Old American Falls -- Locating the Kohlhepp Building/Block at the Old Town Site

The town of American Falls, Idaho, is not located today where it was founded. Referred to at times as "America's Pompeii," American Falls' original town site now lies buried, not underneath volcanic ash, but underneath the waters of a manmade reservoir resulting from a dam. Many other homes were flooded as a result of this project approved by the Department of Interior, including my great grandparents' (Herman and Minerva Kohlhepp Teichert) cabin at the Snake River bottoms. Minerva wrote of the flooded area in her short book, Drowned Memories.

The idea for the dam had been discussed, but was formally proposed in 1919, the year Fred died. It was approved in 1920, and over 6 years plans were put in place and executed for the compensation of businesses (OSL, electric), raising of the railroad bridge, and the relocation of residences from the old town site to nearby higher altitude land. It cost the government $2.85 million to execute this migration and compensation project. If we account for inflation, that's $40,993,098.50 in 2019. Not a cheap endeavor.

The migration chiefly happened between 1925 to 1926, and involved homes being transported on steam powered engines, while some smaller structures were transported by horse teams. Imagine church buildings, large agricultural buildings, and so on, being carted away on wheels to new locations. That's what happened. Of course, not every structure could be (or was practical) to move. Some were demolished, others left simply to be flooded by the reservoir. The drowned town site, while typically submerged, is sometimes visible when the water levels of the reservoir recede. They can be seen in some videos, like the one below.

Given the relocation of the town in its young age, it is hard to document and imagine American Falls in its original town site. Yes, there are some pictures, but they do not exist aplenty. The records I've come to appreciate the most are the Sanborn fire insurance maps that were conducted in 1907 and 1911 respectively. The 1911 maps, in particular, give a fair layout of the town, with the railroad bisecting old American Falls:

The task I took upon myself was to determine if I could locate the Kohlhepp's commercial building, where they leased space, Fred worked for a while as a real estate agent, and where the second hand store was located. I believe the answer, surprisingly, is yes. There are enough documents giving the location of the Kohlhepp building relative to other businesses and buildings that its location can be fairly affixed. Here's the general section of town (section 4 in the Index above) to which the Sanborn fire insurance maps cover where Fred's building resided:

I'm actually quite lucky that it existed in a region that was indeed covered. Several key data elements helped me zero in on the location:

(a) Several ads mentioning it was off of Railroad Avenue:

(b): Several ads mentioning it was south of the railroad depot by 1.5 blocks:

(c): An article noting that it was adjacent to 1 lodging house (only 2 feet away), very close to another lodging house (with a vacant lot separating the buildings), and near the Cottage Hotel:

(d) The Cottage Hotel had burnt down in May 1911, just six months prior to the 1911 Sanborn fire insurance maps being made, suggesting that some indicator of burnt down structures should exist.

(e) The Cottage Hotel was off of Chestnut Avenue:

(f) A meat market was near the Cottage Hotel:

I was able to account for all of these facts. So here is a detailed shot of the Kohlhepp building with the surrounding businesses that I identified (notice the vacant lot in between the Iowa Rooming House and the Kohlhepp building too), which was indeed 1.5 blocks south of the railroad depot:

If you go back to the 1907 Sanborn fire insurance maps, you can see the Cottage Hotel was still around then as would be expected. You can also see a restaurant that had been in business before shutting down in the 1911 vacant spot next to the Kohlhepp building.

It's fun to locate my ancestors' building in this map of the drowned town. I am curious if the building was relocated or left to be flooded when the American Falls dam was built. If left to be submerged, could its foundation be found amongst those that appear when the water recedes? See this fun video of the exposed old town site:

Fred & Ella -- Businesses Part 3 (1915 - 1919)

This is my third post in a series on Fred and Ella's employment following the return from Fred's mission in Germany and Switzerland. We looked at Fred's work in real estate and land location, the leasing of commercial property, Fred's run for Power County assessor, and the beginnings of the first and second hand goods store in the end of 1914. This store was run out of the property they owned off of Railroad Avenue. I've successfully determined where this property would have been located in old American Falls (prior to the relocation of the town with the flooding of the land by the dam), which I'll cover in my next post. From 1915 to 1919 when Fred dies, the Kohlhepp's primary enterprise was in collecting from the property they owned (which included a rooming house), and the sales made from their store.

