The Chesterfield Townsite is open to visitors for tours Memorial Day through Labor Day, and year round for a byway drive through. Many of the homes have been restored and furnished to their original detail showing the care the settlers had for their homes. See the faces of these settlers in the many photographs displayed in the museum which was once the meetinghouse. The museum is cared for by the Daughters of the Utah Pioneers. Take a bus tour to feel the pace of their lives while listening to stories of life on the frontier. Stay overnight in camping facilities or nearby towns. Group eating and reunion areas are available as well as personalized tours and activities for church, educational, and family groups. Wander the old implement yard and say hello to a working blacksmith. Stop for a sarsaparilla and a candy stick in the old log store and try a few original pioneer hand games. See the small home where Chester Call raised 11 children or the remains of the Ruger’s dirt dugout. Visit the cemetery and reflect on unmarked pioneer grave markers. See firsthand the archeological work of ongoing projects, including the restoration of the tithing office, reconstruction of the Amusement Hall, where dances are still held, reconstruction of the brick schoolhouse that burned down in 1920, and more excavation projects. With all that, we’ve just scratched the surface. The wonder of Chesterfield is what is now there, and what has always been there: an untouched stretch of wilderness, a trail leading to prosperity, and a unique look at how the West began. Experience for yourself the life of a pioneer.
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- The Chesterfield Townsite will be open
- May 1, 2008 - October 1, 2008
- Monday through Saturday 10am - 6pm
- Group Visits, Tours and Rentals may be arranged by calling (208) 648-7177
- For additional information email info@chesterfieldfoundation.org
- or Visit our website at www.chesterfieldfoundation.org
Come visit and discover the ambience of the Historic Townsite.
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Barlow / Holbrook Brick Store
The brick store is the newest store on the
Townsite, dating from 1903. It is a large building and served as the general
mercantile, post office and gathering place for folks in
Nathan Barlow House
Nathan
and Dora Tolman
Barlow
built this
four-room house
of brick molded and burned in
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The Chesterfield 1902 Brick Schoolhouse
Schoolhouse prior to the 1921 fire -- Original Schoolhouse rock walls
- In 2005, the Chesterfield Foundation formed a liaison with the Idaho State University Anthropology department and the ISU History department. In July, the Anthropology department did an archeological dig around the 1902 brick school site. The original foundation was completely uncovered. It is the Chesterfield Foundation’s goal to restore the original 1902 school to its former grandeur. Blueprints have been made from a picture of the old building, counting the bricks, and estimating the dimensions, window details, etc.
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- The school is located directly east of the Meetinghouse. It will serve to complete the complement of original community buildings which make up the heart of Historic Chesterfield, an 1880’s Mormon pioneer town along the old Oregon Trail in Southeast Idaho.
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- Following the restoration of the main structure, the interior will house a visitor information, orientation and learning center allowing young and old alike to experience hands on, interactive displays of early western American life on the frontier as well as research primary and secondary sources in pioneer history. Chesterfield family histories will be available to peruse as well as information about the history of town of Chesterfield and the surrounding Portneuf Valley. A baseball diamond which was located southeast of the school house will also be rebuilt and will once again ring with the voices of youth as they play ball and cheer on their teammates. We hope someday soon you will be able to join us for a tour and a game!
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The Meetinghouse / DUP Museum
The meeting house that had served since August 1892 was heartbroken and soon became neglected. Many people wanted to do something about this... After several meetings and letters to the LDS Presiding Bishopric the Little Meeting House was leased to the Daughters of The Utah Pioneers, Camp Alice Aston and Camp Louie Call in May of 1960. As the daughters worked to clean the building, collect artifacts and show the building to the public, they saw the need to have a carpet on the rostrum.
The camps collected rags for the rag rug carpet. They had a rag party on October 21, 1966 and cut the fabrics into strips. Mary Anderson Meiners, of Lund, wove 21 yards of the 30 inch wide carpet on her loom that winter. On April 21, 1967, Mary, Frances Carter Yost and Mary Alene Treasure did the measuring of the carpet and the space. On May 25th Mary and Frances sewed the carpet pieces together and laid it just in time for the Memorial Day celebration of 1967.
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Denmark and Lucina Jensen Cabin
Well, another year as usual, I didn’t get done last year what I’d hoped to do.
Now that the cabin is getting finished we are enjoying a lot more visitors than
in the past. If I’m on a project & tourists or family come, I stop my work &
give them the spiel. But that’s OK, that’s why we are restoring Denmark & Lucina’s home.
