More Main Street, Caldwell, Idaho

Here is a recent real photo post card I acquired with a view down Main Street, Caldwell, Idaho. I would say circa 1905-08. The photo was incorrectly described by the seller as Nampa, ID. That didn't fool a handful of us Caldwell collectors who pursued it in a spirited manner!  I am going to put a few pics up here without too much commentary. You can find quite a bit on this blog about 7th and Main or just click here for a sample search.

Looking down Main Street toward the intersection with 7th Street. 

Interurban coming up Main Street

Looks like an early car parked on the street. Maybe Walter Sebree's down near where I believe the First National Bank was located and he was President? Here is an excerpt from an article appearing 1/18/15 in the Idaho Statesman written by historian Arthur Hart. Click here for the full article. 

It was the wealthier and more adventuresome citizens who bought the first cars, and the Idaho Statesman reported regularly on their exploits. On Jan. 2, 1904, under the headline "SWELL AUTO" came this: "Walter Sebree came over from Caldwell yesterday in his new automobile, covering the distance in about two hours. The car is a handsome vehicle of considerable size and good lines. It attracted much attention as it stood on Eighth Street." Fast runs between towns were reported regularly that year, as when E.H. Dewey and L.C. Van Riper came over to Boise from Nampa in an hour and 10 minutes. (These "fast runs" averaged about 12.5 miles per hour.)

Read more here: http://www.idahostatesman.com/2015/01/18/3597595/the-first-decade-of-the-auto-in.html#storylink=cpy

Saratoga Hotel on the right with the Caldwell Bank & Trust/Steunenberg Block on the opposite corner across 7th Street.