The Bakers of Star Valley

When Angela was pregnant with Melissa in 1983, her mother confided in her that she had a brother somewhere that Angela had never knew about. When Janet, Angela's mother, was 17 she became pregnant. Single and unable to raise a baby on her own, she gave the baby up for adoption.

In 1995 Janet surprised Angela again. This time the brother she never knew was coming to Fallon to meet the family. That is when we met Ross. Ross was living near Seattle at the time with his family. Recently Ross and his family moved to Salt Lake City.

Angela and Ross were talking on the phone the other day. Ross mentioned to Angela that his adopted families ancestors were from Star Valley, the Bakers. When Angela mentioned this to me, I remembered a historical landmark here in the valley.



At the South end of Etna, along side US Highway 89, sits the historical Baker Cabin.

The cabin was built in 1889 and belonged to Alonzo and Anna Eliza Baker. It is the oldest surviving house built in Star Valley. I am impressed with the fact the cabin was built by Anna Eliza and her 12 year old daughter May. Also; that this was a house for a family with 12 children! Our house isn't that small after all!

Alonzo and Anna Eliza are Ross's adopted Ancestors.

Ross mentioned that he has wanted to visit Star Valley, and see where his family is from. Now that he lives only three hours away, maybe one day soon we will have a visit from Ross!

Photos taken by Angela: December 7, 2007

Star Amoung All Valleys

Star of All Valleys

This sign is located in the 'narrows' between Upper and Lower Star Valley. Much of the early history of Star Valley revolves around Mormon Pioneers who first settled the Valley in the 1870's. An Apostle of the church visited the valley to dedicate it for the habitation of the 'saints'. In his dedicatory prayer, he proclaimed the valley a star amoung all valleys, and thus the name.

If you would like to read more about the history of Star Valley, click here.

Photo Taken: March 18, 2007

The Old Rock Church

The 'Old Rock Church' in Auburn is just down the road from our house. Butch Cassidy and The Sundance Kid use to attend social functions at this building. The Sundance Kid was arrested one time in Auburn. The pair use to hang out at the 'Old Davis Ranch' in Star Valley. My friend and Neighbor Bruce Davis lives just up the street from us. My sister married his nephew. Their family are long time Star Valley natives; however I am not sure that their is a connection there. I need to do a little investigating and find out.

The building is still used to this day, not only as a gathering place for the church, but for the entire community. There are picnic facilities that have been built next to the building. We have attended Trunk or Treat events and Candy Drops at the church. A Candy Drop is when the kids all gather in the park next to the church and a plane flys over and unloads its cash of candy. The kids then scramble to gather as much as they can.

The building was built in 1889 and was the only stone building in Star Valley until 1900. The building was added to the National Register of Historical Places in 1985.

Click on the HEADING of this post to find out a little more!

The Draney Dairy

This old dairy was built in Tygee, Idaho in 1921 by the Draney family. I talked with Wendell Draney about the days this building was in use. He talked of a beautiful dairy that was painted green and white. He told me that it use to have 36 stalls in it, and of the great feed the silo provided.

Wendell was born in the house that he and his wife Joyce still live in today. Their house is located next to this old dairy. The Draney family are dairy farmers to this day.

Lander Cut-Off

This sign sits on the Idaho - Wyoming boarder. I pass this sign each day I go to work. The Lander cut-off of the Oregan trail passed through the upper end of Star Valley, very near our house, and then followed Stump Creek Canyon - once known as Smoking Creek Canyon. Not to be confused with Smoky Canyon. Smoky Canyon and Smoky Creek feeds into Stump Creek. (By the way 'Smoky' is the correct spelling). The reason for the names of Smoking Creek and Smoky Creek, is that the canyons they occupy are often filled with fog, when the rest of the valley and area is clear. Thus giving them a smokey appearance.

Our house sits about 1 mile from the Wyoming - Idaho boarder. When you look out our front windows its all Wyoming. Out the back, you see Wyoming until you get near the top of the hill. From there its Idaho.

I am fairly certain this is the only picture I have ever taken while standing in two different states.

That's NOT Nevada!

As part of my job; I sometimes visits mining prospects, that people are trying to peddle to the company, in order to make an evaluation. This past February I made such a trip to the Lemhi Range. Near the mouth of the canyon that we were in I found this old boundry survey marked on a rock. The date is 1925. When I first started out in mining for Kennecott at the Alligator Ridge Mine in Eastern Nevada my first job was as a surveyor. So when I come across old survey hubs and the like I find them interesting.

The Lemhi Range runs between Howe and Salmon Idaho. It was a bit surreal for me. The range seems out of place. It looks to be so much like basin and range from Nevada. If you were to show these pictures to my many friends in Nevada most of them would surely guess that they were taken somewhere in the state.

There are a few old structures that remain from a day long past. From my studies of the area most of the mining occurred in the 30's and 40's.

This rock formation was interesting to me because of the hole that passes through it near the top.

Battling Elk

These battling elk were added to the 'worlds largest elkhorn arch' a couple of years ago. This arch and and the battling elk can be found on US HWY 89 in Afton, Wyoming.

Summers are tourist season here. Often people stop and snap a picture of the arch. Once summer arrives there are more cars on hwy 89 with Utah plates than there are from Wyoming. The locals refer to them as 'U-tards'. Sorry to my freinds in Utah. We still luv ya.

Alec took this picture.

A Bit of History!

These pictures are of the copper pits near Ruth Nevada. When I was a kid me and my friends would often hike from my house to the rim of these pits. They are close enough to the town that you could here the trains and shovels working, especially at night when things were quit. My father often walked to work. Both of my grandfathers retired from Kennecott. My dad worked for Kennecott for 27 years as a machinist. Makes you wonder how a kid like me ever ended up with a career in mining? (I found these pictures on the internet, they are not taken by myself...)