Wednesday, January 16, 2013

Blast from the Past - Mackay Miner Mid Summer Edition 1908 Page 9 of 9

Transcription:


A COUNTRY OF HAPPY HOMES

Mackay is of a high order of citizenship – a community of home builders. On these pages the reader will find several pictures of Mackay residences. Considering the newness of the country, the home in Mackay and on Lost river will more than compare favorably with those of any town east or west. The residents see the future greatness of the country and the homes and business houses are built substantially, often times beautifully, as will be seen by referring to the cuts. While the general run of residences of this city are of the cottage type, yet many pretentious homes have been built and more are in course of construction.

 Residence of Alex Burnett 1908 (house on Corner of Spruce and Park Ave).
 Residence of Charles F. Baker 1908 (214 Pine)
 Residence of Charles C. Davidson 1908 (318 Elm)
 Residence of J H Greene 1908 (217 Spruce)
 Residence of Chase A Clark 1908 (unknown location )
Residence of Dr. Francis H Poole 1908 ( 212 Pine)

OUR BUSINESS HOUSES

Space forbids a detailed account of the business institutions that thrive in this section, but scattered throughout this edition are pictures of business houses in Mackay. The buildings contain well selected stocks for goods and all lines are carried by one firm and another. Several of the institutions deal in general merchandise, carrying the lines usually found in department stores. Prices compare favorably with any town in the west. As a class, the merchants of the country are progressive, public-spirited and up-to-date, encouraging every enterprise that is for the good o the country.

But very few business failures have ever been recorded, which speaks well not only for the class of men engaging in business, but also for the general prosperity of the country.

OUR SCENERY

Surrounding Mackay, stretching out over the vast expanse of territory which is tributary to this enterprising city, are innumerable canyons, hundreds of lofty peaks, the whole forming a panorama that cannot be realized all at once; everything is deceptive, the distance, the immensity and it takes time to grasp the surroundings. But by degrees the immensity and appalling grandeur of the environments assert themselves, and the beholder feels and knows that he is in close communion with the awful majesty of nature. Here, above all other places, the grandest works of man sink into insignificance, and the silence seems to do homage as a god. Calm and unbroken is the solitude of nature in this, her temple.

At every turn some new and unexpected beauty meets the eye, distinct, bearing the stamp of individuality, and yet, in some mysterious manner inseparable from the whole. There are, however, no rivals among these gorgeous scenes. Projecting rock and sheltering cove, fire-crowned cliff and open valley, each to the other lends a charm, and each reiterates the same grand theme. Amid this grandeur, picnic parties pass away the holiday and the tourist finds his stay prolonged. A scene that is at once so mighty, so enthralling that an inspiration for bigger tasks and grander work fills the breasts of those who dwell within the mountain’s shadow. The very hills cry out, “Come!”

Join the onward marching of the free and find happiness, prosperity and contentment in Central Idaho.

God has dealt generously with Central Idaho. His mighty hills catch and hold the snows until the warm summer sun starts a melting process; the water passes down the mountain sides nursing the range back to life and finally fills the streams to overflowing. Man is assisting the Great Creator by building reservoirs to store the surplus flow. He has made copper, gold, silver and lead as plentiful as the sands of the seashore. Riches secured from the earth are as clean as the newly fallen snow. Such is not “tainted money.” The mining millionaire, the cattle man, the farmer with his grains and grasses need not fear to meet his Creator. This is the call of Central Idaho! Can you resist it? There is money to be made, there is a country to be finished. There is need of capital to develop the resources. There is a need of muscle, of courage, of determination. All who enter soon become thrilled with faith and set to work. The country is calling for wealth, for added strength. Come!

Idaho is the I-dah-o of the Indians, meaning the jeweled mountain tops from which the sunrise came to illumine the earth, and no other mountains in the world can claim a better right to this poetical designation than the snow-clad peaks of the central portion.

BUILDING

Mackay is steadily growing, both in population and improvements, such as building business blocks, residences, setting out trees, planting lawns, and similar improvements. There are now in course of construction, one seven thousand dollar cement block residence, which will be expensively furnished, steam heated, with everything necessary to a modern home, which is being built by Mrs. Nowacki of this town. Mr. and Mrs. Hicks have also in erection a cement block residence which will be among the most elegant homes of the town. Also on Main street a cement block office building is nearly completed. Cement building is favored  especially in Mackay on account of the fact that there is an unlimited amount of sand that is unequalled for cement building purposes. Besides these mentioned, there are several small buildings in course of construction. In the view of Mackay, page 1, it does not show the town to its full extent as it will be seen to the person on the ground. It will pay you to come and see our town, for you will find Mackay a good place to invest.

Sunshiny days, over 300 in the year, makes Central Idaho the best place to live in the entire West.

2 comments:

  1. This is wonderful documentation of the history of Mackay and I hope you are making arrangements for this blog to become a resource in the future; contacting Amazon.com for them to make it into a book might be worth considering. Great job!

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  2. Thank you for the compliment and I'm hoping the South Custer Historical Society here in Mackay will take it over at some point. NO PLANS for a book - that can be someone's project - but, not mine. jm

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