1915.

This year marked many different ads appearing, showing the ups and downs of the clothing and goods business. An ad on April 15 stated, "We have bought at bankrupt sale a stock of Clothing, Millinery and Household goods, which we can offer at from one-half to one-third regular price." What follows is a list of price ranges for goods including suits, dresses, waists, hats, mop sticks, china plates, and clothes pins. They also sold stoves and furniture. Here the business is called F. J. Kohlhepp & Co., suggesting Fred's participation in the business.

General ads for the store appear in the March 11, April 1, April 15, April 22, April 29, May 6, May 13, May 20, May 27, June 3, June 24, July 1, July 8, July 15, July 22, July 29, August 5, August 12, August 19, August 26, September 2, September 9, September 16, September 23, October 7, October 14, October 21, October 28, November 11, November 25, December 9, and December 16.

In June came an ad for a 4th of July promotion, where men and boys could get a new hat, suit, and shoes all for $10. They also noted prices for women's and children's shoes. Another business decision is also called out here; they have a big supply of second hand goods as they "bought out the Updike business."

The Updike business would have been a reference to C. R. Updike's second hand store, which focused on second hand furniture and ran out of a building next door to the courthouse. Ads ran earlier in the year (from April to May 1915) where Updike solicited second hand furniture. He and E. M. Wagner had come in from Pocatello to sell furniture, and apparently did not have a good go at it.

But the Kohlhepp business also struggled in American Falls. In September they posted notice of a closing out sale where "all our new goods will be sold or given away during the Fair week." Price ranges for clothes are given, including "Ladies' clothes at your own price. Never such bargains before at American Falls. Call and get a share of the spoils."

1916.

The closing out sale would make one think this was the end of the Kohlhepp business, but it persisted through the following years. A notice appeared in March 1916 that, "Mrs. F. J. Kohlhepp [Ella] announces that for the first ten days of March she will sell more second hand goods for a less amount of money than can be had anywhere in the state. If in need of anything in the second hand line, don't forget to look up the Kohlhepp second hand store." Ads for the store appear in the January 6, January 13, February 10, February 17, February 24, March 16, and March 23 issues of the AFP.

An ad noting "Bargains" appeared in June and throughout July. It listed prices for a gasoline engine, a garden cultivator, an incubator and brooder, and prices for clothes. A new service offering is stated, "furnished rooms for housekeeping and batching from $5.00 to $10 per month."

1917.

It doesn't appear that Fred and Ella wanted to stay in business with the new and second hand store. An ad appeared in August 1917's Classified Ads "FOR SALE--or trade, a good business. Inquire at F. J. Kohlhepp's New and Second-hand store, half block south of depot."

1918.

Misfortune hit the Kohlhepp's in 1918, and this time it was fire to their real estate. In April, a notice appeared that "Iowa Rooming House Burned Last night. The Iowa Rooming House, conducted by Mrs. O. C. Hall, was destroyed by fire last night with all its contents. It was a two story frame building in the center of the block south of the depot, and has been operated as a rooming house for the past ten years. During the early days of the development of American Falls it was conducted by Mrs. M. A. Alvard, and was a popular place. It has always been well conducted and enjoyed a liberal patronage. The property has changed hands several times within the past few years, and is said to be owned by F. J. Kohlhepp. The loss is complete. The amount of insurance could not be learned." If not insured, this would have been a devastating financial loss for Fred. The Iowa rooming house had parlors in which couples were married.

