August 1, 2001

Idaho’s Historic Alexander House to Undergo Restoration

Restoration work will begin this fall on the historical Alexander House, located in Boise and built in 1897 by Idaho Governor Moses Alexander, the country’s first elected Jewish Governor and former Mayor of the City of Boise.

Shortly before becoming the state’s 11^th Governor in 1915, Alexander paid two carpenters $3,200 to construct the picturesque Queen Anne dwelling located at 304 West State Street. Governor Alexander died in 1932 and his family continued to live in the home until 1975. His son Nathan M. Alexander sold the home to the State of Idaho in 1977.

Completion of the restoration project is expected shortly after the first of the year. About $400,000 of state money has been identified for mostly structural work on the multi-use historic building. The state has also applied for a $250,000 federal "Save America’s Treasures" Millennium grant.

The Department of Administration has hired ZGA Architects and Planners, Chartered of Boise, to design the restoration of the home at 3rd and State Street. The structure was vacated last fall by the Idaho Commission on the Arts.

Idaho First Lady Patricia Kempthorne has retained the assistance of representatives from each region of the state to raise private sector funds to provide period décor, furnishing items, and historical wallpaper for the house. The committee has requested information from the public regarding interesting stories about the House and Alexander family life there, as well as any interior or exterior photographs of the house throughout its history.

"The Alexander House is truly an Idaho treasure and a very significant historical and cultural symbol of our state and our community. When school children visit here they will learn about a Governor whose legacy of leadership, business acumen, and civic commitment is a source of great pride to us today," Mrs. Kempthorne stated.

The purpose of the work is to preserve and restore the historic character of the House for use as an interpretive center for Idahoans to learn about the state’s heritage and about Governor Alexander who served the people of Idaho from 1915 to 1917 and the citizens of Boise as Mayor from 1897 to 1899 and again from 1901 to 1903. The home will not only be an attraction itself, but will be used to display a variety of historic/education presentations about Idaho state history.

When not in use for educational functions, the first floor of the building will be available for utilization by elected officials and state agencies for conference room space, or catered events. The house will have a fully functional kitchen and the second floor of the building will be designed as office spaces for one or two small state agency tenants. As Governor, Alexander enacted the Workers Compensation Law, oversaw construction of Arrowrock Dam, and made provisions for a system of state highways. As Mayor of Boise prior to serving as Governor, Alexander’s decisions assured that city sidewalks were constructed and streets were paved. He also obtained a Carnegie grant to build the original Boise Public Library and founded the Alexander’s Men’s Clothing Store in Boise.

To relay historic information, to share photographs both of the interior and exterior of the house, or to inquire about the design/construction project itself, contact Jan Frew, Division of Public Works, Department of Administration, at 332-1900.

To inquire about helping with private sector fund-raising for interior furnishings and decorations, contact Jennifer Hayes, Executive Assistant to the First Lady, at 334-2100.