Sons of Utah Pioneers — Eagle Rock Chapter
Become a Member
HOW DO I GET INVOLVED
To join, or renew, attend one of our monthly meetings held 3rd Monday of each month, or contact Jeff for more information at:
supeaglerock@gmail.com
IT IS NOT NECESSARY TO HAVE PIONEER HERITAGE TO BECOME A MEMBER OF THE SUP!
Help us grow and keep the great Pioneer Heritage alive for generations to come.
To renew your chapter membership
make your $30 check payable to:
Eagle Rock Chapter SUP
then mail check, and this FORM, to:
Eagle Rock Chapter
5385 Jolyn Way
Idaho Falls, ID 83404
Chapter Dues are in addition to the National SUP Dues
Chapter Meeting Highlights
June 2025
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
Mark 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.
May 2025
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.
April 2025
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.
March 2025
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.
February 2025
Monday, February 24
Chapter Business
- Snake River Homestead (formerly North Bingham County Park) west of Shelley is asking for project overseers and tour guide volunteers.
- Our chapter is looking for some extra Pioneer Magazines the SUP publishes each quarter. If you have any you wish to donate to the chapter please let us know.
- Reminder to check the chapter website frequently as information gets updated/added each week.
- We have Vests, Caps, and two sizes of Patches for sale.
Guest Speakers
Dax and Kylee Tomlinson (and family) from the Silver Spur Guest Ranch in Medicine Lodge spoke of their history that began in Jackson Hole and later moved to Medicine Lodge.
They showed some video from their early days ranching cattle and later on focusing mostly on horses.
There’s a story told about how they came to be known as the “Silver Spur”.
One day, years ago, a man came by looking for a hunting guide. He offered to pay $5,000 which, in those days, was a sizable amount of money.
The hunter was told they didn’t have the necessary permits to be hunting guides which meant they could not legally take him on a hunt as a guide.
So a bargain was struck, we will make you some very fine silver spurs and sell them to you for $5,000. Then we can just go out hunting as friends.
As it turns out, it was a government sting operation attempting to lure them into illegally guiding a hunting party. When it came before the judge in court, the case was dismissed. And that’s how they took on the name of Silver Spur.
At the end, Lynn presented the Tomlinsons with a certificate of appreciation, a copy of the Pioneer Magazine, and an SUP Medallion for Idaho.
Lunch was ordered, we socialized, and ate our meal when served.
January 2025
Monday, January 27
Chapter Business
We want to welcome Roger Dye to the Eagle Rock Chapter Board as our Chapter Historian who will consolidate and publish the history of the chapter, our monuments, and events.
Kudos to Roger for printing our chapter logo on the sign we used as a backdrop for member photos.
Guest Speakers
They shared some of their Temple experiences in the short video below.
Ana agreed to sing for us, “Families Can Be Together Forever” in Portuguese.
At the conclusion of the Rossi’s presentation, Lynn presented them a Certificate of appreciation, a medalion, and a copy of the “Pioneer Magazine”. We then closed with prayer, visited, and had lunch.
December 2024
Monday, December 16, 2024
Chapter Business
The new Board members for 2025 were sworn in by the Area Vice-President, Martel Grover.
- Past President – Phil Schow
- President – Larren Nelson
- President-Elect – Steve Schellenberg
- Secretary – Phil Schow
- Treasurer – Adrian Sparks
The remainder of the meeting we sang Christmas Carols,
and watched a Christmas Concert Video —
“Hugh Bonneville Christmas Concert Narration
It is Well with My Soul
with The Tabernacle Choir”
and closed out the meeting after sharing some personal stories and experiences.
November 2024
Monday, November 18th, 2024
Guest Speaker
Our Guest Speaker for this month was Steve Schellenberg who presented a personal history on the role Hammers and Schellenbergs had in the Shelley/Woodville areas. No kings, queens, or lords in their ancestry. He spoke briefly regarding his 3rd great-grandfather, Austin Hammer who died October 30th, 1868 at Hawns Mill.
October 2024
Monday, October 21st, 2024
Chapter Business
The new Board members for 2025 were presented and ratified unanimously by the members attending.
- Past President – Phil Schow
- President – Larren Nelson
- President-Elect – Steve Schellenberg
- Secretary – Phil Schow
- Treasurer – Adrian Sparks
The new officers will be sworn in at our December 16th luncheon to begin serving January 1st.
Guest Speaker
Roger Dye, from Firth, Idaho, was our Guest Speaker. He presented local history on Firth and surrounding area. He spoke of early settlers and stages of growth, including the early narrow-guage RailRoad that ran north into Montana. A spur from that line would take you to West Yellowstone. 
Hear Ye! Hear Ye!
| Event | Description | Date Time |
|---|---|---|
| Summer Picnic | Annual summer chapter picnic located at the shelter in the Iona City Park.Chicken provided plus Pot-Luck salads, veg trays, chips etc. Blackfoot Chapter will provide beverage. Bring a Friend - Guests welcome | 1753095600 Monday, July 21, 2025, 11:00 am - 1:00 pm |
| Pioneer Day Celebration | Volunteers needed for the following stations at the Snake River Historical Homestead Park on July 24th: Miner's Cabin and Wagons. Rootbeer and Scones | 1753358400 Thursday, July 24, 2025, 12:00 pm - 8:00 pm |
| August Executive Board Meeting | Location - 5385 Jolyn Way Idaho Falls | 1754301600 Monday, August 4, 2025, 10:00 am - 12:00 pm |
| Annual Chapter Trek | The Eagle Rock Chapter will conduct their annual summer Trek this month. We plan to combine with Blackfoot Grove City Chapter and explore Fort Hall | 1755518400 Monday, August 18, 2025, 12:00 pm - Sunday, July 13, 2025, 12:00 am |
| September Executive Board Meeting | Location - 5385 Jolyn Way Idaho Falls | 1756720800 Monday, September 1, 2025, 10:00 am - 12:00 pm |
| September Monthly Luncheon | Monthly chapter luncheon held at Smittys Pancake House, 645 W Broadway. Meeting begins 10:00 a.m. Bring a Friend - Guests Welcome | 1757937600 Monday, September 15, 2025, 12:00 pm - Sunday, July 13, 2025, 12:00 am |
Current Projects
Wahoo! The Buggy was moved to the Barn at Snake River Homestead Park west of Shelley.
We still need to upholster the seat and get the bows and top installed.
At our November Luncheon, Mel Wardell expressed his appreciation to those who have come and helped with this renovation project.
Below are photos showing the progress over time.