Thornton was named in honor of William Ezra Thornton, who had been prominent in the establishment of the townsite, and who also was for a time Thornton's postmaster.[1]
Though Thornton once thrived as "an enterprising center of commerce,"[1] Thornton is now primarily a rural community. It is home to a potato warehouse and the original Thornton Merc convenience store.
At one time, Thornton "boasted of two fine general mercantile stores".[1] Thornton's store was owned in the early 1900s by George Marler. A competing store in Thornton was owned by C. L. Galbraith.[1] In 1971 Thornton Merc, which replaced the two prior mercantile stores, was opened at the old Marler's location by Mrs. Geraldine Evans.[1] As of 2010 it is still in operation, and "Marler" can still be seen faintly painted on the north side. Descendants of the Marler family still own property in Thornton.[2]
Thornton was once a place for recreation and amusement, featuring a movie picture house operated by Mr. Fritz Hansen, a saloon, and a dance hall.[1]
Thornton once had a community church directed by Reverend Baird. He presided over the church until religious services were discontinued due to insufficient numbers of attendees. The LDS Church also supported a primary and Sunday school service in Thornton for a few years.[1] This was also discontinued as the population of Thornton diminished. The LDS Church continues to thrive in the nearby area, as expansion of Rexburg, Idaho has caused commuters including employees and students of Brigham Young University Idaho to seek available housing in Thornton and surrounding Archer and Lyman.[2]
Locationedit
Copy of Certificate of Execution of Plat for Thornton Idaho obtained from Madison County GIS specialist Craig Rindlisbacher
Thornton lies approximately seven miles south of Rexburg, Idaho and is bordered on the south by the Lorenzo Bridge, which crosses over the South Fork of the Snake River. Visible in the near west horizon are the Menan Buttes. Thornton lies on the Oregon Short LineRailroad and was built around what is now a remnant of U.S. Highway 191.[2] This short segment of the original highway[4] terminates within Thornton, at an old cement bridge.[2] Since its original establishment, Thornton has been bisected by the construction of US Highway 20. The larger portion lies south of the highway- the northern portion has been nearly completely eliminated by the construction of the highway.[2] The Archer-Lyman highway begins to the north and east of Thornton and meanders south and then east towards Ririe, Idaho.
The old brick Thornton Hotel is no longer in operation and has been abandoned due to disrepair.[5]
The legal description of Thornton is "NE 4 NE 4 of Sec. 222, and of SW 4 SW 4 of Sec. 14 and of SE 4 SE 4 of sec 15 all in TS 5 N R 39 E.B.M."[6]
Attractions, Landmarksedit
Within Thornton next to the remaining Thornton Merc is an old trailer park which now accommodates both campers and longer-term residents, many of whom are migrant workers who labor in the nearby potato warehouses.[2] Another RV Park lies south across the old concrete bridge nearer to the Snake River South Fork. The Thornton Shell gas station and convenience store lies between Highway 20 and the railroad and used to be known as the Mini Mart.[2] Behind the Shell station is the old grain elevator which now advertises the gas station. Also marooned between the two highways is an older home which was once owned by the Keith Wilcox family in the mid 1900s, which has been stranded now due to the removal of a portion of South 3300 West.[2]
External linksedit
Madison County Homepage
Brigham Young University Idaho
Rexburg, Idaho Homepage
Rexburg Chamber of Commerce
Referencesedit
^ abcdefghijHistorical Society, Upper Snake River Valley (Winter 1971). "Thornton". Upper Snake River Valley Historical Society Quarterly. 1 (3): 59.
^ abcdefghiWaters, Philip (August 9, 2010). "Personal History of Waters, P". Interview.
^"A brief history of Mack's Inn". Henry's Fork Country. July 19, 2009. Retrieved August 25, 2010.
^Sanderson, Dale (July 19, 2009). . US Ends.com. Archived from the original on December 16, 2009. Retrieved August 24, 2010. In 1972, US 191 was shortened, such that it ended once again at its original terminus: Idaho Falls (or at least near it)
^Waters, Philip (August 9, 2010). "Interview with Gordon, D". Interview.
