Stop Four: 5th and Idaho
Introduction
Text-to-speech Audio
On the next stop in this walking tour, you will learn about the Church of the Good Shepherd, the Chandler building, and the Star Hotel.
When you're looking around this intersection, you will see several buildings that have a relationship to Boise's Basque community. We recommend you check out other locations on Clio that explore the history of this community!
Backstory and Context
Text-to-speech Audio
CHURCH OF THE GOOD SHEPHERD (NE Corner - Now St. Luke's)
In 1918, the Catholic Bishop of Idaho Daniel Gorman purchased two residences on this site. Architects Tourtellotte and Hummel remodeled them into the Church of the Good Shepherd and accompanying rectory. On March 2, 1919, Father Bernardo Arregui dedicated it as the nation’s only Basque Chapel.
The church held daily Masses, as well as baptisms, weddings, and funerals. It helped to reinforce a strong sense of community among Boise’s Basque.
During the early 1920s, the American Catholic Church closed many ethnic parishes due to anti-immigrant sentiment in the country. In 1928, Bishop Edward Kelly converted building to his private chapel. This forced Basque Catholics to worship at St. John’s Cathedral (located at the corner of 8th and Hays)
The rectory was torn down and replaced by a parking lot. The Diocese sold the building in 1989.
CHANDLER BUILDING (NW Corner - Home to Flying M Coffee)
Constructed before 1893, the Chandler building was once called the “Royal Lodging House.”It was reputably owned by the notorious Devis Levy, landlord of Boise’s red-light district. It remained a lodging house into the 1900s. By 1906, the first floor was converted into the Commercial Cream Company, and by the 1940s served as offices for the State of Idaho.
STAR HOTEL (North Side of Idaho Street, between 5th and 6th Streets - Home to Boise Blinds)
Constructed in the early 1890s, the Star Hotel became a boarding house in 1903, accommodating Basques. The Hotel had room for up to 30 boards at a time, and a fronton handball court. Reportedly, fire fighters from Central Addition would climb the Fronton court wall to sit on top and watch the games.
Sources
[Advertisement]. Idaho Statesman, (Boise, ID), January 19, 1966: 25. NewsBank.
"Asks Partition Of Levy Estate." Idaho Statesman, (Boise, ID), July 7, 1903: 4. NewsBank.
Feuerherd, Peter. "As traditional parishes decline 'personal parishes,' find new interest." National Catholic Reporter, July 12, 2018. Accessed August 26, 2023. https://www.ncronline.org/news/traditional-parishes-decline-personal-parishes-find-new-interest"
Hart, Arthur A. National Register of Historic Places Inventory – Nomination Form for Boise Historic District, March 26, 1976. Accessed August 19, 2023. https://npgallery.nps.gov/NRHP/GetAsset/5376dc60-b667-4324-adfb-e06a7b913979.
“Image 15 of Sanborn Fire Insurance Map from Boise, Ada County, Idaho.” Sanborn Fire Insurance Map from Boise, Ada County, Idaho. Sanborn Map Company, Jan 1893. Library of Congress. https://www.loc.gov/item/sanborn01569_003/.
“Image 56 of Sanborn Fire Insurance Map from Boise, Ada County, Idaho.” Sanborn Fire Insurance Map from Boise, Ada County, Idaho. Sanborn Map Company, 1912-Sep 1949. Library of Congress. https://www.loc.gov/item/sanborn01569_006/.
"New Industry For Boise." Idaho Statesman, (Boise, ID), September 7, 1906: 3. NewsBank.
Penson, Betty. "Lawyers turn old church into offices." Idaho Statesman, (Boise, ID), January 29, 1989: 37.
Stringfellow, Rosalie. "Old Residence In Boise Transformed Into Church." Idaho Statesman, (Boise, ID), February 6, 1950: 5. NewsBank.