Monday, February 16

Chapter Business

• Changes to our Board – We have released Lynn Bradshaw as our Program Director. We want to thank Lynn for his years of dedicated service in arranging for our meeting place and guest speakers. In his place, we asked Larren Nelson to take over and he did a wonderful job conducting the program and printing out a meeting agenda for us this month. We are looking forward to seeing some of the ideas he has in mind.
• Plans are beginning to take shape for this year’s events and activities at the Homestead Park. We will be calling for help as we get closer to scheduled activities
• The new wagon acquisition is currently sitting on a trailer at Lynn’s house. There will be a need for some help to unload the trailer and get the wagon parts into Lynn’s shop.
• The Board approved the expenditure to get the parts needed to complete the Buggy project.

Guest Speaker

Our speaker Var Harris, who is a great-great-grandson of Martin Harris, shared a few of his grandfather’s life experiences. His name was James Empey.

As a young teen he tended sheep all alone. Well one day, a bear stood up from behind some fallen trees. He took his rifle, aimed, and fired. The bear dropped behind the trees. Moments later, the bear stood up! Somewhat surprised, James took careful aim and again fired. Once more, the bear went down. As he started toward the bear, it stood up. Once again, he fired a shot and the bear went down. After waiting some time, the bear did not stand up again so he went to investigate. Yes indeed, the bear was dead. And so where the other two bears lying next to it.

Var told of another story where grandfather was tending the flock and started to get very sick. He started off to town for help several miles away but had to turn back, convinced he wouldn’t make it alive. Not knowing what else to do, he made his way back into his sheep wagon to lie down.
Soon after, a small group of Indians visited his camp. The women were overcome by the stench coming from inside the wagon. They all left, but the woman and two young girls soon returned with herbs and medicine which he was told to drink ALL of it. He thought sure his belly would burst but he drank it all. Eventually his strength returned and found the women had left.

Later in his life he became an early Bonneville County Deputy Sheriff. He told how he had tracked, chased down, and arrested the notorious outlaw, Hugh Whitney.

All of Var’s stories were funny and interesting, giving the audience a taste of the real old west.

At the end, Larren presented Var with a Certificate of Appreciation.

Lunch was then ordered, we socialized, and ate our meal when served.

Monday, January 19

Chapter Business

Var has heritage in the Harris line and a wealth of knowledge to contribute.

Justin works with wood all day all week long peeling and fitting logs into log cabin kits.

We look forward to working with you both in the future of our Chapter.

Justin led us to another wagon donation. It is an old Farm Wagon, aka: Buckboard. This will be a fun project to restore. We are looking for a Sponsor to help fund this restoration. If you are interested, contact us at: supeaglerock@gmail.org
***Update – It turns out this wagon is actually a loggin wagon.

Jeff and Steve recently presented, visited, and ate lunch at the Shelley Sr. Citizen Center. It was definitely worth the time and trip to meet with these folks.

Our new president, Steve Schellenberg, struggled to conduct the meeting but we still made it through to the end. He says, “Thank you for your patience and support.”

Guest Speaker

January’s monthly chapter meeting hosted guest speaker Jason and his wife Susan Jones.  Until recently, they have been living in Las Vegas but are moving after purchasing a home here in Idaho.

Jason’s work title is “International Director of Events.” He has traveled all over the world including cruise ships living the dream of many teenage boys providing special effects, pyro-technic displays, as crew chief and operator.

He displayed many photos and videos of the shows he has done in the past for big-name well known music groups and stars.

Welcome Jason and Susan to our community and thank you for Presenting to our Chapter this month.

At the conclusion of the presentation, Lynn presented them a Certificate of appreciation, a medallion, and a copy of the “Pioneer Magazine”. We then closed with prayer, visited, and had lunch.

Monday, December 15, 2025

 Chapter Business

—The meeting was again well attended by members and guests
— Welcomed new member Var Harris
—A State of the Chapter was presented to review the accomplishments and progress made this year
—New Officers sworn in

Larren Nelson – Past President
Steve Schellenberg – President
Phil Schow – Secretary
Adrian Sparks – Treasurer

Pioneer Minute

Roger Dye’s Pioneer Minute was a story about a family traveling in a covered wagon with two others. When they ran into trouble with no hope of resolving the problem a stranger came and provided assistance then walked behind the last wagon and, when out of sight, disappeared leaving no tracks to be found.

