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{{Use American English|date=January 2025}}
⚫ {{Infobox nrhp
{{Use mdy dates|date=July 2023}}
⚫ | name = Chesterfield Historic District
⚫ {{Infobox NRHP
| nrhp_type = hd
⚫ | name = Chesterfield Historic District
| image =
| caption = | nrhp_type = hd
| nocat = yes
| location= Chesterfield
| image =Chestefield Idaho Meeting House.JPG
| lat_degrees = 42
| caption =Chesterfield LDS Meetinghouse
| lat_minutes = 52
⚫ | location = ]
| lat_seconds = 1
| coordinates = {{coord|42|52|01|N|111|54|07|W|display=inline,title}}
| lat_direction = N
⚫ | locmapin = Idaho#USA
| long_degrees = 111
⚫ | architecture = Greek Revival, Queen Anne, Hall-and-parlor; I-house
| long_minutes = 54
| built = 1881
| long_seconds = 22
| nearest_city = ]
| long_direction = W
⚫ | added = December 4, 1980
| coord_display = inline,title
⚫ | area = {{convert|2160|acre}}
⚫ | locmapin = Idaho
| refnum = 80001297<ref name="nris">{{NRISref|version=2010a}}</ref>
⚫ | architecture = Greek Revival, Queen Anne, Hall-and-parlor; I-house
⚫ | added = December 4, 1980
⚫ | area = {{convert|2160|acre}}
| governing_body = ]
| refnum = 80001297<ref name=nris>{{cite web|url=http://www.nr.nps.gov/|title=National Register Information System|date=2009-03-13|work=National Register of Historic Places|publisher=National Park Service}}</ref>
}} }}


'''Chesterfield''' is a ] in ], ], ]. It is located at {{coord|42|52|1|N|111|54|7|W|city}} (42.8668622, -111.9019032), at an elevation of 5,446&nbsp;feet (1,660&nsbp;m).<ref>{{gnis|396274}}</ref> The community is in an area governed by the ].<ref name=nris /> The community includes a cemetery,<ref>{{gnis|395202|Chesterfield Cemetery}}</ref> a church,<ref>{{gnis|395203|Chesterfield Church}}</ref> and a former ] ].<ref>{{gnis|395205|Chesterfield Meeting House}}</ref> '''Chesterfield''' is a ] in ], ], ]. It is located in ] at an elevation of {{convert|5446|ft|m}}.<ref>{{gnis|396274}}</ref> The community includes a cemetery<ref>{{gnis|395202|Chesterfield Cemetery}}</ref> and former buildings of ] (LDS Church) such as a former ], amusement hall and ] house.


Located along a route of the ], Chesterfield was founded by Latter-day Saint settlers in 1881. After a railroad line was built through ] to the south, the community lost some of its momentum, and agricultural difficulties led to its desertion by the end of the 1930s. Today, the community is operated as a tourist attraction, with guided tours and a museum.<ref>, Bear River Heritage Area Council. Accessed 2009-10-17.</ref> Located along a route of the ], Chesterfield was founded by ] settlers in 1881. After a railroad line was built through ] to the south, the community lost some of its momentum, and agricultural difficulties led to its desertion by the end of the 1930s. Today, the community is operated as a tourist attraction, with guided tours and a museum.<ref> {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110707220750/http://www.bearriverheritage.com/Content/WYSIWYG/brha_brochure.pdf |date=July 7, 2011 }}, Bear River Heritage Area Council. Accessed 2009-10-17.</ref>


In 1980, the community was listed on the ] as a ]. The district includes forty-one buildings and eight ], spread out over an area of {{convert|2160|acre}}. Some buildings in the district are examples of the ] and ] architectural styles.<ref name=nris /> In 1980, the community was listed on the ] as a ] and is also on the ]'s Mormon Historic Sites Registry. The historic district includes 41 buildings and eight ], spread out over an area of {{convert|2160|acre}}. Some buildings in the district are examples of the ] and ] architectural styles.<ref name=nris />

