Author Archives: ADavis

March of Dimes: The fight against Polio

Posted on 5/1/12 by ADavis

  Near the end of the 19th century polio, short for poliomyelitis virus, spread around the world in epidemic proportions and for fifty years it threatened the entire human population.  In 1936 President Franklin D. Roosevelt, who suffered from the lifelong effects of … Continue reading →

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The scoop on Memorial Bridge

Posted on 4/23/12 by ADavis

We’ve had a few inquiries about the bridge crossing the river on Capitol Blvd this week.  It is commonly known as Memorial Bridge; dedicated in a bronze relief to the pioneers who traveled west by wagon train.  The Oregon Trail … Continue reading →

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Boise and the Influenza epidemic of 1918

Posted on 4/10/12 by ADavis

  Q: Did the the Influenza Epidemic of 1918 hit Boise very hard? A: The epidemic known then as “The Spanish Flu” did find its way to Boise, most likely through military personnel and contact with those infected on trains. … Continue reading →

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Exploring Culture in Boise: Hare Krishna Temple

Posted on 3/28/12 by ADavis

Q: I have heard rumors that Boise has a Hindu Temple, but I’ve never seen it.  Is this true? A: Yes!  It’s true.  In 1986 the Gupta family moved to Boise when Arun was hired at Hewlett-Packard.  At the time … Continue reading →

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Territorial Justice

Posted on 3/20/12 by ADavis

Q: Was there any real sense of justice or safety in Boise’s earliest days?  Or was it more like the Wild West we’ve immortalized in movies and television? A:  Early territorial justice was, in fact, unstable and un-enforceable when Idaho … Continue reading →

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Carpetbaggers . . . in Idaho?

Posted on 3/13/12 by ADavis

Q: I’ve come across the term “carpetbagger” in reference to Idaho’s territorial politicians, but as I understand it, the term was applied by Southerners to post-Civil War Northerners who began arriving down south in order to fill the governmental vacuum, as the … Continue reading →

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5 Things To Do in Boise This Weekend

Posted on 3/9/12 by ADavis

1. Iran and the West by Michael Zirinsky professor emeritus Boise State University, hosted by Boise’s Unitarian Universalists for Justice in the Middle East, 3/10 4 pm 2. Boise Baroque Orchestra, pianist Barton Moreau, 3/11 2pm 3. Battleprove: St. Patty’s … Continue reading →

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No liquor on Sundays

Posted on 3/5/12 by ADavis

Q: When did Boise enact prohibition laws? A: In 1902, when Boise’s population was around 10,000, there were twenty-five saloons in operation in the city.  They must have been doing very good business as they were open 24 hours a … Continue reading →

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Out Of The Rubble

Posted on 2/28/12 by ADavis

Q: We’ve noticed some construction going on at City Hall, what’s going on? A: The construction downtown sure is hard to miss, isn’t it?  Yes, City Hall is being renovated.  The construction started this winter and all three phases are … Continue reading →

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“Aunt” Viney Moulton; “Erect, full of life and vitality”

Posted on 2/20/12 by ADavis

Q:  Do we know of any former slaves that fled the south and ended up in Boise? A: In 1867 Elvina Moulton, a former slave freed during the Civil War, arrived in Boise after traveling across the Oregon Trail with … Continue reading →

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