Guest Speaker

Lynn Bradshaw then presented us with a portion the 2024 “Christmas With the Tabernacle Choir, A Season for Shepherds: The True Story of Dr. Charles Mulli” from Africa. This was a brief history of his life and how, over the years, he has helped many young children living on the streets providing them with a loving family environment, a safe place to sleep, eat, and provision for an education. Truly an inspiring story.

We later sang some Christmas carols, ordered lunch, and visited until the end of the meeting.

Monday, November 17, 2025

 Chapter Business

• The meeting was well attended
• A BIG Welcome for our newest member, Var Harris !
• Elections were held for the coming year

Pioneer Minute

Fred Keefer – Was something of a colorful, if not eccentric, mountain man who helped create and shape the new community of Eagle Rock later known as Idaho Falls.

He built and lived in his cabin on a 2-acre island in the middle of the Snake River rowing to and from shore each day.

He later became Sheriff and stayed on the job for over 20 years. It is said that he was put in as Sheriff to keep his twin brother, Frank, in line and out of trouble.

Guest Speaker

Allen Haroldsen – Born and raised on a farm in eastern Idaho, attended BYU earning a BA, and served in the England North Mission.

Among his many accomplishments as an artist and sculptor, he worked for the Idaho National Laboratory as a graphic artist, entered and won the 1988 National Snow Sculptor competition, was a sculptor for the Nauvoo Temple, and for the War Memorial of the Pacific in Honolulu.

He described briefly, his experiences of sculpting some of the oxen and sun stones on the Nauvoo Temple. Taking us from obtaining the raw blocks of stone to finishing the piece. Allen brought with him and displayed two pieces he recently made, some of the tools he uses, and the special gloves he wears to minimize the damage to his hands from the tool vibrations.
Lynn presented him with a
Certificate of Appreciation, a copy of the Pioneer magazine, and the Idaho coin.

Lunch was ordered, members socialized and asked Allen numerous questions during the meal.

Monday, October 20th, 2025

 Chapter Business

Martel Grover, our Area Vice-President, attended our October Luncheon and was welcomed. He complimented us on our membership attendance. Jeff reported on our participation in the parade for Spud Day. Also that it is time to winterize the the wagons at the Homestead Park.

Guest Speaker

Our presenter for October was Mountain Man Adam Finehout. He has studied the heritage of Mountain Men since the early days of this nation. How they lived, and the tools they used. Adam brought with him furs, early coins, traps, arrowheads, knife, tomahawk, period dress, possibles bag, and much more that he passed around for us to see and handle. His long bow was made by a member of a tribe in the eastern states. He demonstrated how to string it for use. Unfortunately, he was not able to bring and show his Hawkins black powder rifle into the facility so a picture had to suffice. He described living conditions, the things mountain men did, and as much history as time would allow.

Lynn then presented him with a Certificate of Appreciation for presenting, a copy of the Pioneer Magazine, and an SUP Coin minted for Idaho.

Lunch was ordered, members socialized and asked Adam various questions during the meal.

Monday, September 15

Chapter Business

• The Eagle Rock Chapter and the Blackfoot Daughters of Utah Pioneers joined forces to enter a float in the Shelley Spud Day Parade Saturday, September 20th. Our Buggy and Spring wagon were loaded on a flatbed trailer pulled by Jeff’s pickup. The DUP decorated the float. Volunteers in Period Dress sat on or stood by the wagon and buggy with Larren Nelson, Chapter President, and Roger Dye, Chapter Historian, riding in the back of the truck or walking.
• Now that the Steam Engine is at the Homestead Park, we need to clean, prep, and paint it prior to winter. After which it will be covered with a tarp until spring. We will be asking for volunteers for help with the prep and painting.

Guest Presenters

Bill and Valerie Harker recently returned from a service mission in Petaluma, California, located about 16 miles south of Santa Rosa and 35 miles north of San Francisco.
Part of their mission involved working with the homeless shelter, providing meals, and assisting the Membership Clerk identifying if members had moved out or in.

Lynn then provided a Certificate of Appreciation, a past copy of the Pioneer Magazine, and the Idaho Medallion.

Monday, August 17th

Chapter Business

• We reviewed the Pioneer Day Celebration event and how well it went. The Park Committee emphatically states there will be another next year, only bigger and better with more things to do for the visitors.
• The Lincoln Idaho Sugar Factory Steam Engine Monument has been moved to the Snake River Historical Homestead Park and awaits cleaning and repainting. This winter, we anticipate the exact location will have been designated for a new cement pad to be poured in preparation for final placement next spring.

