Payette County ID Archives News.....Payette Flew 1st Flag Carrying Idaho’s Star July 1, 1965
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Patty Theurer seymour784@yahoo.com December 29, 2005, 8:30 pm

The Statesman July 1, 1965
The Statesman
Boise, Idaho
July 1, 1965

Payette Flew 1st Flag Carrying Idaho’s Star

PAYETTE-An American flag with 43 stars—the first of its kind in the country—
flew from the roof of the Payette railroad depot early in the morning of July 
3, 1890—the day Idaho became the 43rd state. 

This was the story told by the late Mrs. D. C. Chase to Mrs. George B. Coates 
of New Plymouth.

The original flag with 43 stars was made by Mr. and Mrs. Chase.  This is the 
story of its creation.

“In 1889 Idaho Territory had reached the qualifications for becoming a state.  
Aug. 6, 1889, a state constitution was signed.    April 3, 1890, the National 
House of Representatives passed the Statehood Admission Bill.  The Senate did 
the same July 1, 1890.

“Territorial delegate Fred Dubois wanted to wait until July 4 to admit the 
State of Idaho into the Union.  Again President Benjamin Harrison patiently 
explained, ‘Idaho should be come a state on July 3.  By doing so the 43rd star 
would be added to the flag the following day.  Otherwise, a whole year would 
pass before the flag would be entitled to star No. 43.  That is the law.’

“Therefore, Delegate Dubois consented by handing President Harrison the pen 
which signed the document enrolling Idaho the 43rd state in the Union.”

Mr. D. C. Chase was station agent in Payette.  Mr. and Mrs. Chase and their 
daughter, Fredricka, and son, Carl, lived in the depot. 

The news of the new state came by telegraph:  “A new state—Idaho—today.  A new 
star in the flag tomorrow.”  The time was 4:30 p.m.

Mrs. Chase said “there won’t be a flag with 43 stars tomorrow unless we make 
one.”  Then, the Chase family realized they didn’t really know the American 
flag.  They hadn’t seen one for months.

Others in the community didn’t know how the flag looked either.  Finally, in an 
old dictionary a very small picture of the American flag with 38 stars was 
found.  This was used as a guide.  

Mrs. Chase shopped for flag material, going to the Moss Mercantile and Lamme’s 
General Store.  

Used Red Flannel
She bought the only suitable red material—red flannel.  There wasn’t enough in 
the stores, so she used Mr. Chase’s red flannel underwear.  “He didn’t need it 
in July anyway,” he noted.  

Mrs. Chase bought unbleached cotton muslin cloth for the white section and blue 
calico with small white stars in it for the blue.  

Mr. and Mrs. Chase worked until midnight getting the stripes in place.  Then, 
the work of making stars began.  Since the wrong side of the blue calico was a 
dull grey and the right side was a bright blue with figures of stars, Mr. and 
Mrs. Chase did some scheming so as to have both sides of the flag the same.  
Using the blue field in a sandwich style—blue calico, unbleached muslin, then 
blue calico again, it was ready for stars.  

Star Problem
Getting the stars placed was another big problem.  The star pattern was placed 
on the blue field and traced around with a pencil, then sewed on the sewing 
machine.  The blue calico was cut out leaving the unbleached muslin star.  On 
the reverse side the blue muslin was cut out also—making perfect stars to be 
seen on both sides of the flag.  Then, the blue field was sewed to the red and 
white stripes.  

The flag was finished as the sun was rising beyond the hills.  With an axe Mr. 
Chase split a long board, nailed the finished flag to it and climbed to the 
ridge of the depot roof and nailed the pole in place. 

Flag Seen Soon
There were few trees in Payette then, so the first flag was soon seen.  There 
were people at the depot most of the day for celebrations.  

Trains came and went during the day.  “The only flag we have seen between 
Pocatello and Portland” was the comment from the trainmen.

The flag disappeared during a public meeting in about 1898.  It had been 
borrowed for many celebrations.

Mrs. Chase said “we were sorry to lose the flag.  Somehow we thought perhaps 
some day Idaho would have a museum and this flag would be important for the 
future.”


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