Marko Simunich, July 14, 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

July 14, 2013

Creator

Simunich, Marko (December 21, 1942-July 22, 2016) (Narrator, Person)

Extent

730.7 Megabytes

Language of Materials

From the Collection: English

Additional Description

Abstract

Marko (Butch) Simunich, son of Eastern European immigrants. His father (Mike Simunich) worked for Boise-Payette lumber company and bought many acres of land in the Central Bench. Butch went to Franklin School, and spent his summers swimming in irrigation ditches. His father passed away when he was 13 years old, so much of his teenage years was spent farming to earn money for the family. As an adult, Butch remained at the family home, and continued to farm on his own property and on rented lots throughout the Boise Bench. His family sold off much of the original 15-acre farm near Franklin and Garden to make money. In this interview Marko describes some different aspects of the changing neighborhood and how it affected his farming. For the most part, Marko says the increased population and development did not affect his lifestyle. He goes into detail about how irrigation works in this area – including environmental and human difficulties.

Time Index

TIME TOPIC
00:00 Marko was born on December 21, 1942, he grew up at his current residence.
His parents emigrated from Yugoslavia or Croatia. 05:00 Summer activities growing up: location of places to swim in the canals. Locations and types of grocery stores. Other entertainment – including radio.
10:00 His father’s occupation and type of business: lumber and logging for the Boise Payette company.
11:30 Changes he saw to Franklin Road.
15:00 How his family sold the 15 acres around Franklin and Garden.
18:00 Farming history, including irrigation, growing up after his father died when he was 13.
20:00 Middle and High School years.
25:00 Renting out property to make money when he was 13 years old. Raising cattle throughout West Boise.
27:00 Describes the cycle of aging farmers and renting farmland. The effects of a growing population on the Bench.
30:00 Farming prices, selling crops to Allumbaugh Dairy.
31:00 Going downtown as a teen and young adult to see movies. (2-3 times a year).
32:00 Crime in his area (or lack there of).
36:30 Franklin and Rose Hill merger. The Bench Commission. Other changes due to increase in traffic on Franklin.
38:30 Describing small incremental changes to the area and his experience growing with the changes.
39:30 Shopping centers, and the changes to family dynamic. Growth of Orchard and Franklin.
45:00 Learning to drive and socializing. Meeting friends a Murray’s, Arctic Circle. A story about sheriff’s deputy Vern Blisterfell giving him a ticket.
48:00 Changes to how a farmer irrigation systems on the Bench. Story with someone taking water without permission.
50:00 Story about two farmers fighting over water rights and other issues with water.
55:00 Types of crops he grew. Cow feed, and sometimes growing corn with help from children that took most of the profits.
56:00 More on irrigation. Dues, regulations, improvements.
1:03:00 Iconic places: Zamzows.