The Times-News from Twin Falls, Idaho • 21

I i '4 aft- iw i. as. 5' tj --3fi- SECTION ilr TWIN FALLS, IDAHO, SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 10, 1963 111! Fabled Medbury Today Reveals Little of Its Historic Background III! III! ft life 7 -rr i 1 ti km uj (1 -j 19 a 11 li 11 0 li Jss ..,4 rr 11 U. 1 il Xi. Li.

I. rv ,11, il II BY O. A. (GTS) KKI.KEll Times-News Feature Kditor GLENNS FERRY, Nov. 9 Medbury is gone and forgotten.

earth fill permitting trains to travel straight across the lower end of Medbury valley, rather than making the long loop up the hillside and over the top. The steel rails were removed and the ties taken out and burned or hauled away. The telegraph Once a "big cog" in the operation bury are few and far between. One who knows is Frank C. Clarke, Glenns Ferry pioneer, but even he came into the area after the town had been abandoned.

Gilbert Walker, who runs the famed Cold Springs ranch, is another. As a boy he can remember shopping at Medbury. He also 1- '-i of the Oregon Short Line rail road, today it is deserted. The small community, located about 11 miles from here and three miles from Hammett, was; can recall the saloons and the some'vhat rough element that born about 1884 when the railroad pressed westward toward the Pacific Coast. Complete with turntable, en If -fv gine sheds, section nouses ami a "floating" population of about 300, the community supported a small hotel, a couple i.f spoons, quite a few homes, several busi ness houses and even a large engine water tank, which was visible for miles.

Today, only the foundations of poles which followed the route for so many years were cut eff near the base and Medbury went to sleep. So today, the few who find what once was Medbury discover only foundations, a long roadbed which now permits autos to run along the top, and an interesting dumpground. But even the dumpground is difficult to find. Shifting, windblown sands have covered much of it and only digging discloses articles dear to the hearts of collectors. Perhaps two of the most interesting are those unearthed about two years ago by Clarke.

The find consisted of two boot soles which had the name "Cody" imprinted on them with shoe nails. History records that W. F. (Buffalo Bill) Cody once was employed by the railroad as a scout and hunter. It is quite possible he visited Medbury at one time or another, if for no other rea-Continued On Page 30 the various structures those followed the railroad in the early days.

Medbury came into being because once it was the end of the line for the railroad and the construction crews maintained headquarters there. Then, too, tnere was water for the thirsty steam ire horses of the railroad, needed to make the long loop up the grade. Water might be declared to have caused both the birth and death of Medbury. The death came about because the water supply proved insufficient for the needs of the community and the railroad. So in about 1889, the turntable and other railroad structures were moved to Glenns Ferry and Medbury started to shrink.

Finally, in 1923, it ceased to exist. The few section houses still remaining were moved to Hammett with completion of a large which had foundations still exist. The. vicinity is dominated by A the long, snake-like roadbed which guided the sturdy iron horse of the steam engine days over the famed Medbury hill. So steep was the grade that helper engines were kept at Medbury to aid in pulling the passenger and freight trains over the hump.

Today, on.y the memories remain and even the people who know about Med- TWO LOCAL WOMEN thumb through a copy of the 1910 Twin Falls high in the service of their country during World war II. The 18 years that have passed ithool annual, the year a son of each woman was graduated. Mrs. Stella Davison, since they were killed seem but yesterday to their mothers. In memory, neither left, and Mrs.

Maude Cartney look to Veterans day with mixed emotions. George boy has really left. Davison was an infantry officer while Cartncy was a marine Davison, and Ira Cartney, friends in life and at school, too, gave their lives I corps flying officer. (Times-News color photo) A A A A A Mothers of Two Local Friends, Killed in World War II, Recall Fond Memories George Davison, and Ira plane was hit during an aeiial engagement and he was forced to land in the vast waters ot the George was a second lieutenant with the infantry and his death came on March 18, 1945, Cartney were star athletes at with the rank of first lieutenant. It was on Feb.

19, 1945. that he sacrificed his life for his country. Flying from the bland of Leyte on a bombing mission, his They died a month and a day apart. They were Killed in world war II in vastly different theaters of war. Ira was a marine fighter pilot Twin Falls high school.

They nre graduated in the same class Pacific. His body never was during the bitter fighting of the found. jjatue 01 tne Bulge. He was 19W-and were friends. buried in an American cemetery in France.

Ira was 23 and George 22 at the time they died. In many respects, their lives paralleled one another. Both were outstanding athletes in the local high school. George's favorite sports were basketball and track jr. Ira participated in basketball and football.

Both entered col lege on athletic scholarships, George to Washington State for -A a rM, three years, where he played basketball and baseball before going into the infantry, Ira to the University of Washington for 1 Ml I I J'" a year before enlisting in the navy. Three months before he went overseas, Ira married June Brown, Glendale, Calif. Their child, a girl, was born in July, 1945 five months after the father died. She is now attend'ug the University of Arizona. The fathers of both boys have died since their sons made the supreme sacrifice.

Monday, the mothers will observe Veterans day. When the event was first observed by them it was known as Armistice ciay. Regardless of the name, the thoughts will be the same. Purpose of the day is to recall in memory if only for a moment v-. Jf' s'" i Th; .1 y' lis for.

