Chesterfield & the Gem Valley
CHESTERFIELD is an early
Mormon settlement 11 miles north of Bancroft. Founded in 1881, it is
now unoccupied, but history buffs won't let it go away. They formed a
foundation to refurbish and maintain 27 original structures now on the
National Historic Register. It is astride the Oregon Trail and the
architecture and scenery are worth the visit.
Your first look
will tell you why this panorama is called the Gem Valley and why it is
an important part of the
Historic Byway. This is the rout the Oregon Trail took during the
western push. This is where some of the pioneers split off to take the
Hudspeth Cutoff southwest to California while the Oregon Trail went
northwest to Fort Hall. Later when the huge wagon train westward
migration expired due to building of railroads, Mormon Pioneers pushed
north from Salt Lake. They were looking for fertile farm ground with
water. Their settlement was Chesterfield in 1879. Farming was good,
families grew and prospered. Several homes a school, a church, and a
general store were constructed.
Portland to St. Louis railroad came through the valley, but it's line
wasn't close to the settlement. Some upstarts with commerce on their
mind founded Bancroft next to the tracks n 1898. Chesterfield became a
ghost town. Chester was, then wasn't, and now is again. Chesterfield
didn't fare well in the farm economy that developed after the turn of
the century and one by one everybody left, everybody. Holbrook Home on the left. Henry's Store on the right.
Visit the Chesterfield Foundation website
for more information.
Outdoorplaces.com Chesterfield Story
Ghosttowns.com about Chesterfield