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WeiserAreaMemories
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Too many Names on the A-Z Lists? 
 Now easily Search by Name!
Searching Tip – Use the least amount of words necessary, and choose the correct name from the results.
(e.g. “Jones,” not “T Jones,” “T. Jones,” “TS Jones,”  “T.S. Jones,” “Ted Jones,” etc. – just “Jones.”)
A-Z Lists:
 
People
 
Places
 
Events
 
Categories

Welcome to Weiser Area Memories

Built and Maintained by Current Caretaker Michael Gribbin
– WHS Class of 1963 –
Weiser-fb1913

State Street - 1913, looking North from the Train Depot

StateStreet1936
State Street - 1936, Looking North from the Train Depot
Weiser-1940s
State Street - 1940s, looking North from the Train Depot
WeiserCityHotel
Weiser City Hotel - Old Town, before the1890 Fire
BusDepot
Greyhound Bus Depot & Cafe
- Main & West 1st Streets
MorrisSommer
Sommer Building - State & West Idaho Streets,
built in 1900 by Morris Sommer for his new store
StateStreet3
State Street - looking South from Main
Street towards the Train Depot
TheMerc
State Street - August 1970, looking South
from Main Street towards the Train Depot
Weiser-StateStreet
State Street - 1970s, looking
North from Idaho Street
StateStreetNight
State Street Looking South from Main Street
HotelWashingtonFB
Washington Hotel - Main & East First Streets
Bostics
Bostic's Store - one of only a few buildings that escaped the 1890 fire.
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 See What’s Been “Newly Added” to Our “Old Weiser” History Archive

