The Foote House (10-AA-96), An Historic Archaeological Complex In The Boise River Canyon, Idaho

Description

The Foote House site (10-AA-96) is located in the Boise River Canyon some ten miles upriver from the city of Boise, and is an architectural and archaeological remnant of late nineteenth century life in that area. The first recorded occupation of the site was prior to 1882, by a miner named Lytell who built a frame cabin there. In late 1882 the water rights were acquired by Arthur De Wint Foote, who patented the property in 1919 and apparently sold it in the mid-1920s. The property was deserted and all its structures dismantled by 1949. The site appears to represent two periods of occupation, one in the 1800s and the other in the 1910s to 1920s. Of most significance is the earlier of these inhabitations by the Foote family and the Idaho Mining and Irrigation Company. There is a significant archival record of the architecture, functions, and inhabitants of the Foote House site, and that is now supplemented with archaeological data which indicate that the site is a significant historic remnant. Thus it appears eligible for nomination to the National Register of Historic Places and merits affirmative management from the owners, the U.S. Government.