City of Malad |
The town of Malad got its name from the fact that when Donald McKenzie brought a party of trappers through the area between 1818 and 1821, they drank the river water and got sick. The Frenchmen named the river the Malad, meaning illness. The town was settled in 1862, after the passage of the Homestead Act. An important boost to Malad’s economy was the fact that stage lines and freighters came through the valley on their way to the mines in Montana on what was known as the Gold Road. This page lists historic sites in Oneida County. A walking and driving tour of local historic buildings is available at tourist sites in Malad or by calling 208.766.4788 or 208.317.1827. Information year round may be obtained by calling the City of Malad at 208-766-4010.
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Lat/Long: |
42.18624° N 112.24442° W |
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Evans Co-op Building and True Value Hardware |
This block housed the first department store in Idaho, the Evans Co-op, which was part of the Mormon cooperative movement of the 1860s, in which local production and purchasing was encouraged through cooperatives. The block, including both the co-op building and the old J.N. Ireland Bank, is on the National Register. The co-op is now a True Value Hardware Store, carrying house wares and appliances, sporting goods and hardware.
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Location: |
25 North Main Street, Malad |
Lat/Long: |
42.18624° N 112.24442° W |
Hours: |
9 am to 6 pm, Mon thru Sat |
Information: |
208.766.2284 |
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Oneida County Courthouse |
This is an Art Deco brick veneer building built in 1939 as part of a WPA project. It has an elaborate terra cotta entry.
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Location: |
10 Court Street, Malad |
Lat/Long: |
42.18681° N 112.24207° W |
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Samaria Cemetery and a Local Legend |
You can find a variety of old and new style headstones in this cemetery, including a headstone for a man’s amputated leg. In 1878, Ben Waldron lost his leg in a threshing accident. The leg was buried on the east side of the cemetery and was given a headstone with a leg carved on it, along with the initials “B.W.” and the date. Ben himself did not die until 1914, and he was buried on the west side of the cemetery, far from his lost leg. It was said that after the leg was buried, Ben had constant pain, and he said that it was because his leg had been laid in the grave in a twisted position. Finally, they exhumed the leg, found it to be indeed in an unnatural position, straightened it, and reburied it. Waldron had no more trouble with pain, and he lived for several more decades.
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Lat/Long: |
42.1135° N 112.34195° W |
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Samaria Historic District |
Samaria, about 9 miles southwest of Malad, was once the largest town in the Malad Valley. Settled in 1868 by homesteaders, the town did well until the railroad was routed through Malad. After that, the primary businesses developed around the railroad terminal, and Samaria remained a farming community. A number of historic buildings are in the area, and the district is on the National Register of Historic Places.
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Location: |
Approximately 9 miles southwest of Malad. The historic district is roughly bounded by Main and 3rd Streets, 1st Avenue North, and south end of 2nd Street, Samaria |
Lat/Long: |
42.11814° N 112.33509° W |
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The Blue Goose |
Clarence Hughes runs this charming 1892 store, which was moved to the town park in Samaria to keep it from being torn down. It’s a popular hangout for school kids and farmers in the afternoon. He sells local crafts, cookbooks, candy and sodas, and has video rentals. Historic photos and newspaper clippings adorn the walls and make for fascinating browsing as well. |
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Location: |
4426 West 4900 South, Samaria |
Hours: |
Mon.-Sat. 11 a.m.- 5 p.m. |
Information: |
208-766-5381 |
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