Custer County
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The village of Mackay's streets
saw some of their first automobile traffic in about 1910 and in following years
the number of cars in the area increased dramatically. Dealerships sprang up
overnight with railroad cars loaded with this new mode of transportation coming
to Mackay on a regular basis. Unfortunately, road and highway construction in
the area did not keep pace with this influx of four wheeled machines, and by the
late 1920's with the increase in cars and trucks came the demand for more and
better roads and highways.
An article in the June 18, 1914 issue of the
Mackay Miner reported a record trip from Blackfoot to Mackay by one of Mackay's
most distinguished citizens, lawyer Chas. Clark. He proudly claimed to have
covered the 102 miles, over the then unimproved stage route, in 4 hours and 20
minutes. WOW?
What a difference 13 years would make with a straighter and
improved roadway! In the March 30, 1927 issue of the "Mackay Miner" there
appeared an article concerning the same road from Mackay to Blackfoot. This
federal post road, as it was the called, had just been recently improved, graded
and graveled and was touted as being one of the best roads in the entire area
and was sure to lead to a tremendous increase in tourists to our little valley
and point North. Why, authorities said, "it was very possible for some "speed
demon" to make the trip from Blackfoot to Mackay in as little as 2 1/2 hours, a
distance of 92 miles". They didn't realize what and pessimistic prediction that
was to be.
For in the Miner's very next edition on April 6th it was
reported that the Miner office had a visit from a linotype salesman who
exclaimed as he drove up in his Packard sedan, "Why believe it or not, it has
been just 1 hour and 45 minutes since I left Blackfoot and if that ain't goin'
some, tell some of your "speed demons" to get out and try for a better record.
Yes, you can tell the world you now have a highway "speedway" into this central
Idaho paradise".
Contributed by Earl A. Lockie, President of the South Custer County Historical Society
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This page was last updated 12/07/2023