Idaho Falls

IDAHOFALLSMAGAZINE.COM  21 That's what Mynarcik hoped anyway. For 10 years he has invited neighbors and strangers to his own 1896 Victorian Christmas open house, and he's seen first- hand how stepping inside can change per- ception about historic-home living. "I show my house every year, and I want people to see what can be done. People are coming into this neighborhood—they want the unique homes in the 11th Street dis- trict and the Ridge district, and they're not afraid to do a little work," he said. "They can see it's a home they can live in, that it's not a place where the electrical is bad and the walls are going to fall down or it's going to cost $1,000 to heat it in the winter." A tour full of stories This year's tour promised a local history lesson—"part of the tour is education," Mynarcik said. For instance, the two-and- a-half-story Shepherd home at 179 11th Street has had just four owners, and its garage kisses the one next door because the original owners were brothers. The property also belonged to Chase Clark, who lived there until becoming governor in 1941; he later served as federal judge, thanks to a nomination from President Franklin D. Roosevelt. Pam Chase grew up in Crow's Addition, and she and her husband, Bob, have lived on 10th Street for nearly 40 years. As historic-home lovers—and because "my husband desperately needed a project," she said—they purchased the house next door in 2012. They'd renovated their own house and were ready to work on the sec- ond, "but we wanted to just restore that home," keeping it true to the original look and intent, Chase said. Unlike many sections of the 11th Street district where distinct styles sidle up next to each other, 10th Street is known for its row of brick Tudor Revival-style homes built by Daniel Sweeney, who constructed his own Art Moderne house around the corner at 996 Emerson. According to Chase, the 10th Street lots went for $5,000 a pop, and Sweeney "used the same mate- rials but in different plans and patterns— there was no rhyme or reason. He really was creative," she said. For the tour the Chases' showcased their second property, which is now rented online to out-of-towners, but there's more to owning this home than a second income. "I just have such a passion for historic pres- ervation and for restoring our neighbor- hood," Chase said, adding that she and oth- ers in Crow's Addition are eager to maintain well-loved properties and are concerned about those that haven't been. "We are the history of Idaho Falls. If they don't start enforcing [the existing ordi- nances], then it's going to turn into a slum," Chase said. "My goal is to get as many peo- ple to a city council meeting as we can to let them know we love where we live." It's this kind of passion that Magee, Mynarcik and others hope walking tours will inspire in current and future homebuy- ers. "[These houses] have got character, they've got style, and a lot of them have had some updates," Mynarcik said, noting that prices are low enough to appeal to those looking for a starter home. For young couples who buy, "you've got a family to raise, but you've still got money and live in a historic district," he said. By getting locals inside historic homes, more people might consider living in and loving a home with history.

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