Fire posed another issue later that same year, when the Virginia Rooming House was also destroyed by fire. This property was owned by James Hearne instead of Fred, but the fire at this rooming house caused a challenge for Fred's property as well. A newspaper article in September stated, "The firemen were slow in arriving, due to the earliness of the hour and the fact that they had to be called from their homes by phone, and by the time of their arrival the only thing that could be done was to save adjoining property. Fortunately there was no wind at the time. This enabled the fireman to save the Kohlhepp building, which stood about two feet away from the burning structure. A few months ago the Iowa rooming house, on the other side of the Kohlhepp building, was taken by fire."

The fire of the Virginia rooming house was nerve wracking, but the Kohlhepps received help. In the paper it noted, "Mrs. Ella Kohlhepp is very appreciative of the efforts of friends who carried her stock of goods to places of safety during the fire which destroyed the Virginia rooming house early Sunday morning. This is the third time her pace has been in danger of destruction from fire, the first time when the Cottage hotel burned; the second, when the Iowa rooming house was destroyed a few months ago, and again Sunday morning. The call was very close the last time, a space of only two feet separating the buildings, and it seemed certain that both would burn. The danger was not so great when the Iowa house was destroyed, as a vacant lot intervened, but both fires were very hot while they lasted."

Following the Virginia Rooming house fire, Ella posted another sales ad, as some of their goods were damaged. "Just before the Virginia rooming house burned Mrs. Kohlhepp bought out a stock of clothing of the best material made. Owing to the fire much was slightly damaged and will be sold at 1/3 regular price. Ladies all wool coas and suits from $5.00 up. We also have a good line of Stoves, Ranges, etc in our 2nd hand department and will grealty appreciate your trade."

The Kohlhepp's were not successful in selling the business as they continued to post ads in the paper to stimulate business. One such in September was for a sale, which stated, "a big line of new goods will be on sale at Kohlhepp's New and Second Hand Store." Price ranges are given for wool coats, dresses, and shoes. The business is noted simply as "south side." This time Ella's involvement in the business is called out distinctly -- "Mrs. Ella Kohlhepp, Prop." Ella seems to have been the focus and primary person running the business, at least by this time. We know Fred suffered much in his last couple years of life, and may not have been involved for health reasons, at least not as the main business contact.

1919.

Despite setbacks from the fires, the Kohlhepp business continued. An ad for a sale in the paper on June 20 noted, "We bought Bradshaw's Summer Hats and have a few left at bargain prices, best quality. Also leadies' white waists from 50c up. Our second hand department has been lately replenished and we are prepared to buy and sell everything."

Bradshaw's was a new clothing business in American Falls, which advertised frequently large sales.

This was the last ad in the paper for the Kohlhepp's store. Fred passed away only months later. Ella got in her accident. Given Minerva Wade Hickman had passed away earlier in the year and Annalee's baby too, it was a year of loss for Ella and the Kohlhepp's.

1919 -- Fred's Death

Fred Kohlhepp died on September 14, 1919. While I have not been able to find an obituary for Fred (the American Falls Press records I have reviewed end just prior to his death), I have located his death certificate.

Of note:

(a) Occupation at this time is listed as Rancher. I find this somewhat surprising as Fred at this time was also a business operator and real estate owner, who rented out some commercial properties. I'll share more on this in a future post.

(b) He was treated by a doctor from September 13th to September 14th, and died that morning of the 14th at 4 AM. The cause of the death at this time is listed as "Tuberculosis of lung," which was the common form of tuberculosis. It was commonly known as consumption, due to the weight loss it often caused. Fred's old photos show that very thing. Some have called tuberculosis as man's oldest infectious disease, and today (while treatable) it is still the #1 cause of death by an infectious disease (transmitted by bacteria). Many people today are carriers of "latent tuberculosis", not manifesting the symptoms of active tuberculosis. Some family records claim that Fred gained tuberculosis on his mission, and while that's possible, I don't know if it's probable. The bacteria do multiply at slow rate, but 12 years later seems to me like a long time to question if it was contracted on his mission. Also, Eda's earlier account claimed he was diagnosed with tuberculosis in his childhood. Fred seemed to be fighting lung problems during a good chunk of his life. On January 28, 1915, the American Falls Press contained a note on his poor health, which was likely related to the pulmonary tuberculosis that did him in, and at the time described as pneumonia:

"F. J. Kohlhepp, one of the oldest residents of American Falls, and a pioneer of southern Idaho, has been bedfast a month with a severe attack of pneumonia. He is improving at present but will be unable to be out again for several weeks."