Trek – 2025

Instead of our regular monthly meeting, our Annual Trek was planned along with the Grove City Chapter (Blackfoot). The turnout was well attended. 

First stop was the Idaho Potato Museum alongside the railroad tracks in Blackfoot, Idaho. The history of growing, harvesting, storing, and selling potatoes was very interesting, even to long-time residents of the area. Photos, videos, and exhibits of antique potato farm implements were on display. If so inclined, visitors could also stop in to the little cafe and have a snack/meal on baked potatoes.

We then lunched and socialized at a longtime establishment called, “Rupe’s Burgers” nearby. After lunch we traveled south on Interstate 15 exiting at Fort Hall to visit the Sho-Ban Museum.

There we learned about the history, culture, symbolism, and dress of the Shoshone and Bannock Tribes. 

Monday, July 21st

Chapter Business

The Grove City Chapter joined up with us this month to socialize and partake from a well-stocked pot luck luncheon for our Annual Summer Picnic held in the Iona City Park.

During the Business portion of the meeting, the Pioneer Day Celebration at the Snake River Historical Homestead Park, west of Shelley, Idaho, was promoted and volunteers solicited to serve as docents for various stations or as cooks to prepare scones and homemade root beer. We also discussed the delay that has come up in moving the Steam Engine.

Guest Presenter

The time was then turned over to Anna Williams, the Director of Homestead Park. She provided some history on the creation of this park in the 1990s and fielded questions regarding when it is open, who can attend, and the cost to enter, which is free to the public. Groups can schedule tours of the SUP Monuments, i.e. covered wagon, horse drawn school bus, sheep camp, visit an old one-room school house, or log cabins that were relocated to the park to name a few. Other events can be scheduled such as outdoor weddings, family or class reunions, or a nice quiet place to relax and enjoy a family picnic. Her efforts and the work of so many volunteers continue to enhance the visitor experience.

The Eagle Rock Chapter has joined in with that effort to promote and solicit volunteers to help with the never ending projects. We intend to add more historical artifacts and monuments each year.

The meeting then shifted gears and a long overdue award that was delayed due to the pandemic was presented.
Lynn Bradshaw, a member of our chapter for 21 years, was presented with the Modern Pioneer Award in recognition for his many years of devotion to the Eagle Rock Chapter of the Sons of Utah Pioneers. He has quietly and generously contributed his resources and talents with the support of his lovely wife and family.

Thank you! Lynn Bradshaw.

Monday, June 16th

Chapter Business

• Last week a group of hearing impaired toured the homestead park. We manned the wagons and miner’s camp stations in period dress. Teaching the youth and adults some techniques in panning for gold. (Polished Rocks as “Gems” in tubs filled with water and sand)
• The Grove City Chapter has invited the Eagle Rock Chapter to their June Meeting to hear a presentation on the Mormon Battalion.
• The Steam Engine Monument will be moved sometime in July to its new location.
• The seat for the Doctor’s Buggy we have been restoring is nearing completion which will leave only the overhead canopy to complete the entire project.
• The annual chapter summer picnic is scheduled for July 21st with dutch oven chicken, beans, and cobblers with potluck salads, desserts, and vegetable trays.
• The Snake  River Heritage Homestead Park has asked us for volunteers to assist with the Miner’s Camp, the Wagon Monuments, and Root Beer/Scones for the Pioneer Day Celebration July 24th. Check the calendar on our website:
  https://eaglerocksup.org/index.php/chapter-news/
  for more details.

Guest Presenter

Mark Olsen is an Air Force Veteran who serviced the Large “B” series bombers. In particular, the B-36. This model was designed to carry the nuclear bombs used in Japan and ended WWII.

He then went on to study and become an HP (Health Physicist) Hockey Puck dubbed by some of his peers at the Idaho National Laboratory which back in the day was known as the AEC or Atomic Energy Commission. We learned about nuclear energy, some of the good and the bad.

The good produces electricity and Medical grade Cobalt used for irradiating brain cancers, for example. The bad is the everlasting contamination from Chernobyl in Russia and the meltdown of the Japanese reactor from the recent tsunami.

Lynn presented Mark with a certificate of appreciation, a copy of the Pioneer magazine, and a Medallion minted for Idaho.

Lunch was ordered and discussions followed.

