Arthur Snow House

The Snow family arrived as part of a wagon train on the Palouse from Tipton, Kansas in 1877.  The wagon train included the Snow, Holke, Clyde, Zeitler, Finney, Van de Walker and Hokes families.  Upon arrival in Moscow the families took refuge at 'Uncle' Billy Taylor's farmstead while the families found appropriate homesteads of their own.  Some of the families stayed as long as six months during this time.

Born in 1872, Arthur Snow was only five years old when he and his family crossed the plains to the Palouse.  As an adult he attended college at the University of Idaho and was part of the University football team in 1897.  Early in his farming career, Snow farmed in cooperation with three of his cousins.  Later Snow began farming his own operation, gradually purchasing more property until he owned 750 acres.  Mr. Snow constructed this house in 1918 with his wife Lella.  In 1931 Snow was elected to the Idaho State Legislature as a Republican where he served for six sessions.

The Snow brothers' combine.  Photo taken in 1905 on the Snow farm.

The Snow household, no date.

Arthur Snow obituary from the Spokesman-Review, October 29, 1947.

Arthur Snow became involved with the Soil Erosion Service (SES) in a soil erosion study.  Snow signed a five year cooperative agreement with the SES in September of 1935 to implement a contour plowing system in order to determine if strait line plowing was a factor in soil erosion. Snow was one of only 12 farm sites in the country to be involved as a major demonstration area for the SES.

Contour plowing on the Snow farmlands, no date, Image courtesy of Tom Hansen via http://www.tomandrodna.com/Photos/Moscow/Moscow_Farmfield_090135.htm

Map of SES study areas, 1933, Image courtesy of Tom Hansen via http://www.tomandrodna.com/Photos/Moscow/Moscow_Farmfield_090135.htm

Arthur Snow's son, Harold Snow moved into this house with his wife, Vivian, in 1947 following the death of his father.  Harold Snow also served as a Republican in the Idaho State Legislature.  In 1962 Harold Snow sold the farmstead property to a local veterinarian, James “Doc” Lucas, who also served in the Idaho State Legislature.

The house is an excellent example of Bungalow and Craftsman style architecture and illustrates the ability of prosperous Palouse farmers to incorporate modern styles and conveniences, like luxurious bathrooms, into their domestic buildings.



References:

Associated Press article no. 4144, New York.

History of Idaho: Personal and Family History, Volume III, Lewis Historical Publishing Company, Inc., New York, 1959, p. 220-221.

Lola Clyde, Oral History Interview #1, December 2, 1974, Latah County Historical Society, Moscow, ID.

Julin, Suzanne, National Register of Historic Places Nomination Form: Snow, Arthur, House, September 1, 2008.