It would be interesting to know if tuberculosis was a common cause of death in the American Falls area at this time. I'd need to do some study of the death records to determine that. For another day!

(c) Fred is noted as having been buried the very next day (September 15th) in the Falls View cemetery. This cemetery fortunately was not buried under the flooding of the American Falls reservoir, and can still be visited. Below is a picture of his grave:

While the head stone notes Ella Hickman, his wife, she is not actually buried here. Ella had remarried (George Martineau) and when died, she was buried in the Ben Lomond Cemetery in North Ogden, Utah, in a family plot her mother purchased. There's a sadness to this -- and my family lore claims George refused to let Ella be buried next to Fred. A little surprising given that she was his second wife (and he'd have 2 more). I admit there may have been a practicality in not carrying a body back up from Utah to Idaho.

Mary Ella Hickman Shortly after Fred's Death

Documentation of Fred's life after his mission is hard to find. It is especially difficult to find information on Mary Ella once Fred passes away. We know she eventually remarried into the Martineau family, and became estranged from my great-grandmother, Minerva Teichert. The general story is that they became contentious over the parenthood of Constance. Minerva did not believe Constance was her biological sister, while her mother insisted it was so. I don't want to spend a lot of time in the dispute here, but this conflict is definitely an important event for the relationship of Minerva and Mary Ella.

What interests me here is a few news article I discovered regarding an accident Mary Ella had. I'll post the articles throughout in chronological order. Since Fred died in September 1919, this lets me know a litte bit about Mary Ella's life following her husband's death. The first article is from December 25, 1919 from a notice in the Rigby Star:

"Mrs. Ella Kohlhepp, 54 years of age, of American Falls, who is visiting relatives in Salt Lake, suffered a fracture of her left collar bone, lacerations and bruises about her head and probable internal injuries, when she was struck by a street car."

This sounds like a very painful incident for Ella. Given the injury, it's no surprise that months later, a notice appears in the Deseret News on March 17, 1920 that she is suing for damages.

This states, "Woman Asks $20,000. Ella Kohlhepp has begun suit in the [ard] district [ours] against Utah Light & Traction company, for $20,000 damages for injuries suffered from being struck by a street car. She alleged that as she was walking north on State street near Twenty-first South street. Dec. 19, 1919, she was run down by a street car through failure of the motorman to give warning and that she suffered body bruises as a result of the accident."

The following day in the Deseret News in the March 18, 1920 issue, another article reads:

Accident Victim Will Resume Literary Work

Mrs. Ella Kohlhepp who was struck by a street car last December 19, suffering a broken collar bone, will leave soon for her home in American Falls, Idaho. Mrs. Kohlhepp has been working a numbers of years, on a collection of Indian traditions and stories, she knew Chief Pocatello, and from him was able to obtain much data[.] At the time of the accident she was taking a course in English at the University of Utah. As soon as she has arranged her affairs at home she will move to Salt Lake. Two of her lyrics, "Joseph the Prophet" and "His Glory," which Prof. Lund has arranged to the music of "Sweet Afton" and "Oh, My Father" will be sung at general conference in April, she says.

Now, to review what is interesting in these article:

1. Ella must have been having a hard time with a husband that passed away in September and then getting hit by a car in December. It is interesting that the article mentioned her as "Mrs. Kohlhepp," as if she was still married. Perhaps she did not want it known that she was now a widow, or the reporter was not aware that she was?

2. The accident and the course being taken at the University of Utah show that she was dwelling in Salt Lake City following Fred's death in September. At least, I hope it was following, since Fred died in American Falls in mid-September. When did coursework for the University of Utah start in 1920? I imagine it is similar to today, when coursework starts in early September. I hope she was there for Fred's death and funeral! Did she start late into the semester or what? This is interesting. I know Ella had a habit of leaving the home and living different places for long periods of time, so I wonder if she was even there for Fred's final hours. If anything, we at least learn that she was moving on after Fred passed away (or at least planning to do so). She was going to head back home, settle the affairs, and move to Salt Lake.

