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Crump: How Fighting Creek Was Named

Former Fighting Creek "mayor" Ron Johnson stands outside the landmark two-hole outhouse at the Fightin' Creek Tavern Saturday, the last day of operation under current owner Janell Chmelar (cq). The "mayors" were elected annually in a rowdy function where cheating was encouraged and votes were bought for a dollar. Their duties included stocking the outhouse with toilet paper and shoveling snow around it. The future of the local hangout and roadside bar is uncertain, but a final night of merriment was planned for Saturday evening. Jesse Tinsley/The Spokesman-Review (Jesse Tinsley)
By D.F. Oliveria daveo@spokesman.com(509) 319-0354

In the Twin Falls Times-News, columnist/opinionator Steve Crump claims you’re not a real Idahoan unless you’ve been to 10 places he lists in today’s column, including Fighting Creek and Desmet. Have you ever wondered how Fighting Creek got its name? Steve provides the answer: “In 1902, when the Coeur d’Alene Indian Reservation was first opened for homesteading, the settlers had a big dance. Two of the women at the dance got into a hair-pulling, face-clawing set-to. The next day during a discussion about a suitable name for the settlement, a man — of course — suggested Fighting Creek. Guys love chick fights.” You can see what Steve says re: the other places including how Desmet got its name here .

  • Cutline: In this 2005 file photo by Jesse Tinsley/SR, f ormer Fighting Creek “mayor” Ron Johnson stands outside the landmark two-hole outhouse, which at the time doubled as a chamber of commerce office.

Question: Do guys really love chick fights?

* This story was originally published as a post from the blog "Huckleberries Online." Read all stories from this blog