Old Idaho Penitentiary visit.

Some interesting facts about Boise pronounced boy-see not boy-zee. The name originally came from French trappers who were surprised to see all the trees by the river. Les Bois - The wood. The Oregon Trail passed not far from here. Boise and the surrounding cities have reached a population of over 660,000.
We went to visit the Old Idaho Penitentiary the other day. Beautiful on the outside - but inside - I sure wouldn't have wanted to be one of their guests. 
It was open from 1872 to 1973. The first, oldest, building was built in 1870.The Territory of Idaho was less than ten years old when the prison was built east of Boise. From its beginning as a single building it grew to a complex of several distinctive buildings surrounded by a 17-foot high sandstone wall. All the stone for the buildings was quarried from the nearby ridges by the convicts, who also assisted in the construction. 

We did't tour all the buildings it was just too hot. 

The entrance to the building complex. Could almost be an entrance to a University.

This is across the street before going in the main building. It was the women's prison.

I thought I had the whole sign - guess I didn't. I do remember that the youngest prisoner was 10 or 11 years old

Death sentence was originally carried out by hanging.

Through the main building into the area where the prisoners lived. Looks pretty doesn't.

A look at some of the cells. There is another bunk on top. 

A little more room in this one 

This cell was the Barber's cell. He even had a chest of drawers. And a padded back rest. 

The Barber.
One of the older buildings. Stacked three high in here. 

Really old cell - no toilet iron beds.

Four high here. Can you imagine how hot it must get in summer on the top row. 

Building was heated with geothermal heat. A couple of radiators per building. Look at how fancy the radiator is. 

Just looking up.

The exercise yard and high wall. 

When they opened a newer building the barber got moved to a different cell. Even has a mirror. 

Some of the newer cells. The inmates got to do some decorating. Notice the padded head boards and the padding on the wall behind the toilet!

Some more decorating. Shelving on the wall and the toilet!

Some of the weapons confiscated.

This cell was really chic! Dark blue walls. A wood like covering on back wall. 

They even had forced air heating. And only two stacks high. 

Guards office.

Another shot of exercise yard.

This was a cell on Death Row. 

Witnesses got to watch the hanging through the window on the right. Looked right into the room with the trap door. 

The trap door. 

This building has not been taken care of. No roof. But still is elegant. Also the grounds are very pretty. The convicts would keep up the rose garden.

This used to be a mess hall. Now no ceiling or floor. 

This house was across the street from the penitentiary. So pretty!

Called The Bishop's House
Each of the men who served as the head of Episcopal Diocese of Idaho lived in this home with their families while serving in the capacity as the Episcopal Bishop of Idaho. The original house was built in the late 1880's and was remodeled to its current stately, towered Queen Anne style Victorian home in 1899.
Very interesting. Could spend a lot of time there. 

July 4th festivities

Yesterday, the 4th, was a fun day for us. Except for going out for breakfast we spent the middle of the day home. Come late afternoon we went with our friends to the Meridian Speedway to watch the races. It is a quarter mile asphalt track that opened in 1951. It hosts the NASCAR Whelen All-American Series and the K&N Pro Series West. Lots of people there as after the races there was a fireworks show. 

 The first heat race was Modifies. 

 Here they come around the back corner.

 I liked this car he was easy to see. The stands were packed. The announcers were asking people to squeeze together to allow more spectators to find seats. 

 Leading 

 Also a late model heat. 

 Oops! Good safety crews and wreckers in use during the evening. 

 Winged Sprint cars. Fun to watch. 

 And the legends even more fun to watch. Our friends knew one of the drivers. A 15 year old girl. Was surprised how many girls were driving in the different classes. 

 Another OOPS.

 Not a good picture but the front orange car and driver were good. He was fast but reckless. Finally spun out trying to get the lead. Came from the back twice. 

 The winged sprint cars. Lining up for main event.

 Main event. for the Legends.  

 And there they go. Doesn't take long to go around 1/4 mile.

Bill and I didn't stay for the fireworks. He'd had enough noise. But maybe we should have stayed. When we got back to the RV we were surprised to discover that almost every family in the area were putting on their own fireworks show. Every direction we looked there were fireworks. I know the picture is weird but you can see the car and the RV. These were right next door.

 I never realized how many types of fireworks were available to the general public. All the way from obnoxious LOUD to beautiful colors and starbursts. 

 This is looking out the front gate - two different families had huge set ups in the street and they were having a ball. One on each side of the street.

They were going on when we got home and continued for over an hour. We were just standing outside mesmerized. And the NOISE. Sounded like we were in the middle of a war zone. 
Took this video looking out the gate at the same families in the street. 

Tomorrow morning the insurance adjuster comes. So then we can figure out what we are going to do. 
Today we are just relaxing and watching the chickens, goats and sheep.