I A -1 I i I i 'I 4 i 1 ir I those who died for their coun try. Ira and George are two who died and will be remembered. Women's Unit Urges All to Display Flag By MRS. REUBEN MERMAN FILER, Nov. 7 In observance of Veterans day, Monday, a great number of stores and residents will fly American flags in front STURDY CULVERT under old railroad roadbed provides way for Bennett creek waters to head toward Snake river.

This bridge, one of several remaining in the old Medbury area, was constructed in 1905. It replaced a wood structure which had served since the roadbed was placed about 1884. Oregon Short Line trains actually traveled over the roadbed until about 1923, at which time a fill across the lower end of Medbury valley eliminated necessity for its use. An auto road now runs along most of the several-mile-long roadbed. (Times-News photo) Ml t.

i 1 'S, it 3 t. II! 1 I 1 1 1 i lilsll I CIVII, of their places. Yakima street in Filer should 'lsory win be rnacled at Buni nigh SChool Nov. 14-15. The lranu js American Cousin," the production President Awatlam I iiiinln l'nnr members of the cast rehearse on a circular staffe constructed for the school.

They are, from left, David Tvrdy, Cheryl Russell, James Watt and Elaine Johnson. Curtain time is 8:15 p.m. (Times-News photo) show nearly 100 per cent display A of flags on this day as the result A A A A of a recent project spearheaded by the Filer Woman's club. Members of the legislation committee have spent the last several weeks contacting families on the street and asking them to Buhl Offers Civil War Drama On Unique Turntable Stage iV display their flags on this holiday and those which follow. Before the next holiday arrives, the club hopes to contact t.11 Brut.

those living on other streets and they will continue until they have be first experimental venture to V-'wf' Till r4 canvassed the entire town. Because of distance, they probably wil not visit the country homes. used on stage. The revolving platform ring is made of 10 inch wide bent channel steel which comes in four segments, making it a somewhat portable, collapsible unit. Automated assembly line open beam truss joists serve as the structural base for the platform.

The platform itself is composed of heavy wood. When assembled the unit weighs some pounds however, il. can be revolved easily id' in, kind of i rvt Produced to 1 of the Fori! iU'K 1111(1 his 'amily to B(-'-. h.Mllrl,,,- iU Bulll hj li was one of c'Hintn 111 ''he Cmsin'" frnto 14' lfl(i5' ftn" 'hen one of ain X'd 15001 h' Lincoln. 1:11 i will ri.se hall telling about the Ford (heater.

There will be photographs of the old building and some souvenirs from the area 011 display. Of special interest to play-producing groups, will be the turntable stage. It is 22 feet in diameter and can be taken apart and stored in less than two hours. The structural frame was constructed and donated by Truss-Uek company, Boise. Many of the historical ileins und papers concerning the area were provided by Or.

John Ford Hollers, College of Idaho professor, who wrote his doctor's thesis on the Ill-fated Ford theater. Dr. Hollers is related to the Ford family, owners of the theater. Art Trout ner, Truss-Dek vice president and inventor of the turntable stage, assisted with the assembling. The stage was inn- its time." In order to lick some o( the production problems and sX'ed up the play, a special turntable stage has been constructed over the existing stage at the hili school.

With this circular slime, the plot can move along rapidly. The house lights can dim, Hie revolves and the next scene opens, much like a film dissolves in a movie. Bowler is planning one minor Interruption. Special effects will be worked out to let the audience know in what scene Lincoln was assassinated. This will be lli'' either by house linht.s or Hie Illumination Of 11 wrculh.

The pluylnu company and I lie theater were harassed considerably after the ussa.sslnallon. The theater closed. It has since been restored In the nation's ciipilul. Diirlnn inlcrmlsMons mid before the drama begins Bowler although rural dwellers also are urged to put out flags. The committee hopes many of the people in the town who nave not yet been visited by them, will not wait, but wil lhave flags waving this Veterans clay and other holidays as a patriotic gesture.

Decision to adopt this as the yearly project came, states Mrs. Edd Reichert, legislation chairman, when she overheard several youngsters commenting on Uie presence of flags on a holid ly this summer. The children wanted to know why the flags were out and why the day was celebrated. She began wondering how many of the younger generation Continued On Page 23 even with the set on, by two, men. Bowler, who was instrumental! in securing the stage lor the lo- 1 "'Kicill Al" he able to Lincoln couldn't cal school, noted the unit does not change the staging In the school auditorium.

"It will not only prove bci'cl'icial lo (he school but to the community as well, since as a portable unit. 11 ls KKxl IlK'lo- H'lwlcr. "It was for I.ura nation's 1 POSSIBILITY EXISTS that W. 1'. (Buffalo Bill) Cody, famed western wont nd hnnter, one was a visitor at Meilbiny, Hie ghost community about II miles from (ileniis Ferry.

Picture Is a boot sole, one uf two found in the community dump. Nails spelled out the nam "Cody." (Times-News photo) su'iictcd and donated to the can be used wherever school by the company Ui Its he said. P'mlar productions of will have a special display In the 't. ft fit ii.