==History==
In 1879, Chester Call and his niece's husband, Christian Nelson, established a horse ranch in the area. Thinking this might be a good area in which to live, Chester Call told his family and friends about the area and they decided to come and settle in 1881 and 1882.<ref name=peterson>{{cite book | last=Peterson | first=F. Ross | editor-last=Andersen | editor-first=Lavina Fielding| chapter=Chesterfield: Mormon Outpost in Idaho | title=Chesterfield: A picture from the Past | pages=7–20 | publisher=Chesterfield Foundation | location=Bancroft, ID | year=1993}}</ref> Chesterfield's first settlers built their homes in the river bottom of the ], west of present-day Chesterfield. Unlike typical Mormon settlements, which were founded by settlers sent by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints (hereafter referred to as LDS) authorities, the community was founded spontaneously by its first settlers<ref>{{cite encyclopedia | editor-last= Ludlow | editor-first= Daniel H. | editor-link= Daniel H. Ludlow | encyclopedia= ] | title= Colonization | page= 291 | publisher= ] | location= New York City | year= 1992 | isbn= 0-02-879602-0 | url= http://contentdm.lib.byu.edu/cdm/ref/collection/EoM/id/5603 }}</ref> and not set up in the typical compact, grid patterned townsite.<ref>{{cite encyclopedia | editor-last=Ludlow | editor-first=Daniel H. | encyclopedia=Encyclopedia of Mormonism | title=City Planning | pages=283 | publisher=Macmillan Publishing | location=New York City | year=1992 | isbn=0-02-879602-0 | url= http://contentdm.lib.byu.edu/cdm/ref/collection/EoM/id/5611}}</ref> Also in 1881, the ] started to construct the ] to the south of Chesterfield, running through present-day ]. The new settlers sold logs and railroad ties to the railroad, raising much needed cash.

In 1883, LDS Church authorities visited the area to establish a ]. While there, the visiting leaders asked their members to organize into a central village, away from the Portneuf River flood plain. The current Chesterfield townsite was chosen up along the foothills. As in traditional Mormon towns, Chesterfield was laid out in a grid pattern, consisting of thirty-five ten-acre blocks.<ref name=peterson /> By 1890, the LDS ] and a store were the only buildings on the townsite as a mistake in the government survey kept the land off the market for a time.<ref>{{cite news | title=Through Idaho | url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=LJQdAAAAIBAJ&sjid=NjEDAAAAIBAJ&dq=chesterfield&pg=6815%2C5712708 | location=Salt Lake City | newspaper=Deseret News Weekly | pages=765 | date=May 31, 1890 }}</ref>

The LDS Chesterfield ] was established in 1884 consisting of 136 people in 24 families.<ref name=arrington>{{cite book | last1=Arrington | first1=Leonard J. | author-link1= Leonard J. Arrington | last2=Jensen | first2=Richard L. | author-link2=Richard L. Jensen | editor-last=Andersen | editor-first=Lavina Fielding| chapter=Making a Living: The Economic Life of Chesterfield | title=Chesterfield: A picture from the Past | pages=21–32 | publisher=Chesterfield Foundation | location=Bancroft, ID | year=1993}}</ref><ref name=familysearch>{{cite web | title=Record of members, 1884-1941; annual genealogical report, Form E, 1907-1948 | work=Family History Library Catalog | publisher=Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints | url=http://www.familysearch.org/eng/library/fhlcatalog/supermainframeset.asp?display=titledetails&titleno=194485&disp=Record+of+members%2C+1884-1941%3B+annu%20%20&columns=*,0,0 | accessdate=March 10, 2010}}</ref> By 1900, the population had steadily grown to 73 families containing 418 people in the Chesterfield Ward and 150 people in the recently split off Hatch Ward.<ref name=arrington /><ref name=familysearch /> Between the years of 1898 and 1900, the area suffered through very cold winters and a drought. This caused a considerable exodus to occur in 1901. The ], and another bad winter, caused another exodus. By 1908, fewer than 400 people were left in the area and only 208 people in the Chesterfield Ward.<ref name=arrington /><ref name=familysearch /> The population then steadily grew with a peak of just under 700 people in the Chesterfield area by 1920.<ref name=arrington /><ref name=familysearch /> The series of recessions in the 1920s and nationwide agricultural problems started the death knell for Chesterfield. Just over 425 people were left in the area by 1928,<ref name=arrington /><ref name=familysearch /> and the buildings of the Chesterfield town site were mostly deserted before 1941 when the school closed. The general store closed in 1958. By 1970, less than 200 people lived in the area and only 20 people lived in historic Chesterfield.<ref name=idahostate>{{cite web | title=Chesterfield | last=Call | first=Craig M. | date=July 1972 | work=Idaho State Historical Society Reference Series | publisher=], Public Archives and Research Library | url=http://www.idahohistory.net/Reference%20Series/0963.pdf | accessdate=March 3, 2010}}</ref>

