Island Park’s Rich History Revealed

Last Weekend the Friends of the Island Park Library hosted a discussion of early memories of Island Park at the EMS Building. The caldera has such a rich history. The gathering began with Nancy Stratford relating how her father-in-law Ray (Sr.) obtained the family cabin. In 1931, lumbermen who logged railroad ties exchanged their two room cabin on the Buffalo River for a $175 debt incurred at the Stratford second-hand store located in Pocatello. The cabin lot was Forest Service property however. In the 1970’s, the Stratfords gained title to their lot as part of a land swap between Montana Power and the Forest Service for the Mesa Falls land and building.

Marty Terrell explained that before there was a Mack’s Inn, a speakeasy named the Snake River Club was located on the site near the river in the 1920's. The prohibition-era drinking establishment included an active still in its basement. She related how her grandfather would drive her family to Island Park in the 1930's to watch the bears feed at the dump. On one visit her mother’s sister and two-year-old child came along on one of the dump visits. As the family watched the bears as they fed and played along the trash pit, the two year old was heard saying “Nice doggie”. To everyone’s horror, the passenger window had been left open. A curious black bear had inserted his head into the vehicle and the child was petting her new friend. That car window was rolled up at a speed that would astonish the owner of any current electric window.

Marty and her husband purchased a 1940’s era vacant service station; they converted the building into a convenience store and named it the Stage Stop. Rather than remove the two hoists from the service bays, they built the floor over them and they remain there to this day.

So many other interesting stories were related during the hour and a half meeting. The Friends of the Library intend to host a similar discussion next year. It would be well worth your time to attend.