Chesterfield and The I.F. LDS Temple

So past time for another trip and new post to share our journey. I took time to swing by and get a few shots of the Idaho Falls, Idaho LDS Temple and we took a few friends and headed out to a small, what is left of, community from the past known as Chesterfield. This is located about 1/2 hour drive out of Soda Springs Idaho going west north west. An old settlement of Mormons at time had this place producing crops and had made quite a settlement out here at the base of the hills and on a small bench above the rest of the valley. There are brick houses and log homes as well a long with everything in between. A general store as well as tithing buildings, homes, blacksmith, church cultural hall and other building rest in a small pocket of the hills and show that many homesteads were once scattered around the area for miles with this being the main "town".
Seen as how we visited this time of year, there was no one around to give us a guided tour so we wandered around looking at what we could and in through the windows that were not boarded up. As vacant as the place was while we took our little tour and checked out what we could, I can imagine what it would have seemed like back when it was going. People walking around from building to building with wagons rolling in and out bring and taking supplies as the community hustled with action and children playing. School was part of the life here and I'm sure that chores, crop care and others kept them all busy, but I am also sure, dances and other community events were popular and regular as part of the old ways.
I could just feel myself setting on a knob of the hill watching all the activities, work and the one or two mischief causers running around town. I fell back in time as the thoughts of how life would have been. No cars, no TV, not even a radio. The music they had was real, fresh and produced a sound that at times I can imagine carried to some of the far distant houses across the way. A sound so welcome that people came from all corners of the valley to dance, sing or visit as the men gathered and played instruments which were rare yet well handled when a few got together. An old organ was shipped in by train and finished it's ride by wagon which gave music for the hymns in church.
As I pondered the area and took time to get a few photographs, I came upon a window that with the sun as it were and the reflects as they were, it gave me a chance to see through it to the present and reflect on yesteryear which leaves tomorrow to wonder. Funny how little things like this can really get a person into deep thought and heavy ponder. So much happened here and now, well, quiet and peaceful with only a few buildings and scenes to give one a taste of the past life here and how it was.
In the summer, missionaries work the grounds giving information and even some samples of how things were and how this little town was. A blacksmith, doing work just as they did in the days of the settlement, works metal the old fashion way and as you take a look at the many tools used and made by them, I hear it is very impressive. One day I will return and visit when the missionaries are there and get better info and more in depth of the world as it was in the late 1890's and the years before and after.
So for now, here is bringing you a taste of the past as through the eyes of the present and hope for the future.