==Historical buildings==

The LDS Meetinghouse<ref>{{gnis|395205|Chesterfield Meeting House}}</ref> is the most prominent and best preserved building in Chesterfield. It was built between 1887 and 1892.<ref name=anderson>{{cite book | last=Anderson | first=Paul L. | author-link=Paul L. Anderson | editor-last=Andersen | editor-first=Lavina Fielding| chapter=An Idaho Variation on the City of Zion | title=Chesterfield: A picture from the Past | pages=70–78 | publisher=Chesterfield Foundation | location=Bancroft, ID | year=1993}}</ref>

]

The original Amusement Hall was erected in 1895, next door to the LDS Meetinghouse.<ref name=anderson /> The building was the center for social activities for Chesterfield. It consisted of a large room with a hardwood dance floor and a stage. Over time, the building was reduced to ruins.<ref name=idahostate /> The Amusement Hall was restored between 1999 and 2003.<ref>{{cite news | title=Rocky Mountain Power Foundation Grant Supports the Chesterfield Foundation | url=http://www.localnews8.com/Global/story.asp?s=9352584 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210511230736/https://localnews8.com/Global/story.asp?s=9352584 | url-status=dead | archive-date=May 11, 2021 | location=Idaho Falls, Idaho | newspaper=KIFI News | date=November 17, 2008 }}</ref>

LDS members pay ] to the Church. Few members could pay cash around 1900, so grains, vegetables, eggs and farm animals were instead paid "in kind". The Tithing Office and the Tithing Granary were constructed in 1900.<ref name=anderson /> Grain donations were stored in the Tithing Granary. The Tithing Office was where members came to pay their tithing and the goods were dispensed to those in need; the facility acted as a sort of a warehouse and general store.<ref>{{Cite book | last=Arrington | first= Leonard J. | author-link=Leonard J. Arrington | title=Great Basin Kingdom: an economic history of the Latter-day Saints, 1830-1900, New Edition | publisher= ] | location=Urbana | year=2004 | page=133 | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Jzg-ZMna724C&dq=Great%20Basin%20Kingdom%3A%20An%20Economic%20History%20of%20the%20Latter-day%20Saints&pg=PA133 | isbn=978-0-252-07283-3 }}</ref>

The Nathan Barlow House, built about 1900, was the home of the postmaster and owner of the general store. After the ] and the harsh winter of 1907-1908, Nathan Barlow lost all of his money and moved out of the community.<ref>{{cite book | last=Bitton | first=Davis | author-link=Davis Bitton | editor-last=Andersen | editor-first=Lavina Fielding| chapter=Play and a Lot of Hard Work: Group Life in Chesterfield | title=Chesterfield: A picture from the Past | pages=51–61 | publisher=Chesterfield Foundation | location=Bancroft, ID | year=1993}}</ref><ref>{{cite web | title=Story of My Life | work=Family History Library Catalog | publisher=Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints | url=http://www.familysearch.org/eng/library/fhlcatalog/supermainframeset.asp?display=titledetails&titleno=184639&disp=The+story+of+my+life%20%20&columns=*,0,0 | pages=29–30 | accessdate=March 10, 2010}}</ref> The home was restored in 2009, with descendants of Nathan Barlow contributing the furnishings.

The Ira Call cabin is a ] style home. It contained two polygamous families for a short time.<ref name=anderson />

Aunt Ruth Call David's cabin built of red pine logs with a dirt floor in 1881 and 1882. Aunt Ruth was a Native American who was adopted by Chester Call's parents in the 1860s. As the town's midwife, she delivered most of the babies.<ref>{{cite news | first=Kimberly | last=Wilson | title=Idaho pioneer cabin moved to Chesterfield site | url=http://www.oregonlive.com/news/index.ssf/2008/12/idaho_pioneer_cabin_moved_to_c.html | location = Portland | newspaper=The Oregonian | date=February 21, 2010}}</ref>

==Notable people==
*], ] author


==References== ==References==
{{Reflist}} {{Reflist|2}}

==Further reading==
*] (ed.) (1993). ''Chesterfield: Mormon Outpost in Idaho.'' Bancroft, ID: The Chesterfield Foundation. {{OCLC|8579509}}.

