Tom Eubanks, August 24, 2013

File

Staff Only

Scope and Contents

From the Collection:

This collection contains recorded interviews with Boise citizens. Notable topics include Boise Bench history, Greenbelt history, Foothills Levy history, Boise Fire Department history, Boise Police Department history, and personal and political histories of former mayors and councilmembers.

Dates

August 24, 2013

Creator

Eubanks, Thomas "Tom" (Narrator, Person)

Extent

619.19 Megabytes

Language of Materials

From the Collection: English

Additional Description

Abstract

Tom Eubanks is the son of Mary Latermore, the daughter of Tom Latermore who bought lots of the property on the NE corner of Franklin and Orchard. Royal Eubanks (Tom’s father) bought a plot from Tom Latermore and built a house for him and Mary. That is where Tom Eubanks grew up. He went to Franklin School and active in Wright Community Church. He remembers playing in the pastures, going to movies downtown, and cruising Fairview in his car. Tom’s father started a leather company in the basement of their home, and later expanded to a shop behind the house (6 Orchard). Mary lived in the same house until her death in 2003.

Time Index

TIME TOPIC
00:00 Mother: Mary Latermore, born 1908. Came to Boise from Thermon (east of Mayfield)
01:10 Grandfather Tom Latirmore (from Tennessee) had post office in Thermon. Grandmother moved to Boise to take children to school.
02:20 two-day trek to Boise by wagon to move here.
03:30 Father (Royal Eubanks) grew up in Centralia Washington. Worked at a mill in Silver City.
03:45 Royal married Mary, worked in Idaho City.
04:20 Moved to Boise, started Eubanks Leather Company. Early start in basement of home near Franklin and Orchard.
05:00 WWII rationing affected home construction and regulations for permits.
06:20 Details about leather business – types of products. making belts holsters for police departments.
07:15 Sold company to Pioneer Tent and Awning in 1949.
08:00 End of business for Royal in 1950s.
08:30 Growing up near Franklin and Orchard, with grandparents on the same street corner. Riding grand parent’s horses.
09:00 Digging tunnels in pasture.
09:40 Grand father delivered mail by horse back on the Bench, a few more details about mother’s family coming to Boise.
11:00 Story of mother going to Franklin School.
12:00 Canals near home, dangers and distances.
13:45 Stores in the area: Franklin shopping center.
15:15 The Merc, Albertsons, Fred Meyer going in.
16:00 Working for American Gas Station on corner of Franklin and Orchard.
16:45 Conaco leased land for Grand parents.
17:45 Paving roads and dirt roads and homes from Franklin to Alpine.
19:00 Playing in the area as children. swimming in the Ridnbaugh canal.
20:30 Royal leather company business, clientele.
22:00 Royal sold company to the Wetzels.
22:50 Invent of cordura affected leather business.
23:00 Mother went to Lewis & Clark Normal School, then taught at Mountain Home.
24:20 hiding their marriage from school district to not lose job.
26:30 Participation Wright Community Church.
27:20 Gene “Pop” Hanes, minister and encouraged youth activities.
29:00 Pilgrim Cove church camp in Payette Lake.
30:30 Going to Franklin School, teachers
31:20 Mrs. Roberts.
32:00 Friends: Ron Spencer, Larry Miller
33:10 Friend Jerry Lawson.
34:20 Lack of organized activities. going to South and West Jr. High schools
35:45 Teenage years, staying over night at friends.
36:31 Adults playing cards, kids play.
37:10 Family life, simplicity.
37:30 Once Tom got his drivers license he would cruise from the Howdy Partner (Fairview) to the another drive in on Front Street downtown.
38:40 As a child went downtown to watch movies: westerns, cartoons. (with other children)
40:00 High School, education, friends having fun.
41:00 Track, hunting in the outskirts.
42:00 Drive-in, restaurants on Orchard, including opening of first McDonalds.
43:20 Working for American Gas Station on Franklin and Orchard.
44:00 After High School (1957) military duty – then Jr. College in 1958.
44:40 Some details about gas station work. Dumping oil in barrels.
46:20 Career info: forestry. Worked for BLM in Oregon and Tennessee.
48:00 Experience sampling grazing usage on public lands.
48:45 After retirement, moved back to the Bench in 2000. Mother died in 2003.
49:20 Mother wanted to live final days in her house.
49:50 Changes he noticed over the years: growth, bigger homes.
51:00 Changes specific to Central Bench: not much change.
52:30 Predicts what the future holds for the Bench: mature home will increase in value.