From the wooden carriages and teams of horses that Dan Clyne rented to businessmen and travelers at his Eagle Rock livery and the privately owned shays and surreys of the last decade of the nineteenth century, Idaho Falls emerged early in the new century as an important center for the promotion and sales of the most marvelous of modern inventions, the motor-propelled automobile. At the same time, the few, scattered wagon trails that wove their rutted way through the surrounding sagebrush country gave way to a grid of paved streets and highways to accommodate the new mode of transportation and to offer the city's residents more varied and convenient avenues of pleasure and business travel.

Among the earliest participants in the new automotive enterprise were S.S. and Park Blair who founded one of the first automobile dealerships in Idaho Falls. Established in 1914, the Preston A. Blair Co. an agency for both Dodge and Plymouth, had acquired by 1926 both the means and the necessity to provide a large, modern showroom for its product. The corner of A and Shoup Streets was the site selected for the new complex of display, sales, and service areas. Although the company was sold in 1946 to Ellsworth Brothers, Inc., the present owners, it has continuously remained an agency for Dodge and Plymouth automobiles and trucks.

David Smith was another pioneer in the automobile industry in Idaho Falls. He began his small operation as a Chevrolet agency in the lobby of the Idaho Hotel at Park and C Streets in 1921, his inventory at the outset consisting of a single 1921 Chevrolet. As his business expanded, he was joined by John W. and Clarence Hart, Frank Reynolds, and Harold J. Bishop to form a corporation, the Smith-Hart Company, which employed a considerable number of salesmen and mechanics and which even operated a branch agency in Rigby.

The early history of the automobile business in Idaho Falls would be incomplete without the names of "Dad" Clay, E.A. Wackerli, and J.E. Browning. "Dad" Clay established his reputation during the first decade of the century principally as a service garageman and the owner of the first structure in the state of Idaho to function solely for garage purposes, constructed in 1910. His publication of the first road log in the state as well as his road signs directing motorists to his place of business widened his reputation. But, he also served as an early agency for Buick and for Ford before the latter agency was assumed by the Bonneville Auto Company in 1916 and developed into one of the major automobile dealerships and service companies in the area with its headquarters at the corner of Capital and A Streets. E.A. Wackerli and J.E. Browning both entered the automobile business in Idaho Falls in 1917. The Gem State Auto Company, owned by the former, offered Plymouth, DeSoto and Hupmobile cars, while the Browning Auto Co. sold Buick automobiles and General Motors trucks.

It has been estimated that by the mid-1930's approximately 1.5 million dollars were spent annually in Idaho Falls by its residents and those from surrounding communities in the purchase of automobiles, with most families owning some kind of vehicle at that time. The automobile business has continued to grow and prosper as agency ownership passed to descendants of the pioneer entrepreneurs, such as the Harts, the Smiths, the Wackerlis, and to other enterprising local businessmen. The original showrooms have been replaced by larger, more modern structures, and today most families own not only one car but two and sometimes three vehicles, including trucks and a variety of recreational vehicles. Only a bare trace of a wagon trail can still be seen in isolated spots, paved streets have proliferated, and major state and interstate highways now pass through Idaho Falls. These thoroughfares hum with a steady flurry of vehicles which display a great variety of streamlined designs and feats of aerodynamic engineering which Park Blair, David Smith or E.A. Wackerli could not have imagined nearly a century ago.

Submitted by: Carol A. Chazin Sources: Bonneville Museum files.
"Automobile Industry Comes to the Front Here." Post Register 10 Sept 1934.
"Clyne's rent-a-team." Post Register 10 Sept 1934. (Reprinted in July 4, 1991.)
"Dad Clay One of First to Operate Garage in Idaho." Post Register 10 Sept 1934.
"Modern Transportation Far Cry from Methods Used During Early Days." Post Register 10 Sept 1934.
Marker, Joe L. "Fall of 1927 brought harvest, adventure for local duo." Post Register 7 April 1980.
"Pickup truck now is status symbol." Post Register 23 Oct 1977.