3. It shows Ella's interests. She was taking a course in English at the U, suggesting she was trying to work on her composition skills for the Indian traditions and stories she was collecting (and perhaps just for general interest). She had received education earlier at the Sacred Heart Academy when she was young (the only one of her siblings to get an education), and this shows she pursued it a bit further. The article mentions that she had been working on collecting the stories for "a number of years," making it a passtime of hers while Fred had been alive. I wonder if some of these tales made it into Minerva's A Romance of Old Fort Hall or Drowned Memories. We also learn that was writing poetry, much as Fred had done (and likely something they did together). While this article claims that two of Ella's lyrics would be sung during the April Conference (quite a venue in Mormon circles), conference reports of the April 1920 General Conference do not suggest they were sung.

In April 1920, the following were sung:

"O say, what is truth?"
"Come, O Thou King of kings."
"Praise to the man who communed with Jehovah."
"Lift Thine Eyes" (Mendelssohn).
"The Spirit of God like a fire burning."
"Hallelujah to the Father" (Beethoven's "Mount of Olives").
"The Lord's Prayer."
"The Lord Victorious" (Mascagni).
"O, Love Divine."
"Now Jesus Loved Martha and her Sister and Lazarus."
"Earth and Heaven."
"As the Earth Brings Forth Her Bud."
"I Will Greatly Rejoice in the Lord."
"Blessed Be the Lord God of Israel."
"I Bring You Glad Tidings."
"Is This the Messiah?"
"Let the Lower Lights be Burning."
"The Palms."
"Do What is right."
"We thank Thee, O God, for a prophet."
"How firm a foundation, ye Saints of the Lord."
"High on the mountain top."
"Guide us, O thou great Jehovah."
"Redeemer of Israel, our only delight."
"Do what is right, let the consequence follow."
"Now let us rejoice."
"O ye mountains high."
"Come, come, ye Saints, no toil nor labor fear."
"Praise God from Whom all blessings flow."
"Come, let us anew our journey pursue."
"One Hundred Years."
"O My Father."

None of these songs resemble those described in the article. Of course, the article claims that "His Glory" would be sung to "O, My Father," but Eliza's hymn was not a tune at all. It, in fact, was sung to many different tunes (in the April 1920 Conference it was sung to the old English tune that Eliza R. Snow preferred), so it is difficult to know which tune Mary Ella was planning/hoping to have her lyric sung to. Now, I don't think Ella was making these songs up. I have located some copyrighted lyrics of hers that were placed to music, which I will post up later. It is likely these were real lyrics she wrote. As for the Mr. Lund, I am not sure who he is. I will have to some investigative work here.

4. She knew Chief Pocatello. Whenever someone claims they knew someone famous, I get suspicious. I haven't read on Mary Ella's childhood in a while, but I don't remember her spending much (if any) time in Idaho before she married Fred. I will have to investigate this. However, Chief Pocatello (the leader of the Shoshoni people of Pocatello, Idaho) died in 1884. He was known for leading attacks against settlers when there was strife between the tribe and the emigrants. Eventually, he made peace with America, and moved his people onto the Fort Hall Indian Reservation, where they strived to survive relocation (dealing with intense starvation in 1875). Mary Ella had her first two children, Marie Elizabeth and Minerva Bernetta in North Ogden, Utah from 1887-1888. Her first child recorded as being born in Idaho is Frederick William in 1891. It seems unlikely that she ever met Chief Pocatello (having died 7 years previous), and if she did, extremely unlikely that she knew him on any sort of deep level. No doubt she eventually knew of him, but that is a completely different kind of knowledge.

5. Her injuries were not insignificant. I am curious if there are any court records associated with the damages she felt she was inflicted (the $20,000). Did the injuries have any lasting impact on her?