Nampa and Meridian Irrigation District Office

The Nampa and Meridian Irrigation District Office in Nampa, Idaho, is a 1-story brick and concrete building designed by Tourtellotte and Hummel and completed in 1919. The building features tall, narrow window fenestrations topped by large, vertical keystones with sidestones. Most of the windows have been replaced by a flat stucco surface painted brilliant white. The site was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1982.[2]

Nampa and Meridian Irrigation District Office
The Nampa and Meridian Irrigation District Office in 2019
Location1503 1st St., S., Nampa, Idaho
Coordinates43°34′35″N 116°33′20″W
Arealess than one acre
Built1919 (1919)
ArchitectTourtellotte & Hummel
Architectural styleClassical Revival
MPSTourtellotte and Hummel Architecture TR
NRHP reference No.82000329[1]
Added to NRHPNovember 17, 1982

History

Irrigation districts in Idaho began forming toward the end of the 19th century, and by 1903 Idaho counted four irrigation districts: Weiser in Washington County, Pioneer in Canyon County, New Sweden in Bingham County, and Oneida in Oneida County.[3] Montpelier Irrigation District was formed in Bear Lake County later in 1903,[4] and farmers in Meridian held meetings to establish their own irrigation district.[5]

In 1904 the Nampa and Meridian Irrigation District was formed in Meridian by farmers in Canyon and Ada Counties, and one of the organization's first actions was to purchase and expand the Ridenbaugh Canal, begun in 1878 by William T. Ridenbaugh to irrigate a large ranch owned by his uncle, William B. Morris.[6][7] By 1913 the Ridenbaugh Canal had been expanded from an original length of six miles to nearly 40 miles, and it carried water to more than 1000 customers, including over 600 farms.[8]

Early in 1919 the district moved its headquarters from Meridian to Nampa, and offices were opened on the second floor of Nampa City Hall. (Although listed on the National Register of Historic Places, the 1910 City Hall was demolished in 1991.)[9] After two months at City Hall, the district announced plans to build its own office in Nampa.[10] The Nampa and Meridian Irrigation District Office became occupied in April 1920.[11]

References
  1. "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service. November 2, 2013.
  2. "National Register of Historic Places Inventory/Nomination: Nampa and Meridian Irrigation District Office". National Park Service. Retrieved January 12, 2019. With accompanying pictures
  3. "To Simplify State's Irrigation Law". Idaho Statesman. Boise, Idaho. February 6, 1903. p. 3.
  4. "Personal Mention". Idaho Statesman. Boise, Idaho. August 5, 1903. p. 4.
  5. "Irrigation District Meeting". Idaho Statesman. February 22, 1903. p. 5.
  6. "Irrigation District Is To Be Formed". Idaho Statesman. Boise, Idaho. February 10, 1904. p. 5.
  7. "Sale of Canal". Idaho Statesman. Boise, Idaho. July 22, 1905. p. 5.
  8. "Ridenbaugh Canal Provides Water for Fertile Lands of the Boise Bench". Evening Capital News. Boise, Idaho. January 1, 1913. p. 5. Retrieved January 12, 2019.
  9. "Irrigation Co. Offices Transferred to Nampa". Evening Capital News. Boise, Idaho. February 7, 1919. p. 9. Retrieved January 12, 2019.
  10. "Irrigation District Will Erect Building". Evening Capital News. April 27, 1919. p. 11. Retrieved January 12, 2019.
  11. "Brief Nampa News". Idaho Statesman. Boise, Idaho. April 11, 1920. p. 10.
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