==External links==
{{commons category}}
*


{{National Register of Historic Places}} {{National Register of Historic Places}}
{{Caribou County, Idaho}} {{Caribou County, Idaho}}
{{Idaho-geo-stub}}
{{Idaho-NRHP-stub}}


{{authority control}}
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Latest revision as of 01:16, 8 January 2025

United States historic place
Chesterfield Historic District
U.S. National Register of Historic Places
U.S. Historic district
Chesterfield LDS Meetinghouse
Chesterfield, Idaho is located in IdahoChesterfield, IdahoShow map of IdahoChesterfield, Idaho is located in the United StatesChesterfield, IdahoShow map of the United States
LocationCaribou County, Idaho
Nearest cityBancroft, Idaho
Coordinates42°52′01″N 111°54′07″W / 42.86694°N 111.90194°W / 42.86694; -111.90194
Area2,160 acres (870 ha)
Built1881
Architectural styleGreek Revival, Queen Anne, Hall-and-parlor; I-house
NRHP reference No.80001297
Added to NRHPDecember 4, 1980

Chesterfield is a ghost town in Caribou County, Idaho, United States. It is located in Gem Valley at an elevation of 5,446 feet (1,660 m). The community includes a cemetery and former buildings of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church) such as a former meeting house, amusement hall and tithing house.

Located along a route of the Oregon Trail, Chesterfield was founded by Mormon settlers in 1881. After a railroad line was built through Bancroft to the south, the community lost some of its momentum, and agricultural difficulties led to its desertion by the end of the 1930s. Today, the community is operated as a tourist attraction, with guided tours and a museum.

In 1980, the community was listed on the National Register of Historic Places as a historic district and is also on the Mormon Historic Sites Foundation's Mormon Historic Sites Registry. The historic district includes 41 buildings and eight sites, spread out over an area of 2,160 acres (870 ha). Some buildings in the district are examples of the Greek Revival and Queen Anne architectural styles.

History

In 1879, Chester Call and his niece's husband, Christian Nelson, established a horse ranch in the area. Thinking this might be a good area in which to live, Chester Call told his family and friends about the area and they decided to come and settle in 1881 and 1882. Chesterfield's first settlers built their homes in the river bottom of the Portneuf River, west of present-day Chesterfield. Unlike typical Mormon settlements, which were founded by settlers sent by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints (hereafter referred to as LDS) authorities, the community was founded spontaneously by its first settlers and not set up in the typical compact, grid patterned townsite. Also in 1881, the Union Pacific Railroad started to construct the Oregon Short Line Railroad to the south of Chesterfield, running through present-day Bancroft. The new settlers sold logs and railroad ties to the railroad, raising much needed cash.

In 1883, LDS Church authorities visited the area to establish a branch. While there, the visiting leaders asked their members to organize into a central village, away from the Portneuf River flood plain. The current Chesterfield townsite was chosen up along the foothills. As in traditional Mormon towns, Chesterfield was laid out in a grid pattern, consisting of thirty-five ten-acre blocks. By 1890, the LDS meetinghouse and a store were the only buildings on the townsite as a mistake in the government survey kept the land off the market for a time.

The LDS Chesterfield Ward was established in 1884 consisting of 136 people in 24 families. By 1900, the population had steadily grown to 73 families containing 418 people in the Chesterfield Ward and 150 people in the recently split off Hatch Ward. Between the years of 1898 and 1900, the area suffered through very cold winters and a drought. This caused a considerable exodus to occur in 1901. The 1907 Panic, and another bad winter, caused another exodus. By 1908, fewer than 400 people were left in the area and only 208 people in the Chesterfield Ward. The population then steadily grew with a peak of just under 700 people in the Chesterfield area by 1920. The series of recessions in the 1920s and nationwide agricultural problems started the death knell for Chesterfield. Just over 425 people were left in the area by 1928, and the buildings of the Chesterfield town site were mostly deserted before 1941 when the school closed. The general store closed in 1958. By 1970, less than 200 people lived in the area and only 20 people lived in historic Chesterfield.

Historical buildings

The LDS Meetinghouse is the most prominent and best preserved building in Chesterfield. It was built between 1887 and 1892.

Denmark Jensen Cabin

The original Amusement Hall was erected in 1895, next door to the LDS Meetinghouse. The building was the center for social activities for Chesterfield. It consisted of a large room with a hardwood dance floor and a stage. Over time, the building was reduced to ruins. The Amusement Hall was restored between 1999 and 2003.