We’ve got two big money projects left, in our planning. One will be to get water to the home & the other will be to fence in the 2 ½ acre lot with mountain cedar posts. The good news is, that if we can raise enough money, the water project will be done this year. We are hoping to not only supply water to the Jensen cabin, but also the other homes on the north & east sides of the Townsite. The projected cost of this endeavor is $10,000. The bad news is that all of the homes do not have active contributors. Water is essential for fire protection. A little cheaper project this year will be the rebuilding of the outhouse to make it fit the 1880’s era instead of the 1930’s as it is now.
My oldest picture of the cabin shows the outhouse just where it is presently & the same design, so that is how we built it. Come to find out, that type was offered to the whole nation for $25.00 during the depression as a “make work project.” They were nicknamed “Eleanors” & guaranteed not to Stink! We’ve also been working on an old brass headboard for the bed & were converting an old RR caboose wood stove for the sleeping room upstairs. They should be in place for the Memorial Day weekend. Marolyn is busy sewing dolls for the Memorial Day auction & is excited to get back to the treadle sewing machine at the cabin so she can finish the wool blanket for the sleeping loft. I want to thank all of the Denmark & Lucina Jensen home supporters, not only for your financial help, but also the moral support by coming to visit the Chesterfield Townsite. The families & visitors are our reward for our efforts.
~ Please continue your Support ~
Mark Stephen Jensen ~~ Proud Great Grandson of Denmark & Lucina
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CHESTERFIELD HISTORIC TOWNSITE 2008 CONCERT SERIES
The Chesterfield Foundation will be hosting concerts again this summer at the Townsite which are open to the public. Since each concert will begin promptly at 7:00 p.m., all restored buildings and homes in the Townsite will be open from 10:00am until 6:30pm, giving you plenty of time to get your seat in the Amusement Hall. Each historic location will have a host to welcome you, tell you about the building, and answer questions. What a great opportunity for a family picnic, historical tour, and entertainment followed by FREE refreshments! Each performer has been carefully selected to provide you with evenings of great talent and entertainment. Memberships to the Chesterfield Foundation and donations for the operation/maintenance & restoration projects are always welcome and help ensure the preservation of the Historic Chesterfield Townsite:
Saturday, June 7th – Vince Crofts and Mindi Reid (formerly "Tumbleweed")
BACK BY POPULAR DEMAND! Vince and Mindi who opened our Concert Series last summer and have agreed to open this summer's series. It's hard to schedule this popular duo who perform in Jackson Hole nearly every weekend as well as for weddings, family reunions and at supper clubs throughout the West Vince & Mindi are a western duo from Firth, Idaho, featuring: Mindi Reid vocals, yodels, and bass guitar & Vincent Crofts guitar, mandolin, fiddle, and vocals. Vince and Mindi began performing together in 2005. Western and cowboy music is their home base but they draw on a wide variety of musical influences: Swing, old-time & bluegrass. They play a fun variety of instrumentals and fiddle tunes as well as nicely arranged duets. Mindi has a stunning voice and the two harmonize beautifully. Vince has played with the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band, Charlie Daniels, Carol King, Steve Eaton, Mike Marshal and others. Mindi won a recording contract in Nashville for yodeling. She has had the opportunity to sing in an opera, travel with a chorale in Austria, sing and play in a dance band, and again at Chesterfield, she will brighten a little corner of the West, singing the music she loves best.
Saturday, July 12th – Polly Jene’ McCammon,
Born and raised right here in the Gem Valley, Polly Jene' is the daughter of Emerson and Ada Marie Mabey. Polly and her husband, Max, have five children. They spend most of the summer months in their home in Mabey Canyon where she spent her youthful days growing up. They also have homes in Afton, Wyoming and Golden Valley, Arizona; however, wherever they are, Polly Jene' is in demand, sharing her many talents performing, teaching piano and working with the musical department at Star Valley schools. In addition to her love of classical piano, she finds great joy in writing and singing her own songs. Her favorite style, a crossover between country and folk, lends itself well to her guitar or piano accompaniment. Polly Jene' will have the opportunity to show off some of her family members as well as share the stage with other local talent.
Friday & Saturday, July 25th & 26th –“1856 The Musical”- A Readers Theatre
From the years 1856 to 1860, about three thousand people traveled with handcarts from Iowa City to the Salt Lake Valley. Their story is a Mormon legend as well as an American treasure and is a precious part of who we are. Families are urged to come and celebrate the settling of the West by enjoying this readers theatre. You will be touched by the music as we portray scenes from the amazing trek. The evening will be a fitting tribute to the handcart pioneers.
