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Published: October 6th 2022
Center of the Universe - Wallace
Manhole cover is the center of the universe Several years ago, Natalie and I both read
The Big Burn by Timothy Egan, which is the story of the worst wildfire in US history in early August 1910. One of Natalie’s hopes for this little expedition of ours was to visit the town at the center of that story, Wallace, ID, since we would be driving right by on our way to Missoula on Saturday.
Instead of making a stop at Wallace, we decided to stay a few days longer in Coeur d’Alene and make Wallace a day trip, since it’s only an hour down the road. It would also give us a preview of our drive when we leave Coeur d’Alene on our way to Missoula, MT on Saturday.
Wednesday looked to be a beautiful day for the trip, so we took it and had a wonderful, enlightening, and amazing day for the effort.
First and foremost, there’s a whole lot more to the town of Wallace than 925 people and the history of a big fire. The town’s main business is silver mining, but even more important is the simple fact that Wallace is the Center of the Universe; maybe even the only one on
Center of the Universe
architecture and style earth. Just because it’s important, we’ll include the complete decree for your pleasure:
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The Mayor’s Proclamation
I, Ron Garitone, Mayor of Wallace, Idaho, and all of its subjects, and being of sound body and mind, do hereby solemnly declared and proclaim Wallace to be the Center of the Universe.
Thanks to the newly discovered science of “Probalism” – specifically probalistic modeling, pioneered by the Environmental Protection Agency and the Department of Health and Welfare, and peer reviewed by La Cosa Nostra and the Flat Earth Societyt – we were further able to pinpoint the exact center within the Center of the Universe; to wit: a sewer access cover slightly off-center from the intersection of Bank and Sixth Streets.
Upon discovering this desecration of the Center of the Universe, we proceeded forthwith to remove said manhole cover and replace it with this fine monument, directing all who come upon it to the Four Corners of the Universe, these being the Bunker Hill, the Sunshine, the Lucky Friday, and the Galena Mines. Let the courses of all who foray upon these vectors into the known and unknown be forever illuminated by the brilliant, shimmering gleanings of silver,
18 mountain ranges to cross
Seattle to Chicago 18 ranges to cross lead and zinc to their destinations, wherever they may be.
The science of Probalism has its roots in the 2002 EPA Coeur d’Alene Basin Record of Decision, and as a syllogism expresses itself thusly: if a thing cannot be disproven, it is thereby proven. Thus if the communities of the Silver Valley cannot absolutely prove themselves to the EPA’s satisfaction to be good and healthy places to live, the this is proof that they require the EPA’s continued meddling in their affairs.
Similarly, after a search of the literature, our government contracted scientists in Moscow, Boise and Seattle have, after years of diligence, been unable to unearth one scintilla of proof that Wallace is NOT the Center of the Universe. In the absence of such proof, we are compelled to conclude that Wallace must therefore BE the Center of the Universe.
It is hereby so ordered and declare, this year 2004, this date, September 25
th, this hour 9:00 PM WUT (Wallace Universal Time)
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Otherwise, this little town is unpretentious, but celebrates its history at every opportunity. It is in the heart of one of the world’s largest silver mining districts, with a long record of
mining conflict and innovation, not to mention the wealth the mines continue to produce.
During one period of mining strife, the US Army brought a troop of Buffalo Soldiers to help restore order. Those African-American soldiers were among those who battled the Big Burn, and 20 of them, together with a doctor and a reporter, were the test team who rode bicycles from Missoula, MT to St Louis as a test of the idea to replace horses in the army. It took them 40 days for the 1900-mile journey. (Imagine riding a single-speed bicycle with all your gear on unimproved, rutted roads and even sometimes the railroad bed – that was the route in 1896-1897 when this took place.)
Wallace is the only town in America in which every building is on the National Registry of Historic Places. This came to pass because Wallace also had the very last stoplight on I-90 between Seattle and Boston because the citizens fought the federal government for 17 years for the town’s very survival.
Just so we don’t forget what brought Natalie and me here in the first place, the story of The Big Burn is an amazing and
Idaho's Silver Valley
Map showing where all the active mines are. engrossing true story of the way many factors can come together all at the exact right time to create a truly fearsome event. The story highlights some awesome heroism as well as some less than heroic behavior. For example, one of the main figures to remember from the fire was Ed Pulaski, a forest ranger who managed to save all but 6 of the men in his 40-man crew. While fighting the fire, he invented the Pulaski, a combination mattock and axe, as a firefighting tool still in use today.
We were able to visit the mining museum and the railroad museum, both very interesting and worthy of the time. The mining museum has an amazing collection of mining artifacts and it’s all mounted and presented in a very effective way to tell the story. The reconstructed mine-shaft even succeeds at giving a somewhat realistic sense of the darkness and close quarters the miners might think about while at work in the mine. They even have some very well done models of the mine arranged so we could sense the complexity of the mine shafts after they’ve been developed over many years.
The lady at the railroad museum
gave the two of us a very interesting tour. She knows her Wallace history and had an enormous collection of very interesting stories for us. This museum might have meant a little more to us after our anniversary train trip and time at the Sacramento Railroad museum. We mentioned that to our tour guide, and she said she had worked for a time at the Sacramento museum.
All in all, our day in Wallace was a very nice day.
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John Alderman, Jr
non-member comment
On becoming the "Center of the Universe"
The proclamation by the Mayor of Wallace is the finest description of a non-fact that I have heard. This is realty hilarious fun poked at the idea that you can declare truth by Probalism! Tom and Natalie: I love your blog, and am following your travels with great interest but even greater distance from your places! Keep it up. I am going to read this except to Pat will let you know what she says, if anything, Bro John