ON THE WARM SUMMER DAY, HUNDREDS OF PEOPLE FROM MILES AROUND WERE THERE FOR THE GRAND OPENING. SINCE INDIVIDUAL TRANSPORTATION WAS NOT EASILY AVAILABLE, GARRETT FREIGHTLINES PROVIDED BUSES.  CLIFFORD PEAKE REMEMBERED THAT FOR A TEN-CENT FEE, ONE COULD RIDE THE BUS FROM THE FARGO-WILSON-WELLS TO Meridell AND RETURN.  THE LAST BUS RETURNED TO TOWN ABOUT MIDNIGHT.  DELLA WEST WEBSTER RECALLED, "THE DANCE HALL WAS AN ELEGANT PLACE, AND HUGE CROWDS ATTENDED.

I ALSO REMEMBER THE ROLLER COASTER WAS A VERY BIG ONE, THE FIRST DIP WAS ESPECIALLY A GREAT SHOCK TO OUR LUNGS AND NERVES.  AS CHILDREN WE ANTICIPATED THE JULY 24 CELEBRATION AT Meridell.  WE RODE OUT THERE IN WAGONS.  RACES, GAMES, PROGRAMS FOR BOTH CHILDREN AND ADULTS WERE HELD ALL DAY.  IN THE SHADE OF THOSE BEAUTIFUL, BIG TREES GREAT FOOD WAS SERVED--FRIED CHICKEN, HOMEMADE ICE CREAM, HOME-BAKED BREAD AND ALL OF THE TRIMMINGS.

DANCE PAVILLION

THE POCATELLO TRIBUNE REPORTED AUGUST 17, 1921, "OLD FOLKS DAY AT Meridell PARK WILL FEATURE THE FOLLOWING RACES: FAT MEN'S RACES, SLIM MEN'S RACES, FAT WOMEN'S RACES, OLD MEN'S RACES, OLD WOMEN'S RACES, CRACKER RACES, BOYS' AND GIRLS' RACES, AND CRAWLING BARREL RACE.  NOTE:  EACH OLD PERSON IS TO BRING KNIFE, FORK, SPOON, AND CUP."

PERHAPS THE MOST VIVID MEMORIES OF MERIDELL ARE OF THE DANCE PAVILION.  PEAKE SAID, "IT WAS QUITE A PLACE.  THE DANCE FLOOR WAS ALWAYS CROWDED WITH PEOPLE DOING THE FOX TROT, ONE-TWO-THREE STEPS, AND WALTZES.  DANCE MARATHONS WERE SWEEPING THE COUNTRY, AND MANY POCATELLANS PARTICIPATED IN THESE CONTEST.  I RECALL THAT AS MANY AS THIRTY COUPLES WOULD BE ON THE FLOOR AT THE BEGINNING OF THE MARATHON.  THE IDEA WAS TO DANCE UNTIL ONLY ONE COUPLE REMAINED.  THE LAST COUPLE STILLDANCING WOULD WIN A CASH PRIZE OF ABOUT ONE HUNDRED DOLLARS.  AFTER HOURS, SOME PERSONS WOULD STILL BE GOING STRONG.  YOU'D SEE COUPLES DRAGGING THEIR PARTNERS AROUND TO SEE WHO COULD STAND   THE LONGEST.  IF ANY COUPLE FELL, THEY WERE ELIMINATED.  ONE BY ONE THEY WERE ELIMINATED AND IN SOME CASES THEY HAD TO BE CARRIED FROM THE FLOOR.  WE HAD A GREAT TIME OUT THERE."

ORRIN WARDLE REPORTED, "FROM THE TIME I FIRST HEARD ABOUT IT, I WANTED TO GO TO Meridell PARK.  I CAN RECALL WHEN OUR CHURCH TOOK A SMALL GROUP OF BOYS, INCLUDING ME, TO THE PARK.  WE RODE THE MERRY-GO-ROUND AND, FILLED WITH FRIGHT, THE ROLLER COASTER.  OUR SMALL RESOURCES DID NOT ALLOW FOR ANY OTHER RIDES, BUT A WALK PAST THE TANTALIZING GAMES OF CHANCE, EVEN THOUGH COSTING ONLY TEN CENTS, TAUGHT A BOY WITHOUT MONEY THAT SOME OF THE INTERESTING THINGS, AND, AS I WAS TO LEARN LATER, SOME OF THE NECESSARY AND IMPORTANT THINGS IN LIFE, DO NOT COME FREE.  Meridell WAS POCATELLO'S FUN SPOT IN THOSE GOOD OLD DAYS."  THOUGH THE AMUSEMENT PARK ENJOYED A PROSPEROUS TIME, HEAVY FINANCIAL STRAIN FORCED THE OPERATION INTO THE HANDS OF RECEIVERS.  THE NEW GROUP OF OWNERS ARRANGED FOR WEDNESDAY AND SATURDAY NIGHT DANCES WITH SOFT DRINK CONCESSIONS.

