Category: Local History

The Bear Lake region contains many community-service minded groups and individuals, dedicated to help when needed.  One such group, known as the Bear Lake Rangers, was always prepared to act when situations arose.  For years, 40-50 hardy-spirited Rangers rode in local parades and celebrations.   “In the years before the proliferation of 4-wheel drive vehicles, all-terrain…

Born in St. Charles, Idaho, in the Bear Lake Valley, in what was then the Idaho Territory in 1867, Borglum became famous for creating the monumental presidents’ heads at Mount Rushmore, South Dakota.   Born into a Mormon polygamous family, his father, had two wives.  Eventually young Borglum left the Mormon church to live in Omaha,…

James Felix Bridger was born on March 17, 1804 in Richmond Virginia.   He received no formal education and was illiterate all his life.  After moving to St. Louis, he was orphaned at age 13, and apprenticed to a blacksmith. At age 18 he left to join General William Henry Ashley’s fur trapping expedition.  The…

Jesse James was born September 5, 1847 in Clay county, the “Little Dixie” area of western Missouri, near present-day Kearney. James became a Civil War guerilla, an American outlaw, bank and train robber and leader of the notorious James-Younger Gang. During the war, he and his brother Frank joined Confederate guerillas, known as “bushwackers” under…

Folks here don’t talk much about Big-Foot, Yeti, or even the famous Loch Ness Monster. For better or worse, it’s the Bear Lake Monster that captures most of the attention around Bear Lake. Fact or fiction? Reality or myth? You decide. There’s plenty of evidence to back up your own personal belief. Joseph C. Rich,…