Monday, May 19th

Chapter Business

The Eagle Rock Chapter provided 3 volunteers to act as Tour Guides for 4th Grade Field Trips at the Snake River Homestead Park. Providing them information on Idaho History, Mining in Idaho, observe typical mining artifacts, and provided them the opportunity to learn first hand how to pan for “gold”. Tubs filled with sand and water were seeded with small polished rocks, or “gems”. They loved finding a favorite gem to keep. The second week it rained and turned cold but it didn’t dampen their enthusiasm panning for gems.

We have begun watching the area around Idaho Falls for old vintage horse drawn farm implements that can be cleaned up and displayed in the park. The idea is to provide visitors a self-guided tour using their cell phone to scan a QR code for each of the implements. Each code will bring up a description of the artifact, what it was used for, and how it was used in the day. We intend to carry this concept forward and update each of our monuments with a QR code attached to the monument to bring up a short video/commentary about the monument.

Plans are under way to relocate the Lincoln Sugar Factory Steam Engine to the Snake River Homestead Park. It will be repainted, and put on display.

Our Summer Picnic will be in July with the Blackfoot Chapter at the Iona Park. Watch for details forthcoming.
In August, we will once more join up with the Blackfoot Chapter for our annual trek. Again, watch for coming details.

Guest Presenter

This month we learned some of the family business history of Rocknaks Hardware store shared by Bryan Rocknaks. His interest in hardware and lumber began as a child helping his great-grandfather by dusting shelves and riding with him delivering orders to customers back east. He eventually ended up here in Idaho Falls and opened a small store on west Broadway. Bryan has since built and enlarged the Idaho Falls store, established stores in Terreton and in Sugar City. He also collects antique woodworking hand tools and brought a few to show.
We wish him well and success in the future.
Lynn presented Bryan a Certificate of Appreciation, a copy of The Pioneer magazine, and will later present him with the Idaho Medallion.

Lunch was then ordered and served while visiting.

Monday, April 21st

Chapter Business

Snake River Homestead Park, east of Shelley by the river, will be having their ribbon cutting ceremony Saturday, 10:00 a.m., May 3rd and is asking for volunteers, in period dress, to assist. We have also been asked to come to the park May 7th, in period dress, to lead some 4th grade school children on a tour of the park.
If you can help, let Jeff know by phone or via email, supeaglerock@gmail.com

Guest Presenter

Our Presentation this month was from a local author and historian, Connie Otteson. She has written four books regarding the history of Bonneville County, Idaho and surrounding area. Her presentation centered around her book, “Unsung Heros and Settlers of Bonneville County Idaho” (Learn More to read or purchase)

She spoke of the early history, around 1880, of Idaho Falls originally named Eagle Rock. Also the men who built and operated a ferry known as the Eagle Rock Ferry for settlers and miners to cross the Snake River on their way west or north. Two to three years later, a bridge (Taylor’s Crossing) was built nine miles downstream. Both of which were very lucrative enterprises. The name Eagle Rock originated from a pair of Bald Eagles nesting on a small island in the river where the ferry was built.
As a Presenter, she was awarded the Chapter Certificate of Appreciation, a copy of the Pioneer Magazine, and an Idaho Medallion.
Thereafter, we ordered lunch and visited during the meal.

Monday, March 17th

Chapter Business

• We now have copies of the book, “Unsung Heros and Settlers of Bonneville County Idaho” written by Connie Otteson who lives here in Idaho Falls. She has given us permission to sell them as well as publish it on our website. We are so grateful to her for allowing her historical work to be added to our growing repository of local history. Email your request to order your hardbound copy at: supeaglerock@gmail.com
• We are still looking for the subscription form/envelopes found in the Pioneer Magazines we can give to people who would like to subscribe.
• A field trip through muddy fields allowed us to RE-discovered the two Eagle Rock Ferry Crossing Markers/Monuments. Photos and maps soon to be added to the “History – Monuments” page of our website.

Guest Presenter

Scott Nobel from Alpine Jewelers was our guest speaker this month.

His topic had to do with
Lab Grown Diamonds.
We’ve seen them advertised but are they the same or as good?

Scott says yes, and yes.
Their Lab is located in India where the diamonds are grown from a “seed”. The process takes roughly 80-90 days to grow one diamond. The results are much the same as one could find in mined diamonds such as, different colors and flaws, for instance. He taught us that although diamonds are still “cleaved”, or cut, by hand the modeling and cutting is mostly now done by computers and lasers.

Lynn presented Scott with a gift copy of the Pioneer Magazine, a Certificate of Appreciation, and a medallion minted for Idaho.

Thereafter, we ordered lunch and visited during the meal.