Juliaetta

Juliaetta was named in 1882 by Charles Snyder, who named it after his two daughters, Julia and Etta, who were the first white females born there.  He established a Post Office and the town was off and running with a general store and a population of 200 people.  Soon the verdant valley would be known for its production of fruits, vegetables, and crops.  A flour mill was established and soon followed by establishment of a school, a bank, and a tramway system.  The Northern Pacific Railway came to Juliaetta in 1891.  By 1902, Juliaetta was a bustling town with a full business district, hotels, a stage line, a winery, and churches.

Main Street in Juliaetta between 1900 and 1910, image courtesy of the Latah County Historical Society, 09-02-01.

The Foster School of Healing in the Stumps building in Juliaetta, image courtesy of the Latah County Historical Society, 09-03-11.

The town continued to grow when Dr. Foster established his School of Healing.  Dr. Foster's school of healing attracted many patients and students to the city of Juliaetta.  A cannery was also established with an output of 10,000 cans a day.  The population by 1911 was 600 people, as Juliaetta thrived.  When Dr. Foster left town, the economy began to wane and soon the cannery closed.  Since its peak in 1912 there has been a steady decline in the business district.

The Palace Hotel in Juliaetta, image courtesy of the Latah County Historical Society, 09-03-12.

 References:

A Centennial History of Kendrick-Juliaetta Area, Kendrick Juliaetta Centennial Committee, 1990.

Juliaetta-Kendrick Heritage Foundation.

The Bank of Juliaetta

The Bank of Juliaetta, date unknown, courtesy of the Juliaetta-Kendrick Heritage Foundation.

The historic Bank of Juliaetta was constructed on red brick in 1910 at the corner of 3rd and Main Streets with the design created by James H. Nave. The bank was originally chartered in 1908 and by 1910 had sufficient capital to erect a new building.  Ellsworth W. Porter, a prominent Juliaetta citizen was the president.  Mr. Porter served as a city trustee and was co-owner of Lawrence & Porter, a grain warehouse.  The building has the original pressed metal ceilings and large metal bank vault.  The bank operated from 1910 until 1931, when it was liquidated by A. W. Behrens and merged with the Kendrick State Bank in Kendrick, Idaho.  This building has housed a confectionery owned by J. A. Heacox, The United States Post Office, and currently the First Bank of Pizza.

The Bank of Juliaetta, date unknown, courtesy of the Juliaetta-Kendrick Heritage Foundation.

References:

Otness, Lillian W. A Great Good Country: A guide to Historic Moscow and Latah County, Idaho. (Moscow: Latah County Historic Society, 1983), 159.

Bedeau, Michael A. United States Department of the Interior National Park Service National Register of Historic Places Inventory Nomination Form. Boise, ID, September 8, 1997.