Teryn Peck, the 17-year-old son of David and Sarah Peck, started the ball rolling for a celebration of a town that would turn 100 years old. One day he was reading in the Bingham County history book and discovered that he shared a birthday with the town of Springfield, ID. He then realized that Springfield would turn 100 years old.
He asked his mother why they didn’t have a celebration planned. Sarah took the question to Linda Bohrer, an ancestor of one of the founding members of the community. Saturday’s celebration was a result of the curiosity of a young man and a conversation with Linda Bohrer.
A centennial committee was formed with family members of the founding fathers of Springfield and other volunteers. Without the hard work of: chairmen Herb and Linda Bohrer; program planners Quinton and Velda Blackburn, Oralee Woods, and Ruth Gneiting and Sam Chandler; news stories by Joyce Claunch; fund raising for stone and purchasing by Harold Lloyd and Dennis Thurston; treasurer Sarah Peck; historical picture display by Cheri Mitchell and Kay Savage and Donald Shelman; food and activities by Carl and Marjorie Sivula; the celebration may not have happened. Bottled water was furnished by the Aberdeen-Springfield Canal Company and United Dairymen of Idaho donated the milk.
Herb Bohrer opened the celebration by welcoming members of the community, Senator Mike Crapo and family members of the founding fathers. He said each family was represented by the oldest living member of the family. It was decided to create a monument to the founding families of the community and their names would be put on the front of it. Currently, there are 37 names on the monument with a few more names to be added. The monument can be seen at the Springfield Park near the lake.
Boy Scout Troop 152 conducted the flag ceremony. Participating in the flag raising were Braden Peck, Teryn Peck, Daylor Bedwell, Jaiden Bedwell, and Ross Bedwell. Dennis Berg Thurston gave the invocation. Quinton Blackburn, one of the oldest members of the community, played the Star Spangled Banner on the harmonica. Leon Adamson, ancestor of Henry Chandler, read the Governor’s Proclamation declaring Springfield a centennial community. Gary Judge read a Congressional record telling the specifics of the community and its organization.
Senator Mike Crapo addressed the audience by first thanking the community for allowing him to share in the celebration and said he enjoys working with Senator Jim Risch to preserve the American Dream.
“How wonderful it is to be an American and to be able to fight hard to preserve the American dream and spirit,” he said.
Springfield has a tremendous heritage, Crapo said. “The community had worked together to build irrigation systems and farms without the benefit of grants from the government. You come from hardy pioneer stock and each of you works hard to preserve the American spirit. The American dream is being challenged.”
Crapo appreciated the chance to celebrate with a community in honoring their pioneer heritage. “Thank you for all your hard work and dedication,” he concluded.
The names which appear on the monument include: Anderson, Baird, Bedwell, Berg, Blackburn, Bradley, H. Chandler, W. Chandler, Criddle, Cushman, Edwards, Evans, Gravatt, Grover, Hawker, Holland, Hougland, Judge, Line, Leach, Lloyd, Lofgreen, Loomis, Parmalee, Reid, Rupe, Sainz, Sellers, Shelman, Snyder, Sommercorn, Stoddard, Stufflebeam, Wells, Thurston, Whyte, and Willis. There were a few names not added to the monument including G. Jackson and T. Jackson. They will add more names as they look through the records.
Cheri Mitchell and Kay Savage, the granddaughters of Henry Chandler, created a historical display of all the families who helped to start the town of Springfield. They also had information on the Domestic Science Club which was organized in Springfield.
The Aberdeen-Springfield Canal Company, which is also celebrating their 100 year anniversary this year, held a drawing for backpacks, towels and two chairs with 100 years embroidered on them. Many members of the community were recipients at the drawing. The grand prizes, won by Carl Sivula and Kathy Blaker, were two chairs.
Committee members thanked all the donors who helped to make the celebration a success.
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