THE FRED DOLBEER YEARS

DOLBEER LIVED IN A TWO-STORY HOME AT Meridell FOR NEARLY FORTY YEARS, USING THIS SITE AS HIS HEADQUARTERS FOR VARIOUS ENTERPRISES, INCLUDING A TRAILER PARK.  DURING THIS TIME TWO OTHER SMALLER HOUSES WERE BUILT ON THE PROPERTY.  IN 1960, KENNETH AND LUCILLE HARTEN PURCHASED AND MOVED TO Meridell PARK.  WHILE THEY LIVED AT Meridell THEY BUILT -- WITH MUCH EFFORT -- AN ICE-SKATING RINK.  HARTEN RECALLS, "WE PUT IN A WOOD-BURNING STOVE FOR HEAT AND TO FRY HAMBURGERS, AND BOUGHT SEVERAL DOZEN SKATES, SOME CANDY, AND TICKETS.  WHEN THE SKATERS ARRIVED AT THANKSGIVING TIME, THEY FOUND THE SMOOTHEST ICE THEY HAD EVER SEEN.  THEY CAME IN DROVES TO SKATE. WHAT A JOY TO SEE SO MANY CHILDREN AND ADULTS IN THEIR COLORFUL CLOTHES SKATING ON THE ICE I HAD BABIED SO TENDERLY.  WE HAVE MANY OTHER LOVELY MEMORIES."

IN 1975, DALE KIRKHAM NEGOTIATED TO PURCHASE THIS PROPERTY.  ALL THAT REMAINED WAS THE ENTRANCE TO THE DANCE PAVILION--A FIRE DESTROYED THE HUGE DANCE FLOOR YEARS AGO--A FEW CONCESSION STANDS, A   NUMBER OF TOURIST CABINS, A NATURAL SPRING STOCKED WITH TROUT, AND MANY MEMORIES FROM THE PAST, INCLUDING OLD NEWSPAPERS, FIRE EXTINGUISHERS, SEWING MACHINES, AND OTHER PARAPHERNALIA FROM THE EARLY PART OF THE CENTURY.  ORIGINALLY KIRKHAM INTENDED TO RESTORE AT LEAST PART OF THE PAVILION BUILDING, BUT THIS PROJECT BECAME IMPRACTICAL.  HE RAZED ALL OF THE HOUSES, LEAVING JUST THE ENTRY BUILDING, THE GAZEBO, TWO TOURIST CABINS, AND THE TICKET OFFICE.  FOR THE PAST SEVENTEEN YEARS, HE HAS USED THE TRACT FOR RASING ALFALFA AND A TRUCK GARDEN.  CHICKENS, DUCKS, COWS, SHEEP, AND PIGS HAVE ALSO BEEN PROJECTS OF HIS DURING THIS TIME.

DONATION TO BANNOCK COUNTY

IN THE EARLY 1990s THE KIRKHAM FAMILY DONATED A 10 ACRE PORTION OF Meridell PARK TO BANNOCK COUNTY FOR THE PURPOSE OF CONSTRUTING A JAIL.  THE JAIL DEVELOPMENT BROUGHT A CITY WATER MAIN TO SOUTH 5TH SUPPLYING THE MUCH NEEDED WATER FOR RESIDENTS SOUTH OF POCATELLO.  THE WATER EVENTUALLY ENCOURAGED OTHER DEVELOPMENT LIKE CENTURY HIGH SCHOOL AND CENTURY HIGHSCHOOL MADE POSSIBLE THE WIDENING OF 5TH AVENUE FROM 2 LANES TO 4 LANES.  ALL PROGRESS THAT CAN BE TRACED BACK TO DONATION OF Meridell PARK.

IN RECENT YEARS, INMATES APPROVED FOR WORK RELEASE AT THE BANNOCK COUNTY JAIL HAVE GROWN GARDENS IN THE ACRES RETAINED BY THE KIRKHAMS.  IN 1996, DALE AND KIRK PLANTED ONE HUNDRED APPLE TREES. THE ORCHARD HAS FLOURISHED.  THE TREES ARE BEAUTIFUL AND WITH THE GARDEN ON THE PERIMETER OF THE ORCHARD, THE AREA IS VERDANT.

IN 1999 AND IN SUBSEQUENT YEARS, THE CUB SCOUTS OF AMERICA HAVE USED THE ACREAGE FOR THEIR CUB SCOUT DAY CAMPS.  THE BOYS AND THE LEADERS ARE DELIGHTED WITH SUCH A SHADY, GREEN AREA TO USE FOR THIS EXPERIENCE.  THEY USED IT FOR THE ENTIRE SUMER AND NAMED IT CAMP Meridell.

FROM FLAPPERS AND MARATHON DANCERS TO A PRISON SITE, MERIDELL PARK HAS RUN THE GAMUT OF USAGE.

THE ONCE-THRIVING Meridell PARK WILL NOW BE THE SCENE OF A OF A MELANCHOLY AGRICULTURAL ENTERPRISE OUT OF PLACE IN A MORE MODERN WORLD.  THESE ACRES HAVE ENJOYED MUCH AND VARIED HISTORY.