On Saturday, September 23, 2023, the Idaho Historic Sites Review Board unanimously approved the nomination of Malad’s American Legion Building of Post 65 to the National Register of Historic Places. Jean Thomas, Chair of the Oneida County Historic Preservation Committee, and Kirk Huffaker, the consultant who prepared the nomination, attended the meeting via Zoom as it was held in Coeur d’ Alene.

The Board also approved the Deary Garage in Latah County, the Melba Odd Fellows Hall in Canyon County, and the St. John Lutheran Church in Idaho Falls. The nominations now go to the federal office under the National Park Service that oversees the National Register. Word should be heard in the next 90 days on whether or not the federal office approves the nomination.

Oneida County sites already listed on the National Register of Historic Places include the Evans Co-op (now Malad Co-op), the Presbyterian Church, the Malad 2nd Ward Tabernacle of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (no longer designated as a tabernacle), the Jedd Jones house on North Main, the D.L. Evans bungalow on North Main, the Oneida County Courthouse, and the Samaria Historic District.  Except for the Courthouse, all sites were listed on the National Register in 1979.  The Courthouse was listed in 1987.

The American Legion Building was constructed from 1930-1935 by architect Moroni Charles Woods from Ogden, Utah.  The style is officially described as “Classical Revival” and was built with the aid of Legion members and the community at large.  Huffaker explained in the submission documents for the nomination that the American Legion Malad Post 65 is “locally significant in the area of Social History for its daily use for Legionnaires to serve veterans in programs under their four pillars: Veterans Affairs and Rehabilitation, National Security, Americanism, and Children and Youth.”  Huffaker pointed to the large number of uses and activities that have helped solidify the community beyond the Legion, including sports, community events, dances, and musical performances.

With regard to its architectural significance, he wrote that “over more than 88 years, the Post has exhibited a strong stylistic presence on Malad’s Main Street…Today it is the only high style Classical Revival building in Oneida County.”  Huffaker quoted from a 1919 biography of architect Moroni Woods stating that “in his plans, he combines beauty, utility, and convenience, his structures constituting an element of worth in the upbuilding and adornment of the district in which he operates.”  Special attention is called to the West façade, which includes “six full-height concrete pilasters with Corinthian capitals; [and a] pedimented gable adorned with a cornice of dentils.”

Though the building has seen modifications to the interior, those have been determined to take place within the original floorplan.  The basement was completed in 1970, with minor renomvation in 1977.  Insulation was added to the underside of the barrel-vaulted ceiling in 1985.  

In sum, Huffaker concluded “the property has excellent integrity in the qualities of location, setting, design, workmanship, materials, feeling and association with the Classical Revival, and work of architect Moroni Charles Woods.  It remains as one of the significant landmarks of Malad City, Oneida County, and southeastern Idaho.  

As required by the Historic Sites Review Board, a public meeting was held at the American Legion Building on Wednesday, September 20, at which the attendees could ask questions and discuss the National Register process. Chair Jean Thomas noted that the reasons for a building to be named to the National Register are 1) to recognize the historic significance of local properties and to allow local residents, including new residents, to understand the unique history of their hometown, 2) to preserve buildings of historic importance, and 3) to qualify more easily for grant funding.  “Having this building named to the Historic Registry is a big deal,” she said.  “Malad is changing, and we need to get this out there so people can learn the histories of these old buildings.”

The history of the building and its many uses by the American Legion, Legion Auxiliary, and War Mothers were discussed. Those in attendance also reminisced about the generosity of the Legion in allowing everything from boxing matches and basketball games to Christmas bazaars and wedding receptions to teen dances and class reunions to be held in the building.  Gene Caldwell specifically recalled never having won any of the amateur boxing matches held in the building, though he did remember having a good time trying.  “This is such an important place,” Kay Caldwell said.  “It’s home to our veterans.”

Dr. Thomas also dispelled some of the rumors that had circulated about the nomination, most notably that the ownership of the building would transfer to the federal government. Having a building on the National Register of Historic Places does NOT transfer ownership to the federal government nor allow the federal government to dictate the use of the building. Using examples of local buildings already on the Register, she said that ownership does not transfer but that the building could change ownership if the current owners desired, that repairs and improvements could be made to the building, and that the owners of the building would continue to determine how the building would be used and by whom.  In other words, a Historic designation is something with only positive benefits to a building and a location. 

After the public meeting, the members of the Oneida County Historic Preservation Committee met in another room, and the vote was taken in regard to forwarding the nomination to the Idaho Historic Sites Review Board. The vote was unanimous in the affirmative.  Members of the OCHPC are Jean Thomas, Chair, D.L. Evans, Dotty Evanson, J.D. Thomas, Larry Thomas, and Luke Waldron with Bill Lewis as liaison with the Oneida County Commission.