Foothills Edition
PRESERVING OUR BOISE FOOTHILLS
Foothills land overlooking Barber Valley is now a protected wildlife habitat
The Boise Foothills, rising from the northern edge of Harris Ranch, enrich the community with scenic views, access to hiking and mountain biking trails, and provide natural habitat for wildlife. In late July, a 275-acre expanse of the Foothills was transferred to the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) to ensure that land remains protected in perpetuity.
The property is just a few miles north of Barber Valley, east of Table Rock with views of the entire Treasure Valley. The land is vital for wintering large game like elk and deer and lies within the Boise River Wildlife Management Area.
The Harris Family Foundation offered the land to BLM to follow through on a primary wish of their predecessors – Dallas and Alta Harris – who were passionate about environmental conservation and the preservation of wildlife habitat. As the land was sold by the Dallas and Alta Harris Foundation, all proceeds will go to the Foundation to support its charitable endeavors.
“The Boise Foothills, with the vast amount of open space they provide, are one of the most iconic landscapes in the State of Idaho,” said Tanya Thrift, BLM Boise District Manager. “Bringing this parcel of land into public ownership helps maintain the natural environment and helps ensure that wildlife can continue to thrive there.”
Garret Visser, Conservation Program Coordinator at the Idaho Wildlife Federation said, “Despite a patchwork of land ownership, the Boise Front still serves as critical winter range for thousands of big game animals. Moving this parcel into the hands of the BLM will ensure that we maintain landscape connectivity, prevent future development, and complement the past and ongoing wildlife investments in the area. We really want to thank the Alta Harris Foundation as well as the BLM for putting this into play.”
Barber, Idaho. Looking west from Foothills. Barber Schoolhouse in foreground.
LAND STEEPED IN HISTORY
Barber Valley's role in kickstarting the economy in a newly-formed Idaho
Nearing the end of the 1800s, Idaho was the newest state in the union and entrepreneurs were flocking to the state to set up shop in a region blessed with abundant natural resources. Soon after receiving statehood in 1890, the Idaho State Land Board selected timbered land across the state to fill its endowment quota to boost Idaho’s economy by attracting the era’s major lumber companies. Amidst the corporate jostling for timber land, a local businessman by the name of James T. Barber incorporated the Barber Lumber Company in 1902, placing its headquarters just east of Boise along the Boise River – an area today known as Barber Valley.
The company quickly found success and many of its associates were or became prominent Idahoans, including former Idaho Governors Frank Steunenberg and John M. Haines, and the company’s corporate attorney, future U.S. Senator William Borah.
By 1906, the company built and operated the Barber Dam and the Barber Power Station, both of which remain in operation today on the Boise River, just north of the Eckert Bridge. The valley now housed hundreds of people that worked for and supported the lumber mill that an incorporated town formed, Barberton, which was later shortened by the U.S. Postal Service to simply Barber in 1909. Barber was the second largest town in Ada County and was big enough to have its own school, hotel, shops, and community hall. Years of success were followed by a series of corporate mergers and after a devastating explosion at the factory in 1935, the mill was abandoned, and the town dispersed.
Fast forward 18 years, brothers Ivan and Dallas Harris, who together ran successful lumber operations in Idaho City and Thorn Creek, moved their operations to the Barber Valley in 1953. The Harris Brothers Lumber Company established a mill on the land that, today, is Marianne Williams Park. In just a few short years, the company employed more than 100 people and cut 15 million board feet of lumber annually. Their success made the company a prime takeover target, and in the early 60s Ivan and Dallas leased the sawmill operations to Boise Cascade.
Aerial view of lumber operations, the current site of Marianne Williams Park
As they acquired additional land in Barber and Surprise Valleys, Dallas and Ivan envisioned development of the land between the Boise River and Foothills, bringing residents back to Barber Valley to enjoy its natural splendor.
Today, remnants of the timber operation can be seen throughout Harris Ranch. Sourced from the structure of the original sawmill, the large, white, rectangular stones provide seating, landscaping, and bordering around the community. As you are out in the neighborhood, you’ll find these relics near the mail pavilion at Warm Springs Ave and Timbersaw Drive, the rest areas alongside the Greenbelt near the ponds just south of Marianne Williams Park, and at Larry Eno Park accessible near E Timbersaw Drive and S Brookridge Way.
COMMUNITY UPDATES
Volunteer Opportunity with Boise River Enhancement Network
Did you know that there are crayfish in the Boise River? The little creatures are important to scientists to study mercury levels in the river and ensure it remains healthy. On August 27th at Barber Park, BREN is partnering with the U of I to collect crayfish in the river and you are invited to lend a hand. This is a family friendly event, but little ones do need adult supervision, so bring the whole crew to participate in a real-life science project! Registration and full details are available at BoiseRiverEnhancement.org.
Pool Etiquette
Friendly reminder that community pools are self-policed. There are no lifeguards on duty or authorities so please ensure you, your kids, guests and adhering to posted rules and keeping the pool a safe, fun place for the entire family.
Permanent Chess Boards in Barber Junction
Are you a chess grandmaster? Head over to Barber Junction, where permanent chess boards were recently installed as part of new community seating, courtesy of Barber Valley Development and the Harris Family Limited Partnership. The new seating and chess boards are near the mail pavilion on S. Single Tree Ave.
