Polly Bemis House facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
|
|
Polly Bemis House
|
|
Polly Bemis House in July 1994
|
|
 Location in Idaho
Location in the United States
|
|
| Nearest city | Riggins, Idaho |
|---|---|
| Area | 200 acres (81 ha) |
| Built | 1894, rebuilt 1923 |
| NRHP reference No. | 87002152 |
| Added to NRHP | March 4, 1988 |
The Polly Bemis House was the home of pioneers Charles Bemis and his wife Polly Bemis. They lived along the Salmon River in Idaho County, Idaho, USA. Polly was a Chinese American woman whose life story became a biographical novel. It was also made into the 1991 movie A Thousand Pieces of Gold.
Contents
The Story of Polly Bemis House
Charlie and Polly Bemis were among the first people to settle along the Salmon River. This river is sometimes called The River of No Return. Their home was built only a few steps from the water. It was on a mining claim, not a regular farm. Even today, you cannot reach this house by car. Most people use boats to get there.
In 1922, a fire badly damaged the Bemis home. It might have been caused by a woodstove. Charlie died soon after the fire. He had been sick for several years, possibly with a lung illness.
In 1923, friends named Peter Klinkhammer and Charlie Shepp helped Polly. They lived across the Salmon River. Together, they rebuilt a new home for Polly in the same spot. Polly lived there until 1933, except for a short time in Warren, Idaho. She then moved to Grangeville, Idaho, and passed away soon after. On a trip to Boise, Idaho, she experienced many firsts. She saw her first movie, rode her first streetcar, and took her first elevator ride.
Where is the House?
The Polly Bemis House is about 44 miles (71 km) east of Riggins, Idaho. It is also about 17 miles (27 km) north of Warren, Idaho.
Why is This House Special?
The Polly Bemis House is important for two main reasons. First, it tells us about the social history of Chinese women in Idaho. Second, it is a great example of how homes were built back then. It shows how people used wooden logs and shingles in the central Idaho mountains. Some stone was also used to build it.
The house was added to the National Register of Historic Places on March 4, 1988. It is the only building on the list made with special "whipsawn" lumber. This means the wood was cut by hand using a long saw.
The house is about 15 by 20 feet in size. It has two rooms on the first floor and a small sleeping area upstairs. It has a pointed roof at the front. In the late 1800s, almost half the people in this area were Chinese miners. But many were forced to move to Chinatowns on the West Coast. We don't have many records about most of them. However, there are many documents about Polly. This makes her home and her experiences very important to history.
The Polly Bemis Ranch Today
The Polly Bemis House is now part of the 26 acres (11 ha) Polly Bemis Ranch. This ranch is run by a non-profit group. The home of Klinkhammer and Shepp, who helped Polly, is now a guest ranch called Shepp Ranch.
