1924: The Year on Our Penny Floor

People have asked why "1924" is set into the penny floor of our caboose. Here's the story.

If you're new here: Janae and I own a caboose sitting on a railroad track in the West End of Boise. We spent the last few weeks laying its bathroom floor in pennies, and we open it as a place to stay on Halloween. If you are in Boise and would like an invitation to the party please let me know and I'll send you the details.

We named the caboose The Boise Jewell, after Janae's great grandpa, William C. Jewell. He went by Bill, and you'll find his name on the side of the caboose. In 1924, Bill married Minnie, and together they raised eight children. That family grew into a big one, and Janae is one of their descendants.

1924 mattered for trains in Boise too. For decades, trains reached Boise on a branch line out of Nampa and went back the way they came. In 1924, crews finished the Boise Cutoff, which put Boise on Union Pacific's main line so trains could run through town and on toward Mountain Home. Boise residents raised $250,000 to help make it happen. That same year, Union Pacific broke ground on the Boise Depot, which opened in April 1925.

Then there's our Model T. On June 4, 1924, Ford built its 10 millionth Model T. The engine block on ours carries a number in the 9 millions, so it rolled off the line earlier that year.

June 4 is also the day after my birthday. I was born in 1975 and turned 51 this year, and 51 years before I was born takes you back to 1924.

This Halloween, I'm going as Bill Jewell. I'm honored to dress as the man our caboose carries the name of, and that's my 1924 story.

The Boise Jewell opens October 31st, alongside Riverwalk Cottage next door. Our followers get the first chance to book a stay at janaeandmichael.com.

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