National Register Listing

Boise Junior High School

1105 N. 13th St., Boise, ID
Boise Junior High School (now North Junior High) is of exceptional architectural significance as the finest of the numerous school buildings designed by the firm under the WPA federal financing program of the 1930s. It is one of the few finished in brick and in a clearly articulated art deco style (another is the Boise High School Gym, which is included in the Boise High Campus group, site 49).

Substantial school buildings were designed between 1935 and 1941 for Cascade, Melba, Jerome, Gooding, Marsing, Parma, Adrian, Homedale, New Plymouth, Salmon, Bruneau, and Caldwell, in addition to remodelings and additions and a number of gymnasiums. A number of these schools have considerable merit, but due to a large number of these resources, it was decided to include only the most notably distinguished of them in the Thematic Group in advance of age eligibility.

The fact that Boise Junior High is located in the capital city, and in one of the wealthier school districts of southwest Idaho, probably accounts for the more ex- pensive materials and elaborated detail; many of these schools are of radically simplified reinforced concrete construction and surface. It is interesting that the more elaborate the material possibilities, the more deco the flavor; some of the simpler schools seem to tend toward the modern style, but this is perhaps by default. Though designs in; the streamlined modern manner do appear in the late work of the firm, they are generally in commercial commissions (see site 136). The more traditional underpinnings of the art deco style may have seemed more appropriate to educational buildings. Boise Junior High is clearly within the deco aesthetic. J. 0. Jordan and Son were the contractors; the projected price of the building permit was $228,258.
Bibliography
Boise, Idaho. Bosie City Building Permit. March 6, 1936.

Boise, Idaho. Hummel Jones Miller Hunsucker P.A. List of Volume of Work by Year, 1937. Drawings signed by Tourtellotte and Hummel.
Local significance of the building:
Architecture

Listed in National Register of Historic Places in 1982.

The National Register of Historic Places is the official list of the Nation’s historic places worthy of preservation. Authorized by the National Historic Preservation Act of 1966, the National Park Service’s National Register of Historic Places is part of a national program to coordinate and support public and private efforts to identify, evaluate, and protect America’s historic and archeological resources.

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Idaho was the first state to have a complete statewide system of television broadcasting. KIDO-TV, now KTVB, began broadcasting in Boise in 1953, and within a few years, the entire state was covered by a network of television stations.
Idaho random facts
Ada County is located in southwestern Idaho and was established in 1864. It is named after Ada Riggs, daughter of the first settler in the area, H.C. Riggs. The region was originally inhabited by the Shoshone and Bannock Native American tribes. In the early 1800s, European fur traders and explorers began to arrive in the area.

The discovery of gold in the Boise Basin in the 1860s led to a population boom in Ada County and its county seat, Boise City. The area became a major supply center for miners, and many settlers moved to the county in search of prosperity. Agriculture also thrived in the fertile Boise River Valley, with farmers growing crops such as potatoes, grains, and orchard fruits.

In the late 19th and early 20th centuries, Ada County experienced significant growth and development. The completion of the Oregon Short Line Railroad in 1887 boosted the local economy, opening up new markets for agricultural products and facilitating transportation. The city of Boise became a regional economic hub, attracting businesses, government institutions, and educational facilities.

Throughout the 20th century, Ada County continued to grow, with an increasing population and expanding infrastructure. The county's economy diversified, and industries such as manufacturing, technology, and healthcare emerged. Today, Ada County is known for its thriving economy, outdoor recreational opportunities, and vibrant cultural scene, making it a desirable place to live and visit in Idaho.

This timeline provides a condensed summary of the historical journey of Ada County, Idaho.

  • 1805 - Lewis and Clark Expedition passes through the area now known as Ada County.
  • 1812 - The first fur trading post, known as Fort Boise, is established by the British Hudson's Bay Company.
  • 1843 - The Oregon Trail is established, bringing settlers to the region.
  • 1863 - Ada County is created as one of the original counties of Idaho Territory.
  • 1864 - Boise becomes the capital of the Idaho Territory.
  • 1872 - The first railroad reaches Boise, spurring growth and development in the area.
  • 1892 - The Idaho State Penitentiary is constructed in Boise.
  • 1912 - Idaho becomes a state, and Boise remains its capital.
  • 1959 - The East End Historic District in Boise is added to the National Register of Historic Places.
  • 1973 - The Morrison-Knudsen Nature Center opens, providing educational programs about the area's wildlife and natural resources.
  • 1996 - The World Center for Birds of Prey, operated by The Peregrine Fund, opens in Boise.
  • 2020 - Ada County experiences rapid population growth and becomes a thriving economic center.