Bank of Troy

The bank of Troy was built in 1910 at this site.  In 1914 the bank merged with the First Bank of Troy, located across the street.  When the banks merged, Ole Bohman was elected president, a post that he held for 47 years.  The next president of the bank became Frank Brocke.  Frank Brocke, who began as a cashier at the bank, became one of the most successful bankers in the West.  In 1960 the First Bank of Troy had over 6,000 active accounts, the city of Troy at this time had just over 500 people living in it.  Frank Brocke was so successful that he received an award for his hard work and had an article written about the First Bank of Troy and himself featured in the Los Angeles Times.  Frank Brocke studied his customers and their needs.  Customers were constantly astonished when the president of their bank knew all of them by name as they entered the bank.  Frank Brocke studied not only the finances of the bank but also his customers, examining their needs and ensuring that he knew exactly how to best serve them.  The First Bank of Troy was one of the last locally owned and operated banks in the United States.

Frank Brocke at work, Courtesy of the Latah county Historical Society, Brocke.F.01.

Frank Brocke had the pleasure of being held up at gunpoint.  The first time was in 1950 when a masked bandit made off with $5,448.00.  The bandit made off with the money but did not get far as Frank Brocke quickly alerted local officials to the robbery.  This robbery was quick and easy, not very well planned and the robber had no intention of clearing the vault.

Frank Brocke, age 69, Courtesy of the Latah County Historical Society, Brocke.F.02.

The second robbery was a different story.  At approximately 4 A.M. on September 6, 1963 a man broke into Frank Brocke's private residence.  After waking the Brocke family he let his two accomplices into the house.  Once the band had assembled they held the Brocke family hostage until the bank vault opened at 9 A.M.  Frank Brocke informed the intruders that the vault, which was on a time release lock, was old and did not always open directly at 9.  At 7 A.M. two of the band took Frank Brocke into the bank while the third bandit held Margie (Frank's wife) and Bob (Frank's 15 year old son) hostage.  The robbers remained in the bank, holding anybody who entered the bank hostage, all the while proclaiming that nobody would get hurt if they didn't step out of line.  The clock finally struck 9 o'clock.  Unfortunately, the vault door did not open.  The robbers informed Frank Brocke that if it did not open by 9:15 that they would shoot him.  At 9:14 the vault door opened and the robbers took $55,386.00 and headed out of the area.  The robbers were eventually apprehended in Seattle, WA the next day.



References:

Doroty Anderson, Troy City Historian.

Otness, Lillian W. A Great Good Country: A guide to Historic Moscow and Latah County, Idaho. (Moscow: Latah County Historic Society, 1983), 131-132.

The Spokesman-Review, September 7, 1963, Front Page.

Genesee

The site of present-day Genesee was located within the Nez Perce Reservation by the Treaty of 1855. It fell outside the reservation under the controversial new treaty in 1863, a year after the Homestead Act was passed by Congress and three years after gold was discovered at Pierce, Idaho.  Idaho territory was also formed in 1863 with Lewiston as the short-lived capital. As a homestead could not be claimed until the land had been officially surveyed, major settlement around Genesee would not occur until the first surveys were completed in 1870-1871. 

Main Street in Genesee, no date, courtesy of the Latah County Historical Society, 06-02-03.

In 1870, John P. Vollmer, Alonzo LeLand and a man named Stone, who was the agent for the Oregon Railroad and Navigation Company, made a trip from Lewiston up Cow Creek.  Stone mentioned that the area reminded him of his home in the Genesee Valley of New York and that is how the town and valley got its name. “Old Town” Genesee was established in 1879 on the main Nez Perce trail that would become the first stagecoach road from Lewiston.  A fort was built in the town in 1877 in response to the Nez Perce War, but there were no hostilities and the fort served as the local school. Ten years later, the town had 45 inhabitants with a general store, hotel (stagecoach stop) and a post office.

The east end of Genesee looking North, 1910, courtesy of the Latah County Historical Society, 06-01-15.

In 1888, Vollmer and partners brought the Spokane and Palouse Railroad (soon to be part of the Northern Pacific RR) to the area.  Due to a problem with getting land for the railroad in Old Town, Vollmer platted a new town site one mile west of Old Town.  During this same time period, Latah County was carved out of Nez Perce County and Genesee became part of the new county.  “New Town” Genesee grew very rapidly and by 1890 had over 1,000 people and was the major shipping center for agricultural products from as far south as Grangeville.  By now, “Old Town” had been abandoned.  New Genesee would enjoy rapid growth and prosperity until the railroad arrived in Lewiston ten years later.

