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The 1916 Elevator Crash

2/6/2021

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​Let’s just admit it, the elevators in Idaho’s Statehouse have always been a little quirky. On January 8, 1917 it was a laughing matter when an elevator cable broke. There were only two people in the car at the time, operator John W. Ewry, and an unidentified man who was not an elected official. The two men heard the cable snap when the door was open and they were able to jump out on the third floor before the car fell. It only fell about 12 feet, so mayhem may not have resulted in any case.
 
The Republicans in the Legislature were quick to point out that the elevator had worked perfectly when they were in control of the Legislature. The Ds had just taken control in the 1916 election. The Democrats responded that the Republicans had simply worn the thing out.
 
Such were the ups and downs of politics in 1916.
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    Author, Speaker

    Rick Just has been writing about Idaho history since 1989 when he wrote and recorded scripts for the Idaho Centennial Commission’s daily radio program, Idaho Snapshots. His latest book on Idaho history is Images of America, Idaho State Parks. Rick also writes a regular column for the Idaho Press.

    Rick does public presentations on Idaho's state park history and the history of the Morrisite war for the Idaho Humanities Council's Speakers Bureau.
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