Saturday, August 16th – Rocky Mountain High
For over 15 years Rocky Mountain High, a Barbershop Quartet from Rexburg, ID and a registered quartet with the Barbershop Harmony Society (Formerly the Society for the Preservation and Encouragement of Barbershop Quartet Singing in America). ROCKY MOUNTAIN HIGH has performed for groups all across the state as well as in Wyoming, Utah, and Montana. The group consists of brothers John and Jeff Quick, Scott Rigby and Cecil Ricks.
**** You'd best circle all these dates ***
Saturday, June 7th – Vince Crofts and Mindi Reid
Saturday, July 12th – Polly Jene’ McCammon,
Friday & Saturday, July 25th & 26th –“1856 The Musical”- A Readers Theatre
Saturday, August 16th – Rocky Mountain High -- A Barbershop Quartet
- And make your plans now to join with us in Chesterfield for a summer of
- great entertainment, visiting with old friends,
- and spending a wonderful evening.
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THE CHESTERFIELD FOUNDATION IS PUBLISHING A COOKBOOK
The Chesterfield Foundation is collecting the best recipes from Gem Valley residents, descendants of early settlers, old cookbooks used by early settlers, family and friends. They will be selling their one-of-a-kind cookbook beginning Mid-August of 2008 for $20.00 and will be available at the Barlow Log Store at the Chesterfield Townsite. All proceeds will go to the Chesterfield Foundation for the operations and restoration work at the Townsite. Advanced Sale Coupons will be available by Memorial Day. The cookbook will contain 1,000 well-loved recipes including appetizers, main dishes, desserts and many others. The recipes will include the contributor's name, enabling you to find the recipes of ancestors, family and friends. They will be bound in a hard-cover 3-ring binder personalized with pictures of Chesterfield. It will also include notes and comments regarding Chesterfield. Should you have great recipes handed-down from ancestors (particularly settlers of Chesterfield) or great well-tested and tried recipes of your own, please submit them no later than Memorial Day to: Judy Nelson, Barlow Log Store, 3124 Chesterfield Road, Chesterfield ID 83217. Each recipe dated prior to 1920 should be indicated as they will be marked in the cookbook.
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THE BARLOW LOG STORE
We will continue the traditions of homemade candies, toys and candies of pre-1920 days including old-fashioned licorice sticks, old-fashioned sodas and an assortment of all kinds of old-fashioned treats. Added this year is a great assortment of pioneer bonnets, hats for the boys and men, and aprons of all types.
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OUR CONTINUING NEED FOR VOLUNTEERS
Chesterfield is still in need of additional volunteers. If you can devote a few hours, a day or two, a week or even serve full time through the summer, or if you know someone who can, please contact Gerald Tolman at 208-648-7837 or Val Roberts at 208-648-7124, Men who come should be able to assist in a variety of indoor and outdoor handyman jobs and help with Townsite tours. Women should be able to perform light house work, gardening and help with tours.
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WE ARE LOOKING FOR "VOLUNTEERS-IN-CHARGE"
As friends of Chesterfield know, much of the restoration work on family homes has been accomplished by volunteers. We've found that efficient, coordinated progress is made when someone or some particular family or family group agrees to become the "Volunteer-in-Charge," that is, the coordinator for a particular home. A couple of the homes are already fortunate to have such a person or group looking after them, and we notice the many benefits which come from that setup.Therefore, we would like to find an individual or group to become the "Volunteer-in-Charge" for each remaining family home in Chesterfield. The tasks would involve seeing what should be done, coordinating the restoration work (not necessarily doing it yourself), and following up on matters pertaining to the building. A good number of homes have restoration funds already available.
- For more information, to volunteer, or even to recommend someone who might be interested, please contact Steve Jensen, 245 James Avenue, Chubbuck, ID 83202,
- Tel. 208-237-4534.
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- Donations
- Thank you for supporting the Chesterfield Foundation
- Your generosity is greatly appreciated and helps fund vital restoration projects
- (All donations are tax deductible)
- 1. 2008 Membership: $____________________________
- ($20.00)
- 2. Restoration Fund: $ ___________________________
- 3. Operation &
- Maintenance Fund: $ ___________________________
- 4. Endowment Fund: $ ___________________________
- Total Donations: $ ___________________________
- Chesterfield Foundation, Inc.
- P.O. Box 2
- Bancroft, ID 83217
- (208) 648-7177
- NL
COME VISIT HISTORIC CHESTERFIELD, IDAHO
Directions to the Townsite
Chesterfield is 20 miles northeast of Lava Hot Springs.
Travel to Bancroft and then 11 miles north.
Follow the Historic Markers.
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