LDS members pay tithing to the Church. Few members could pay cash around 1900, so grains, vegetables, eggs and farm animals were instead paid "in kind". The Tithing Office and the Tithing Granary were constructed in 1900. Grain donations were stored in the Tithing Granary. The Tithing Office was where members came to pay their tithing and the goods were dispensed to those in need; the facility acted as a sort of a warehouse and general store.

The Nathan Barlow House, built about 1900, was the home of the postmaster and owner of the general store. After the Panic of 1907 and the harsh winter of 1907-1908, Nathan Barlow lost all of his money and moved out of the community. The home was restored in 2009, with descendants of Nathan Barlow contributing the furnishings.

The Ira Call cabin is a saltbox style home. It contained two polygamous families for a short time.

Aunt Ruth Call David's cabin built of red pine logs with a dirt floor in 1881 and 1882. Aunt Ruth was a Native American who was adopted by Chester Call's parents in the 1860s. As the town's midwife, she delivered most of the babies.

Notable people

References

  1. ^ "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service. July 9, 2010.
  2. U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Chesterfield, Idaho
  3. U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Chesterfield Cemetery
  4. Bear River Heritage Area Archived July 7, 2011, at the Wayback Machine, Bear River Heritage Area Council. Accessed 2009-10-17.
  5. ^ Peterson, F. Ross (1993). "Chesterfield: Mormon Outpost in Idaho". In Andersen, Lavina Fielding (ed.). Chesterfield: A picture from the Past. Bancroft, ID: Chesterfield Foundation. pp. 7–20.
  6. Ludlow, Daniel H., ed. (1992). "Colonization". Encyclopedia of Mormonism. New York City: Macmillan Publishing. p. 291. ISBN 0-02-879602-0.
  7. Ludlow, Daniel H., ed. (1992). "City Planning". Encyclopedia of Mormonism. New York City: Macmillan Publishing. p. 283. ISBN 0-02-879602-0.
  8. "Through Idaho". Deseret News Weekly. Salt Lake City. May 31, 1890. p. 765.
  9. ^ Arrington, Leonard J.; Jensen, Richard L. (1993). "Making a Living: The Economic Life of Chesterfield". In Andersen, Lavina Fielding (ed.). Chesterfield: A picture from the Past. Bancroft, ID: Chesterfield Foundation. pp. 21–32.
  10. ^ "Record of members, 1884-1941; annual genealogical report, Form E, 1907-1948". Family History Library Catalog. Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. Retrieved March 10, 2010.
  11. ^ Call, Craig M. (July 1972). "Chesterfield" (PDF). Idaho State Historical Society Reference Series. Idaho State Historical Society, Public Archives and Research Library. Retrieved March 3, 2010.
  12. U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Chesterfield Meeting House
  13. ^ Anderson, Paul L. (1993). "An Idaho Variation on the City of Zion". In Andersen, Lavina Fielding (ed.). Chesterfield: A picture from the Past. Bancroft, ID: Chesterfield Foundation. pp. 70–78.
  14. "Rocky Mountain Power Foundation Grant Supports the Chesterfield Foundation". KIFI News. Idaho Falls, Idaho. November 17, 2008. Archived from the original on May 11, 2021.
  15. Arrington, Leonard J. (2004). Great Basin Kingdom: an economic history of the Latter-day Saints, 1830-1900, New Edition. Urbana: University of Illinois Press. p. 133. ISBN 978-0-252-07283-3.
  16. Bitton, Davis (1993). "Play and a Lot of Hard Work: Group Life in Chesterfield". In Andersen, Lavina Fielding (ed.). Chesterfield: A picture from the Past. Bancroft, ID: Chesterfield Foundation. pp. 51–61.
  17. "Story of My Life". Family History Library Catalog. Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. pp. 29–30. Retrieved March 10, 2010.
  18. Wilson, Kimberly (February 21, 2010). "Idaho pioneer cabin moved to Chesterfield site". The Oregonian. Portland.

Further reading

External links

U.S. National Register of Historic Places
Topics
Lists by state
Lists by insular areas
Lists by associated state
Other areas
Related
Municipalities and communities of Caribou County, Idaho, United States
County seat: Soda Springs
Cities
Map of Idaho highlighting Caribou County
Unincorporated
communities
Indian reservation
Ghost town
Footnotes‡ This populated place also extends into Wyoming, ‡‡ This populated place also has portions in an adjacent county or counties
Categories: