on spending Labor Day in Bellevue - we have lots going on! Let's text off-line. Would be great to see you! xo
Brava….for ALL you do! 👏🏼The work on behalf of BHS is commendable!!! And clearly you’ve made the house a real home for you & Tom. I cannot wait to see more of your renovation in Sicilia this fall. Ci vediamo!
Jan, thank you for sharing this part Tom’s family history (and by proxy, a community’s history), and how you are building on it with your participation in the Historical Society. I can see you, in your fully engaged and beautiful Jan-like being, bringing joy, and energy to the mission of preserving and celebrating the essence of a community. Brava, dear friend! ❤️
Thank you, friend. You are very kind. It often feels that marrying into the Bergin family has given me some clout - lol. In truth, it certainly is an honor and a responsibility. Where we can preserve stories, we need to, bc these stories shape our lives. (and then, sometimes, we need to shift the stories too). Love you
Hey Jan, I have the same bug over on this side of the hills.
The field where my house sits was first homesteaded by a Scottish family in 1905, and two of their sons ended up in the South Pacific before WWII.
The oldest son was in the Army Air Corps and died in the Philippines, where he is buried.
The younger son got a Depression-era job working for Boise-based Morrison-Knudsen Corporation, at that time one of the biggest construction companies in the US, that had a contract with the Pentagon to build airstrips on US islands in the Pacific. He, along with 900 other MK employees, was working on Wake Island when it was attacked by the Japanese. The MK guys helped the Marines defend the island until it was overrun and most were sent to a POW camp in the Philippines. He survived the war, but the MK employees who were held on Wake Island to complete the airstrip for the Japanese were murdered.
I found an online copy of MK’s memorial book that lists the names of all the employees who were stationed on Wake Island and it’s basically a list of young guys from small town Idaho. Banks, Lowman, Bliss, Hailey, Garden Valley. A few years ago, Congress officially recognized their service on Wake Island and awarded Purple Hearts to those who were casualties.
There was a reunion of survivors every year at the memorial in Boise’s Veterans Park until three or four years ago. I heard about the last reunion when only two survivors attended a month after it happened.
And that’s just a small bit of the history from my little area along the Payette River. Because of my 94 year old friend who has lived here all his life, I have learned so much more.
That is so great! I love that you've learned this - from your own research and from your older friend. As someone who has traveled the world, I know you have a true sense of land and spirits on the land and the responsibility to honor those who have come before us.
You probably also know that Sept 2 is the 80th anniversary of the end of WW2. We are having a wreath-laying ceremony here in Bellevue at our WW2 memorial next to the museum, with the color-guard from Mountain Home. Come on over!
On my last visit to Ketchum, I stayed in a small hotel next to the Ketchum Cemetery, so I strolled over to pay my respects to Ernie H., but was surprised to find the grave of an old friend, Norman Algiers, who was a cartoonist for the Wood River Journal in the early 80’s. In fact, I’m looking at one of his cartoons that he signed for us. Last I knew, he retired in Hawaii, but I guess his heart led him back home. I wonder if your husband remembers his cartoons?
Also, did you all know Kurt and Evelyn Barker, who lived in Bellevue for many years? Kurt was a sheep herder and claimed that he was a millionaire because he had a million acres of land down by Arco that was worth about a dollar per acre. I knew Evelyn back when I was a little kid.
Norman Algiers sounds familiar. Kurt and Evelyn Barker... not sure, will have to ask Tom. He grew up here so ... but are they still around? In my 20 years, John Peavey and Lava Lake have been the biggest sheep herders around.
Both Barkers passed away back before the turn of this century. I’ll send you a photo of Norman’s cartoon. He always drew a little caricature of himself sitting under a palm tree, next to his signature.
We get a couple bands of sheep in our mountains each spring. The herders are from Peru and one herder has returned for 13 seasons now. I once visited his village back in the day, which makes us friends for life. When I see him in our valley before he takes his sheep up the mountain, I always bring him a hot morning beverage to his specifications.
Does he remember that Kurt was so bow legged from riding a horse all his life that he could straddle a barrel and touch his inner ankles? Also, maybe not enough lemons or vitamin C? We used to joke about it.
I love everything about this!! I’ve spent the past year working on the family history of our descendants from San Marco la Catola with my cousin in Argentina and it has been so fulfilling but we also kick ourselves for not having asked more questions when those family members were still alive. We’ve been connecting with a lot of family around the world which has been an added bonus. History is so important, hopefully the younger generations will carry on.
Let’s try to have a chat before you leave for Sicilia in September. I’m going to be home for 3 weeks beginning 8/18 recovering from surgery (again), so my days will be pretty free if you’ll have some time.
When I first started reading this...I was like...wait....dove' la Sicilia??!?! HAHA...and then as I read it hit me...you are always about the home, its meaning and place, whether it's an American homestead or a reno in Italia.
