Teton Dam Scrapbook Wells Grover Building

Object/Artifact

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The Museum of Rexburg: Home of the Teton Flood Exhibit

Name/Title

Teton Dam Scrapbook Wells Grover Building

Description

Wells Grover Building note reads: Prior to the June 5, 1976 flood the Wells Grover Estate Building, managed by Ross N. Reese, housed several businesses. Reese Realty, Eastern Idaho Production Credit, Pacific Finance, Farmers Insurance, and Farmers Home Administration each occupied offices on the front of the building. Greyhound Bus Lines with a front entrance to their ticket office occupied two large warehouses in the rear of the building for repairs and storage of their buses. Reese Realty occupied another warehouse portion in the rear for storage and construction supplies. When news of the dam break was sounded, the word was sent out it could get a foot deep down main street. What really happened was the 5 foot wall of water carrying logs, buildings and debris, came with such force it acted as a whirlwind entering front and rear making a complete shambles of everything inside. All leases were immediately terminated and clean up work began. Plans and revisions were contemplated and finally the building took on a new look. The Reese Realty office was actually a building in itself, having two floors, and was renovated and redecorated (again, after having been done one month prior to the flood), the damage front replaced in conjunction with the adjoining building and is now occupied by Western Carpet World. It was deemed feasible to use the old exterior walls on three sides of the adjoining building, and a new front was constructed on the lower part. Some walls being support walls for an apartment in the upper part of the building, were left inside and the building was divided into two large sections. This part of the building was opened from front to rear making one large store with openings between the sections, and is now leased by Chateau Drug & Hardware. A new face was put on the rear of the building with an attractive entrance from the parking lot which has been lighted and hard surfaced. The entire upper front has been faced and a new look has finally emerged.