Main Street in Genesee, no date, courtesy of the Latah County Historical Society, 06-02-06.

The incredibly rich farm land surrounding Genesee has supported the community over the years through several ups and downs.  For example, the town suffered a setback in the early 1950s when Hwy 95, which went through town, was realigned, bypassing Genesee. Again, farming and the close proximity to Moscow and Lewiston, both university communities, have kept the town going.  Genesee is today a small community with just under 1,000 citizens. The town is well known for its excellent school, productive farmland and for the Pacific Northwest Cooperative (PNW), the largest farmer’s cooperative in the Pacific Northwest.

A parade of automobiles in Genesee, 1914, courtesy of the Latah County Historical Society, 06-02-013.

References:

Boone, Lalia Phipps. From A to Z in Latah County, Idaho: A Place Name Directory (Lalia Phipps Boone, 1983), 37.

Otness, Lillian W. A Great Good Country: A guide to Historic Moscow and Latah County, Idaho. (Moscow: Latah County Historic Society, 1983), 167-168.

Axel Bohman's House

Axel Bohman was one of three brothers who immigrated to Troy in 1903 at the age of 20.  Axel originally immigrated as Axel Olssons, however he decided that name was too common, so he and his brother Ole cahnged their name to Bohman.  The Bohman brothers became very prominent in Troy business circles, especially lumbering and baking.  In 1912, Axel married Julia Mattson and this house was built in 1914 next to Axel's older brother Ole's house.

Axel and Julia started their family in this home having three children, Alice, Morris and Helen.  Axel and Julia shared their home with Julia's father Peter Mattson until he passed in 1925.  In 1938 the family moved to Lewiston where Axel managed the Troy Lumber Company.  All three of the Bohman children went on to graduate from the University of Idaho.

Axel Bohman was a prominent man in Troy and was associated with many businesses including Borlen's Department Store, F. M. Green Grain Company, the First Bank of Troy and the Troy Lumber Company.

Axel's brother Ole, who lived next door, was involved in the Bank of Troy from 1905 until it merged with the First Bank of Troy.  Ole Bohman was the president of the First Bank of Troy from 1914 until 1961 when he passed away.  Ole Bohman was also elected to the Idaho State Legislature for two terms biginning in 1915.  Vivian Bohman Moline, Ole Bohman's daughter, recalls that"I remember him (Ole Bohman) saying he never missed an election to cast his vote and that he had never voted a straight ticket."



References:

Johnson, Stella E. History of Troy. (Troy, ID: Stella E. Johnson, 1992), p. 149-154.

History of Idaho: Personal and Family History Volume III. (Lewis Historical Publishing Company, Inc. New York, 1959), p. 67.

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.

Kendrick

First named Latah, and later Kirby, after the founding father, Thomas Kirby; Kendrick would ultimately derive its name from a Northern Pacific Railway engineer John Kendrick.  With the coming of the railroad in 1891, Kendrick became a thriving city.  It was the trading center for the back country mining operations.  Kendrick thrived but faced more than its share of natural disasters.  Kendrick burned to the ground the first time in 1893.  The town rebuilt only to have a disastrous train wreck and massive flooding in early 1900.  With courage the patrons rebuilt the town only to have it burned again in August 1904.

Kendrick after the 1904 fire, image courtesy of the Latah County Historical Society, 10-01-19.

Kendrick during the 1900 flood, image courtesy of the Latah County Historical Society, 10-01-002.

After Kendrick was rebuilt in 1904, the business district thrived.  Kendrick would peak in the 1920’s with a population of 856 people.  The fertile farmlands located on the seven ridges that surround the valley provided a stable economy.  Timber in the area was abundant as well.  Kendrick was known for its Fourth of July celebrations.  Thousands of people came to town for the event.  With the advent of the automobile, the economy of Kendrick began to suffer since businesses no longer had to rely on the railroad to transport their goods.

Kendrick, ID no date, image courtesy of the Latah County Historical Society, 10-04-001.

References:

Historical Tour of Kendrick, Juliaetta-Kendrick Heritage Foundation

Juliaetta-Kendrick Heritage Foundation