This was fantastic to see the devotion and life you've formed in Idaho as well. Home in general, just like a relationship, takes so much time and energy, doesn't it? The home... IS our kid!
We have our place in the Hudson, which we've put so much work into... but we've also been working hard and nearly finished..on the reno of our NYC apartment in Astoria, Queens. Took half the year and about killed me but it has been 24 years...so very needed.
Keep us posted and keep hammering...har har....away.
Grazie Amico!! Si, si, la casa è così un bambino- tanto lavoro!! Congratulations on your hard work! Half a year? That’s it? No wonder it almost did you in!! But then afterwards, it is so gratifying!!
Thank you. I'm glad we have some way of staying in touch. Early May 2026 would be ideal on my end - I will have a guest room ready by then and, hopefully, un soggiorno. You MUST come and stay with me!! Ci parliamo presto!
Jan,
I am simply amazed that Tom's family on both sides was here in the 1880s and involved in mining. And the tragic story of his great grandfather dying in a mining accident just before his wife and 10 children moved here. Incredible.
It's SO COOL that you are working at the Bellevue Historical Society Museum!! That explains a lot, as I have heard that things are really happening there--can't wait to visit! The "gathering of friends" sounds awesome.
As I read your column I almost couldn't believe what similar life paths we are walking right now. Monday will be my first day working at the Wagon Days barn that turns into a history museum for the month of August. Hours are 11-6 (I work M-Th). https://www.wagondays.com/events/ore-wagon-museum-and-wagon-days-headquarters
Was up there today briefly while the organizers were putting the place together. Your words really resonated for me: "In reality, one hundred and forty some years isn’t that long ago. So it shouldn’t be that hard to preserve the history. But it takes dedication, it takes a team, and it takes time."
I would love to connect and see you there--not sure if you've been? Maybe even meet Tom and hear more about his family and how/if they continued to play a role in the valley's mining history. And come see BHS Museum!
Will be in touch,
Liz
Liz! That's great that you're working at the pop-up museum this month! BHS has a number of items that Heather borrowed for it this year... You may even see a miner's bag, donated by Joe & Teresa Bergin. Yay! 3 cheers for our valley's history! Getting up to Ketchum is a bit of a chore these days (as you know), but we'll try to make it up, we do want to see the pop-up. And, if you come down to Bellevue, I'll be working the museum next Saturday. Also, plan on spending Labor Day in Bellevue - we have lots going on! Let's text off-line. Would be great to see you! xo
Brava….for ALL you do! 👏🏼The work on behalf of BHS is commendable!!! And clearly you’ve made the house a real home for you & Tom. I cannot wait to see more of your renovation in Sicilia this fall. Ci vediamo!
Tu sei molto gentile, amica. I think of how much you have done to preserve YOUR family history! Looking forward to seeing you soon! xo
I just hope I can get some of the younger people in the family interested in some of this stuff! 🙏🏻
Jan, thank you for sharing this part Tom’s family history (and by proxy, a community’s history), and how you are building on it with your participation in the Historical Society. I can see you, in your fully engaged and beautiful Jan-like being, bringing joy, and energy to the mission of preserving and celebrating the essence of a community. Brava, dear friend! ❤️
Thank you, friend. You are very kind. It often feels that marrying into the Bergin family has given me some clout - lol. In truth, it certainly is an honor and a responsibility. Where we can preserve stories, we need to, bc these stories shape our lives. (and then, sometimes, we need to shift the stories too). Love you
Hey Jan, I have the same bug over on this side of the hills.
The field where my house sits was first homesteaded by a Scottish family in 1905, and two of their sons ended up in the South Pacific before WWII.
The oldest son was in the Army Air Corps and died in the Philippines, where he is buried.
The younger son got a Depression-era job working for Boise-based Morrison-Knudsen Corporation, at that time one of the biggest construction companies in the US, that had a contract with the Pentagon to build airstrips on US islands in the Pacific. He, along with 900 other MK employees, was working on Wake Island when it was attacked by the Japanese. The MK guys helped the Marines defend the island until it was overrun and most were sent to a POW camp in the Philippines. He survived the war, but the MK employees who were held on Wake Island to complete the airstrip for the Japanese were murdered.
I found an online copy of MK’s memorial book that lists the names of all the employees who were stationed on Wake Island and it’s basically a list of young guys from small town Idaho. Banks, Lowman, Bliss, Hailey, Garden Valley. A few years ago, Congress officially recognized their service on Wake Island and awarded Purple Hearts to those who were casualties.
There was a reunion of survivors every year at the memorial in Boise’s Veterans Park until three or four years ago. I heard about the last reunion when only two survivors attended a month after it happened.