Early History of Aviation In Idaho Falls

The history of Idaho Falls and its aviation history have been inextricably entwined for many years. In fact, the first recorded aviation activity in the Idaho Falls area took place in 1911, only eight years after the first airplane flight was made by the Wright brothers at Kitty Hawk, North Carolina!

More than merely a form of transportation, aviation has impacted almost every facet of life in the Idaho Falls area-- agriculture, tourism, postal service, scientific research and development (Idaho National Engineering Laboratory), local businesses, community needs, such as medical, law enforcement, search and rescue, personal travel, and recreation, to name a few.

The following chronological overview reflects the historical significance of aviation in the Idaho Falls area.

1900-1920
The first recorded aviation activity in the Idaho Falls area occurred in the spring of 1911. Charles Willard assembled and flew his Curtis Biplane from the fairgrounds (present site of Tautphaus Park), entertaining the large crowd gathered there. Over the next few years a series of aerial exhibitionists performed from the fairgrounds or nearby pasture lands.

1920-1930
The city acquired the first 200 acres of land at the present airport site. Land was leveled to provide for a north/south landing strip of approximately 4000 feet by 500 feet. Provision for an east/west landing strip 3800 feet by 500 feet was also made. The original runway was actually about 1500 feet long. All the equipment used was horse-drawn. Claude Black, City Engineer supervised the construction.

In 1929, National Park Airways carried the first passengers to this county airport, to be called the Idaho Falls Municipal Airport.

1930-1940
During 1930-1931, the U.S. Department of Commerce installed the airport beacon, landing area boundary lights, and an aeronautical communications weather station, which was located at the site of the Pinecrest golf course. Also during that year, D. F. Richards built the first aircraft hanger at the airport.

In 1933, the N.S. landing strip was lengthened to 2700 feet.

In 1934, airmail service came to Idaho Falls, along with a scheduled north/south passenger service by National Park Airways, utilizing the Boeing 240-70. Construction projects during this time included the drilling of a water well, building the large log hangar, the caretaker's house, and administration building.

In 1936 the communications station was moved to the airport.

Underground refueling facilities with pits and pumps were installed in 1937. Capitol Airways instituted mail and passenger service to Boise and intermediate points, and Western Air Express (later called Western Airlines) took over National Park Airways routes.

Paul Crowder became the first local aircraft owner. A.A. Bennett started a flying service out of the log hangar.

1940-1950
From about 1940 to 1945, the N.S. landing strip was extended to 5100 feet, narrowed to 150 feet, and hard-surfaced. A N.E./S.W. runway of the same specifications was built with connecting taxiways and parking ramps. Runway lights were added in 1945. Subsequently, the airport was used as an alternate and refueling base for the United States Army Corps based in Pocatello.

During 1944 to 1949, airport activity increased considerably. Ray Groth was appointed part-time Airport Manager. Two flying services were started locally, and the first of the metal hangars at the south/east corner of the airport were built privately. Western Airlines began flying DC-3's in the route. Zimmerly Airlines (later West Coast Airlines) and Hughes Airwest (later Republic Airlines) initiated west bound air service, first with the Cessna Airmaster four-passenger aircraft, followed by Boeing 247-D, Fokker F-27, and then Douglas DC-9's.

Civil Air Patrol provided services of air search and rescue through an active Idaho Falls unit following World War II. Even though documentation regarding a CAP charter from national headquarters is not available for the period of time, acknowledgement of the activities of these men and women and the service they provided is justified.

Submitter: Karen Sackett
Note: Mrs. Sackett has prepared a chronological history up to the present and looking to the future. This is available at the Bonneville Museum, Reading and Reference room Idaho Falls files.
Sources: Air Idaho Rescue (Eastern Idaho Regional Medical Center)
Paul Crowder (early aviation history in Idaho Falls)
H.P. "Pete" Hill (Centennial Report), Bonneville County Museum Files
Robert "Bob" Hoff (F.B.O.'s and Rainbow Ranch)
Sharon Laird (99'ers organization)
Maxwell Air Force Base, Alabama (Personnel Dept.)
J.L. "Mac" McClurkin (Experimental Pilots Association)
Post Register Files
James Thorsen (Manager of Fanning Field)