Chesterfield, Idaho is an agricultural ghost town in the
southeastern part of the state. It was
founded in 1880 by Mormon pioneers. It
was a hard place to make a living, and gradually became a ghost town due to
drought, harsh winters, and the depression.
Today, Chesterfield is undergoing a revival of sorts as
descendants of the early families are restoring the town. The Chesterfield Foundation recently
purchased the beautiful Muir-Butterfield house, and has started restoration by rebuilding
the porch.
The LDS Meeting House is probably the best preserved
building in town. When I first started
visiting Chesterfield it was a museum, but now it has been restored back to its
original form. In summer, many of the
buildings are open for visitors and tours.
In winter, the town is boarded up, deserted, and resting
quietly in the snow and cold. Linda and
I visited with three other members of our Sharp Shooters Camera Club.
There is a lot to see and photograph in the quiet of
winter. A restored tractor is parked
near the shadow of rusty farm equipment, and interesting details are
everywhere.
Old equipment, frosty fences, interesting buildings, ancient
gas pumps, snowdrifts – the photo opportunities are wonderful.
The buildings include log cabins, stately brick homes,
religious structures, and stores.
A windmill stands alone on a hilltop.
There are 41 buildings in the historic district, and most near
the center of town have been restored, but many around the outskirts of town
still are in “ghost town” condition, so there is a nice mix of photography
subjects. If you want to see the interiors
and talk to knowledgeable people about the town, visit between Memorial Day and
Labor Day. But if you want to see
Chesterfield when it is deserted and quiet, visit in the winter.
Please note that all of my photos are copyrighted and must
not be used without my permission.