And that’s just a small bit of the history from my little area along the Payette River. Because of my 94 year old friend who has lived here all his life, I have learned so much more.
That is so great! I love that you've learned this - from your own research and from your older friend. As someone who has traveled the world, I know you have a true sense of land and spirits on the land and the responsibility to honor those who have come before us.
You probably also know that Sept 2 is the 80th anniversary of the end of WW2. We are having a wreath-laying ceremony here in Bellevue at our WW2 memorial next to the museum, with the color-guard from Mountain Home. Come on over!
I may do that!
On my last visit to Ketchum, I stayed in a small hotel next to the Ketchum Cemetery, so I strolled over to pay my respects to Ernie H., but was surprised to find the grave of an old friend, Norman Algiers, who was a cartoonist for the Wood River Journal in the early 80’s. In fact, I’m looking at one of his cartoons that he signed for us. Last I knew, he retired in Hawaii, but I guess his heart led him back home. I wonder if your husband remembers his cartoons?
Also, did you all know Kurt and Evelyn Barker, who lived in Bellevue for many years? Kurt was a sheep herder and claimed that he was a millionaire because he had a million acres of land down by Arco that was worth about a dollar per acre. I knew Evelyn back when I was a little kid.
Norman Algiers sounds familiar. Kurt and Evelyn Barker... not sure, will have to ask Tom. He grew up here so ... but are they still around? In my 20 years, John Peavey and Lava Lake have been the biggest sheep herders around.
Both Barkers passed away back before the turn of this century. I’ll send you a photo of Norman’s cartoon. He always drew a little caricature of himself sitting under a palm tree, next to his signature.
We get a couple bands of sheep in our mountains each spring. The herders are from Peru and one herder has returned for 13 seasons now. I once visited his village back in the day, which makes us friends for life. When I see him in our valley before he takes his sheep up the mountain, I always bring him a hot morning beverage to his specifications.
Tom says he DOES remember Kurt Barker!
Does he remember that Kurt was so bow legged from riding a horse all his life that he could straddle a barrel and touch his inner ankles? Also, maybe not enough lemons or vitamin C? We used to joke about it.
I love everything about this!! I’ve spent the past year working on the family history of our descendants from San Marco la Catola with my cousin in Argentina and it has been so fulfilling but we also kick ourselves for not having asked more questions when those family members were still alive. We’ve been connecting with a lot of family around the world which has been an added bonus. History is so important, hopefully the younger generations will carry on.
YAAAASSSSS!! I feel the same way - with Tom's family and with mine. So many things I took for granted. Ugh!!
Love that you're doing this w/ your cousin. Yes, so many Italians went to Argentina and Sicilians to America. We still have to talk about your trip!!
Let’s try to have a chat before you leave for Sicilia in September. I’m going to be home for 3 weeks beginning 8/18 recovering from surgery (again), so my days will be pretty free if you’ll have some time.
Yes!! Surgery for…? Again?? Call me anytime you’re up for it! 🧡
When I first started reading this...I was like...wait....dove' la Sicilia??!?! HAHA...and then as I read it hit me...you are always about the home, its meaning and place, whether it's an American homestead or a reno in Italia.
This was fantastic to see the devotion and life you've formed in Idaho as well. Home in general, just like a relationship, takes so much time and energy, doesn't it? The home... IS our kid!
We have our place in the Hudson, which we've put so much work into... but we've also been working hard and nearly finished..on the reno of our NYC apartment in Astoria, Queens. Took half the year and about killed me but it has been 24 years...so very needed.
Keep us posted and keep hammering...har har....away.
Con tanto amore!
Grazie Amico!! Si, si, la casa è così un bambino- tanto lavoro!! Congratulations on your hard work! Half a year? That’s it? No wonder it almost did you in!! But then afterwards, it is so gratifying!!
Molti abbracci a te e Ami! 😘
abbracci e baci baci.
I miss you guys! We’ll have to WhatsApp once I get back there this fall and start planning for your visit!
That would be amazing! Same here!
Lots to update on ... it's been a rough go getting back in the swing in America...but 2 years in...I think we finally landed in the right place.
And we're talking about shooting for May 26 torno Italia. Who knows ...but gonna shoot for it.
I'm so happy you do this stack. IT's such a great way to see and hear your process as well as just updates.
Thank you. I'm glad we have some way of staying in touch. Early May 2026 would be ideal on my end - I will have a guest room ready by then and, hopefully, un soggiorno. You MUST come and stay with me!! Ci parliamo presto!
Jan, love the many perspectives and historical significance you afford the reader regarding families.
We gain new perspectives of our past when we explore the families overview and situations they lived through.
You are a clever writer my friend. Continue to share your wisdom through words. Love the connections. Pat
You are very kind. Thank you, friend. And thank you for reading!! ✨