^ (Madison County) ("NE 4 NE 4 of Sec. 222, and of SW 4 SW 4 of Sec. 14 and of SE 4 SE 4 of sec 15 all in TS 5 N R 39 E.B.M").
thornton, idaho, originally, called, texas, siding, townsite, founded, 1917, exists, today, township, madison, county, idaho, thornton, named, honor, william, ezra, thornton, been, prominent, establishment, townsite, also, time, thornton, postmaster, contents,. Thornton Idaho originally called Texas Siding 1 is a townsite founded in 1917 It exists today as a township of Madison County Idaho 2 Thornton was named in honor of William Ezra Thornton who had been prominent in the establishment of the townsite and who also was for a time Thornton s postmaster 1 Contents 1 History 2 Location 3 Attractions Landmarks 4 External links 5 ReferencesHistory editThough Thornton once thrived as an enterprising center of commerce 1 Thornton is now primarily a rural community It is home to a potato warehouse and the original Thornton Merc convenience store At one time Thornton boasted of two fine general mercantile stores 1 Thornton s store was owned in the early 1900s by George Marler A competing store in Thornton was owned by C L Galbraith 1 In 1971 Thornton Merc which replaced the two prior mercantile stores was opened at the old Marler s location by Mrs Geraldine Evans 1 As of 2010 it is still in operation and Marler can still be seen faintly painted on the north side Descendants of the Marler family still own property in Thornton 2 Thornton was once a place for recreation and amusement featuring a movie picture house operated by Mr Fritz Hansen a saloon and a dance hall 1 In the mid 1940s the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints purchased a grain elevator in Thornton from M G Koon and Sons This elevator served to store welfare grain for church stakes until 1959 and can still be seen from U S Highway 20 for many miles north and south of Thornton 1 When Thornton had a train depot the Yellowstone Park Special passenger train would stop in Thornton 1 on its way to Mack s Inn 3 and Yellowstone Park Visitors to Heise Hot Springs would arrive by railroad at Thornton and travel by horse drawn vehicle to the nearby mineral springs Thornton once had a community church directed by Reverend Baird He presided over the church until religious services were discontinued due to insufficient numbers of attendees The LDS Church also supported a primary and Sunday school service in Thornton for a few years 1 This was also discontinued as the population of Thornton diminished The LDS Church continues to thrive in the nearby area as expansion of Rexburg Idaho has caused commuters including employees and students of Brigham Young University Idaho to seek available housing in Thornton and surrounding Archer and Lyman 2 Location edit nbsp Copy of Certificate of Execution of Plat for Thornton Idaho obtained from Madison County GIS specialist Craig Rindlisbacher Thornton lies approximately seven miles south of Rexburg Idaho and is bordered on the south by the Lorenzo Bridge which crosses over the South Fork of the Snake River Visible in the near west horizon are the Menan Buttes Thornton lies on the Oregon Short Line Railroad and was built around what is now a remnant of U S Highway 191 2 This short segment of the original highway 4 terminates within Thornton at an old cement bridge 2 Since its original establishment Thornton has been bisected by the construction of US Highway 20 The larger portion lies south of the highway the northern portion has been nearly completely eliminated by the construction of the highway 2 The Archer Lyman highway begins to the north and east of Thornton and meanders south and then east towards Ririe Idaho The old brick Thornton Hotel is no longer in operation and has been abandoned due to disrepair 5 The legal description of Thornton is NE 4 NE 4 of Sec 222 and of SW 4 SW 4 of Sec 14 and of SE 4 SE 4 of sec 15 all in TS 5 N R 39 E B M 6 Attractions Landmarks editWithin Thornton next to the remaining Thornton Merc is an old trailer park which now accommodates both campers and longer term residents many of whom are migrant workers who labor in the nearby potato warehouses 2 Another RV Park lies south across the old concrete bridge nearer to the Snake River South Fork The Thornton Shell gas station and convenience store lies between Highway 20 and the railroad and used to be known as the Mini Mart 2 Behind the Shell station is the old grain elevator which now advertises the gas station Also marooned between the two highways is an older home which was once owned by the Keith Wilcox family in the mid 1900s which has been stranded now due to the removal of a portion of South 3300 West 2 External links editMadison County Homepage Brigham Young University Idaho Rexburg Idaho Homepage Rexburg Chamber of CommerceReferences edit a b c d e f g h i j Historical Society Upper Snake River Valley Winter 1971 Thornton Upper Snake River Valley Historical Society Quarterly 1 3 59 a b c d e f g h i Waters Philip August 9 2010 Personal History of Waters P Interview A brief history of Mack s Inn Henry s Fork Country July 19 2009 Retrieved August 25 2010 Sanderson Dale July 19 2009 End of US highway 191 US Ends com Archived from the original on December 16 2009 Retrieved August 24 2010 In 1972 US 191 was shortened such that it ended once again at its original terminus Idaho Falls or at least near it Waters Philip August 9 2010 Interview with Gordon D Interview Madison County NE 4 NE 4 of Sec 222 and of SW 4 SW 4 of Sec 14 and of SE 4 SE 4 of sec 15 all in TS 5 N R 39 E B M 43 45 30 N 111 50 43 W 43 75833 N 111 84528 W 43 75833 111 84528 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Thornton Idaho amp oldid 1219448447, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
