Name/Title
Teton Dam Scrapbook OK TireDescription
OK Tire note reads:
June the 5th 1976 will long be a day remembered by most people in the Upper Valley. As twilight began to settle over the valley, we decided to see if we could get down town to our business. We proceeded very slowly and cautious for there were strange noises and sensations throughout the air.
When we finally reached the store it was impossible to survey the damage. It was late Sunday morning before we could begin to see the amount of destruction and then the feeling that we could get the timber moved and hurry and start the process of cleaning. That wouldn't take long, we would just begin and work at it, and then we could accomplish this great task. Monday morning found us ready to begin, all of our younger children had been taken to Rigby, Idaho to stay with their relatives and those children old enough to hep must work. Dee went with his wife and family to begin the work on their home. Clair and a few hired men and his brother-in-laws began working on the front end of the store.
As the work progressed there came that helpless feeling of not knowing what to do. Do we try and save things as bad as they are damaged, or do we just shovel everything out. Then came the problem with the water, all of the clean-up required water and when you used the water you were not sure that you wasn't causing someone else more grief because of sewage back-up.
When the task seemed impossible and the end was no where in sight a regional Representative of the Daton Tire and Rubber company came to help and also brought about 10 young men to help. They came prepared to take care of their own living needs, and were willing to do whatever you asked of them. The volunteers from other areas began arriving. Who they were or where they came from was not so important at the time only that they felt compassion in their hearts and a real desire to help a people in need. First the unskilled help came, those who could wash and shovel and lug and sort through the debris.
Then someone had also been prepared to see the need for skilled workers. Men who could again put things back in working order. Men who had no thought of a fee, men who would use all of their skill and education just to make things function for you. These volunteers were truly angels of mercy.
Garth Ogden from Blackfoot OK Tire Store sent his new service truck and a hired man for 2 weeks to the store to help anyone who had flat tires, and did not charge Thueson's or anyone else a penny for any help that was offered.