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Wednesday, November 5, 2008

You can go home again!

ABC Wednesday zips ahead to the letter 'P' this week. And I am choosing my hometown of Pocatello, Idaho to highlight that letter. It is a small town in southeastern Idaho that came into being to serve an advancing railroad in the 1880's. Sitting on a prehistoric Lake Bonneville the area's rich volcanic soil is famous for growing potatoes. My grandfather came there from Italy in the 1890's opening several grocery stores--Vito Cuoio & Sons--to serve the railroad trade. It sits on the Oregon Trail and is near Fort Hall, an early fur trading station and later the Shoshone Bannock Indian Reservation. It is a conservative religious community that is somewhat diluted by being home to Idaho State University, a school Dave and I both attended.
Pocatello is surrounded by mountains with alluvial fan formations on several 'benches'--a fisherman or geologist's dream. Most people are employed by the railroads. It has doubled in size from when I was young--to about 50,000. Elevation there is a whopping 4400 feet above sea level.
early Pocatello view
historic downtown todayhome of Idaho State University
Visit more P letter posts at ABC Wednesday.

17 comments:

Unknown said...

Pocatella looks very beautiful : )! I love little towns. I love the history! So cool!

AphotoAday said...

Thanks for all the information on Pocatella... I've been through Idaho, but I don't think I went through that part of the state..

I will always remember my fourth grade teacher telling the class that "Boisie" -- that was her hometown -- had gotten so loud over the years, that they were thinking of renaming it "Noisey"...

Anonymous said...

I've heard of Idaho potatoes! Let me think .. I think I've had Idaho redskins - small and served with their skins on. Does that sound right?

Thanks for taking part in ABC Wednesday, with an informative post, beautifully illustrated! Hope to see you back next week!

Marianne said...

I really love that name 'Pocatella' and of course I love the old photo of downtown :^)
I've actually traveled through Idaho back in.... 1975, on my way to Oregon.

photowannabe said...

Terrific potatoes and great information on Idaho. It looks like a wonderful fown that is full of history.

Queen-Size funny bone said...

Looks like a place I wouldn't mind living in. I always wanted to visit Idaho.

DeniseinVA said...

What a super post of your home town. I'm real happy you posted your map as I do enjoy looking at State maps, a great way of improving one's geography. Thanks for such a great post and very lovely photographs.

Powell River Books said...

It's been awhile since I was in Pocatello. Thanks for the city tour. I love the downtown picture. Looks like a wonderful place to live. I invite you to come get a taste of my Pouch Potatoes. -- Margy

Strider said...

Have you ever eaten at Buddy's? They specialized in a great blue cheese dressing. They use to have bumper stickers that said, "I have Buddy's breath." It's a nice town. I get there two or three times a year.

Christy Woolum said...

I have only been there once, but it certainly has changed since my visit. I love the combination of old and new photos.

raf said...

Great post for ABC, Noni! Have driven close to Pocatella numerous times on Interstate 84 and wondered about its size, geography and economy so thanks for that little peek and covering those questions on your trip back home. :)

Rinkly Rimes said...

I love the first picture in particular.

Raquel Sabino Pereira said...

On behalf of the ABC Wednesday TEAM, I thank you for your wonderful contribution. This post reminded me of a beautiful village in Switzerland! They must me twins! LOL!

Now, don't forget to find words beginning with «Q»!!!

Love, from Sunny Lisbon!!

Daryl said...

What a beautiful place to live .. and to see it 'then' is fascinating

:-Daryl

Manuela said...

Thank you for such an interesting post and the history of a place I've never been--it looks lovely!

Maria said...

Noni, thank you for this beautiful post on your hometown Pocatella! I love to learn about the United States in this way!
I also love the landscape aroung Pocatella! The mountains are great! And so interesting that only since 1880, that is only 20 years before my grandfather was born, the railroad was built in this region.
History alive and geography with beautiful pictures!

earthlingorgeous said...

Is it me or I am having dejavu? I have been to couple blogs with P post for ABC Wednesday, but I am so sure it's a Q week now!

Anyway, i have to agree Pocatella looks definitely an awesome place to be. Thanks for sharing!

By the way, maybe you would like to join my bloggy anniversary giveaway :)

Earth