How it all began
The idea for settlement first came to Chester Call as he was traveling through the valley in 1880, in search of grazing land away from the overcrowded Salt Lake Valley. The next spring, he brought his family up to settle a small ranch. He got some friends and family, and before too long, the town of Chesterfield arose in the foothills of Idaho's Portneuf Valley.
Today, the historic town site is run by the Chesterfield Foundation and has been since 1980 when the first building, the Meetinghouse, was reconstructed. Most of the historic homes have been restored to their original state. New restorations, maintenance, and repairs are all accomplished through donations and volunteer work. If you would like to contribute to the restoration of Chesterfield, please visit our "Donate" page. If you would like to experience Chesterfield for yourself, please, come and "Visit". We look forward to seeing you!
Today, the historic town site is run by the Chesterfield Foundation and has been since 1980 when the first building, the Meetinghouse, was reconstructed. Most of the historic homes have been restored to their original state. New restorations, maintenance, and repairs are all accomplished through donations and volunteer work. If you would like to contribute to the restoration of Chesterfield, please visit our "Donate" page. If you would like to experience Chesterfield for yourself, please, come and "Visit". We look forward to seeing you!
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Memoirs
"How I remember Hatch Idaho"
Written for the Jubilee of Hatch Ward by Christine H. Hatch in 1948
Very vivid in the minds of the oldsters are the foot trails from one house to the other as every one was forced to walk to visit his neighbor. These trails were bare and hard, sometimes in the grain, in the meadow or the willows, but packed so well, they could be followed by moonlight. These settlers were so closely associated they could determine who had good springs. William T. Higginson established his home near one and we all remember obtaining a bountiful supply of watercress each spring...
Not one of the first settlers used tobacco or liquor, and profanity was never, never heard. People could go to other communities and see drinking and smoking, but to these refined people it was not to be tolerated. At one time a government man came on business. He tried to borrow a match for a smoke but not one match could be found among the men in the group. If anyone got out of the line, such as a sleeve above the elbow or short skirt above the ankle, Grandpa Higginson would tap his cane and repeat; “Babylon, Babylon”. Perhaps this training influenced Uncle Bob when he scraped all the skin from his fingers to merely say, “Ouch Old Pole”.
Indians! You can’t imagine how many we saw traveling through or coming for rock chucks and squirrels. Seems like Billy Y’s girls spent half their time under the bed hiding from Indians, and no one ever got hurt.
Not one of the first settlers used tobacco or liquor, and profanity was never, never heard. People could go to other communities and see drinking and smoking, but to these refined people it was not to be tolerated. At one time a government man came on business. He tried to borrow a match for a smoke but not one match could be found among the men in the group. If anyone got out of the line, such as a sleeve above the elbow or short skirt above the ankle, Grandpa Higginson would tap his cane and repeat; “Babylon, Babylon”. Perhaps this training influenced Uncle Bob when he scraped all the skin from his fingers to merely say, “Ouch Old Pole”.
Indians! You can’t imagine how many we saw traveling through or coming for rock chucks and squirrels. Seems like Billy Y’s girls spent half their time under the bed hiding from Indians, and no one ever got hurt.
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