Chesterfield, Idaho facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Chesterfield Historic District
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 Location in Idaho
Location in the United States
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| Location | Caribou County, Idaho |
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| Nearest city | Bancroft, Idaho |
| Area | 2,160 acres (870 ha) |
| Built | 1881 |
| Architectural style | Greek Revival, Queen Anne, Hall-and-parlor; I-house |
| NRHP reference No. | 80001297 |
| Added to NRHP | December 4, 1980 |
Chesterfield is a ghost town in Caribou County, Idaho, United States. A ghost town is a place where most people have left, and many buildings are empty. It sits in Gem Valley about 5,446 feet (1,660 m) high. The community has a cemetery and old buildings from the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (often called the LDS Church). These include a former meeting house (a place for worship), an amusement hall, and a tithing house.
Chesterfield was founded in 1881 by Mormon settlers. It was located along a path called the Oregon Trail, which many pioneers used to travel west. Later, a railroad line was built through Bancroft to the south. This made Chesterfield less important. Problems with farming also caused people to leave, and by the late 1930s, the town was mostly empty. Today, Chesterfield is a place tourists can visit. It offers guided tours and has a museum.
In 1980, Chesterfield was added to the National Register of Historic Places. This means it is a special place recognized for its history. It is listed as a historic district, which is an area with many historic buildings. The district covers about 2,160 acres (870 ha) and includes 41 buildings and eight historic sites. Some buildings show off architectural styles like Greek Revival and Queen Anne.
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History of Chesterfield
In 1879, a man named Chester Call and his niece's husband, Christian Nelson, started a horse ranch in this area. Chester Call thought it would be a good place to live. He told his family and friends, and they decided to move there in 1881 and 1882. The first settlers of Chesterfield built their homes near the Portneuf River.
Unlike many Mormon settlements, Chesterfield was not planned by the LDS Church leaders. Instead, the first settlers chose to live there on their own. Also in 1881, the Union Pacific Railroad began building the Oregon Short Line Railroad south of Chesterfield, near what is now Bancroft. The new settlers sold wood and railroad ties to the railroad, which helped them earn money.
Building the Town
In 1883, leaders from the LDS Church visited the area. They asked the members to build a central village away from the river, which sometimes flooded. The current Chesterfield townsite was chosen up in the foothills. Like other traditional Mormon towns, Chesterfield was laid out in a grid pattern. It had 35 blocks, each about ten acres. By 1890, only the LDS meetinghouse and a store were built in the town center. This was because a mistake in a government survey kept the land from being sold for a while.
Changes in Population
The LDS Chesterfield Ward (a local church group) was started in 1884. It had 136 people in 24 families. By 1900, the population had grown to 418 people in 73 families. However, between 1898 and 1900, the area had very cold winters and a dry spell. This caused many people to leave in 1901.
Another difficult winter and a money problem called the Panic of 1907 caused more people to leave. By 1908, fewer than 400 people lived in the area. The population then grew again, reaching almost 700 people by 1920. But in the 1920s, there were money problems across the country and farming became difficult. This started the decline of Chesterfield. By 1928, only about 425 people were left. Most buildings in the town were empty before 1941, when the school closed. The general store closed in 1958. By 1970, only about 20 people lived in historic Chesterfield.
Historic Buildings of Chesterfield
Chesterfield has several important historic buildings that tell its story. Many of these have been preserved or restored.
LDS Meetinghouse
The LDS Meetinghouse is the most important and best-preserved building in Chesterfield. It was built between 1887 and 1892. This building served as the main place for church services and community gatherings.
Amusement Hall
The original Amusement Hall was built in 1895, right next to the LDS Meetinghouse. This building was the center for fun activities in Chesterfield. It had a large room with a wooden dance floor and a stage. Over time, the building fell apart. However, it was restored between 1999 and 2003.
Tithing Office and Granary
LDS Church members pay tithing, which is a donation to the Church. Around 1900, most members did not pay with cash. Instead, they donated things like grains, vegetables, eggs, and farm animals. The Tithing Office and the Tithing Granary were built in 1900. Grain donations were stored in the Granary. The Tithing Office was where members brought their donations. These goods were then given to those who needed help, acting like a community warehouse and store.
Nathan Barlow House
The Nathan Barlow House was built around 1900. It was the home of the town's postmaster and the owner of the general store. After the difficult winter of 1907-1908 and the Panic of 1907, Nathan Barlow lost his money and moved away. The house was restored in 2009. Nathan Barlow's family members even helped by providing furniture for the home.
Ira Call Cabin
The Ira Call cabin is a saltbox style home, which means it has a long, sloping roof on one side.
Aunt Ruth Call David's Cabin
Aunt Ruth Call David's cabin was built in 1881 and 1882. It was made of red pine logs and had a dirt floor. Aunt Ruth was a Native American woman who was adopted by Chester Call's parents. She was the town's midwife, which means she helped most of the babies in Chesterfield be born.
Notable Residents
- Frank Chester Robertson, a famous author who wrote Western stories.
Images for kids
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Denmark Jensen Cabin