– Weiser Area Memories Facebook Group – Now our favorite website has a companion Facebook Group of the same name – the perfect place to start or join a discussion, or add more information to the 1500+ names and linked pages of information.
– D.E. (David Edger) Johns – moved to Weiser from his farm in 1921, purchased a harness shop which he renamed into D.E. Johns & Son Harness Store, then later in 1944 purchased the Peacock Building and expanded into Johns Leather Goods. (Re-published 9/10/ 2024)
– John Fagerstedt – you may not remember the name John Fagerstedt, but you’ll remember his Metropole Cafe, Pool Room, Cigars and Tobacco, Fountain and Sporting Goods Business. John opened his cigar store and pool hall in the old Wheaton Theater Building on State Street in 1911, then 6 years later, moved to the IOOF Building at State & West Idaho Streets, where he expanded the business and operated it until his death in 1946. (Re-published 8/20/2024)
– Walter Johnson – back in the early 1900s, talking about “big train” meant more than railroads, read Walter “Big Train” Johnson’s story about living and pitching baseball in Weiser and then moving to the “big leagues,” watch YouTube Videos of Walter teaching baseball – “Pitching Mechanics & Game Highlights” and “Washington Senators Spring Training Outtakes – March 12, 1931,” see the house he lived in while in Weiser, one of his early baseball cards, plus other images. (Published 8/16/2024)
– Globe Furniture Fire – do you remember the 1969 Ericson / Globe Furniture Building Fire? If not, you should have at least heard about it – a life changing event that if the wind had been blowing the other direction, most of the town as we know it, would have been “up in flames.” Read about the fire and history of Globe Furniture going back to 1900-1910 (Published 8/9/2024)
– Sanborn Fire Insurance Maps – 1893, 1900, 1908, 1914. We’ve added 3 additional years of maps – 1893, 1908 and 1914. See how Weiser has grown during those early years. (Published 8/1/2024)
– Days of Yore – If you really like reading and learning about older information from Weiser’s History, late 1800s – early 1900s, then you need to visit the “Days of Yore” category. 20 pages of stories about the Institute, Weiser Academy, News from 1901 (the year after my grandfather Frank Gribbin moved from Iowa,) Weiser and Dead Ox Flat Pioneers and so much more. I just added a new Weiser Building Boom (1899) page to go with the two other ones, Weiser Building Boom (1890) and Weiser Building Boom (1909) I really like these because they tell about the new buildings being built and who the owner or builder was. Plus too much other good stuff to list here. (Published 7/31/2024)
– Weiser’s own KWEI Radio – when you drive south from Weiser on Hwy. 95, there is a strange looking building, resembling a church or odd house on the left side of the road. Although known by many names over the years, KTRP, KBXN and KKOO, most will always remember it as KWEI Radio. (Published 7/26/2024)
– Sanborn Fire Insurance Map – 1900 – I love Weiser’s History from 1900, because that was the year my Grandfather Frank Gribbin moved here from Iowa. It’s fun to try and imagine how he viewed “little Weiser” when he and his sister Josephine stepped off of the train and started the next chapter of their lives. I found this Sanborn Fire Insurance Map from 1900 and wanted to share it with you. You can see how “little” Weiser really was.(Published 7/3/2024)
– Weiser City Directory – 1913 – this wonderful and informative book was found on Ancestry.com, so I posted a copy to the website for everyone to be able to browse. Lots of interesting and valuable information about every person and business in Weiser – addresses, jobs, spouses, business owners, property valuation, etc. A real spotlight on the who, what, and where at the heart of Weiser – a must read. (Published 6/24/2024)
– Categories – somewhere, someplace, someone once said, “all roads lead to Rome” – maybe so, but on Weiser Area Memories, it’s “all Categories lead to lots of interesting pages“. If you are looking for an overview on what this site has to offer, a great “jumping off point” is Categories. With the addition of 2 new ones, Weiser Area Recreational and Weiser Area Theaters, there are now a total of 24, so “treat each like a map,” pick one and start exploring. (Added 6/23/2024)
– Devastating fires – every town has them, with Weiser seemingly having more than their share. We have a list of 17 on our Categories page, here are some of the largest: 
** Farber’s Womens Store (3) – January 14, 1937
** Hanson (Globe) Furniture Building (2+) – July 27, 1969
** Hooker Hall Building (3) – June, 1994
** Old Town Weiser (1+) – June 12,1890
** Parsons Packing & Supply Co (1) – January 28, 1957
** Smoke House Lounge (2+) – December 5, 1980
** Sommer & Sons (1) – February 15, 1894
** Sommer’s Mens Store  (1) – January 1, 1953
** Washington Square Building (1) – 1983
** Washington Hotel Building (3+) – 1975
** Weiser City Hotel (1) – June 12, 1890
** Weiser Flour Mill (5+) – July 31, 1967
** Wheaton Theatre (1) – May 21, 1937
(Published 6/8/2024)
See More Added Names
Weiser Memories is a Community Resource that allows people who currently live, or have lived in Weiser, Idaho, an opportunity to collaborate in forming the content and posting that information to our website.
Weiser Memories is also a Searchable, Alphabetized Archive that contains the Names and any Available Information for all of the People, Places, and Events, that have since the 1880s shown their importance to the establishment and continuation of Weiser’s history and culture.
Imagine if you will – all in one place – Weiser: Searchable & Alphabetized.
With A-Z Lists of Names, that when clicked, will open a linked page for that Name, and display all of the History and Memories that have been entered or submitted, plus offer the ability for Weiser-ites to post what they know about that Name’s History and their Memories of it, so everyone else can read and enjoy it too.
There are currently many New Names & Linked Pages being added each day, and some don’t open to pages yet containing History & Memories.
Not wanting Visitors to waste time clicking on Names without any information  – each Name ends in a (number),  where (0) = No Info or Resources, (1) = Basic Info with 1 Resource, (2) = Basic Info with 2 Resources, (3) = Basic Info with 3 Resources, (+) = Resources contain Extra Information.
If you know the Name of a Person, Place or Event and its not in that Category’s A-Z List, then suggest it, we’ll create a new page where you can archive your own History and Memories.
Since I’ve been away from Weiser for almost 60 years, my memory has a big gap – I’m constantly adding what info I do remember, or have found using my BFF, Google.
If you are a current or former resident of Weiser, please be part of this process by suggesting People, Places and Events to enter into the site, as well as any history, memories and other information you may have about your entries.
Please help us fill in the missing 60 years by visiting our Facebook Group, “Weiser Area Memories.” 
Michael Gribbin – WHS Class of 1963

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If you have questions about Weiser History, want to start or join a discussion about it, or add new information, please visit our Facebook Group, “Weiser Area Memories.”
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