Hunt in Jerome County, Idaho — The American West (Mountains)

Soothing Waters

Minidoka Internment National Monument

— National Park Service, U.S. Department of the Interior —

Soothing Waters Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Don Morfe, June 26, 2009

1. Soothing Waters Marker

Inscription. The North Side Canal brought solace to internees homesick for the Pacific Northwest. Here in the dry Idaho desert, the canal reminded them of familiar scenes in Oregon, Washington, and Alaska, where flowing waters were commonplace. The canal was their home tie.

Internees spent hours sitting on the canal listening to and watching the soothing waters. Anglers in the camp demonstrated their skill catching fish from waters deemed---caught brought moments of escape----and confinement of camp life.

“Last night I walked to the river bank…reflected in the water were beautiful, and the sagebrush on the plain was red with the sun. I cried and prayed to God while gazing at the setting sun.”
Louis Fiset, Minidoka Internee.

NOT LIKE HOME. (inset photo at bottom of the marker) Torn from their homes, these two Bainbridge Island, Washington women watched longingly as the lush Pacific Northwest landscape faded from their ferry’s view. When they finally arrived at Minidoka after 10 months at Camp Harmony and Manzanar, they found few reminders of home. March 1942

Erected by National Park Service, U.S. Department of the Interior.

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Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Asian Americans • Civil Rights • War, World II. A significant historical month for this entry is March 1942.

Location. 42° 40.674′ N, 114° 15.066′ W. Marker is in Hunt, Idaho, in Jerome County. It is on Hunt Road 0.2 miles west of S1400E. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Jerome ID 83338, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in Idaho’s Magic Valley.

It is also in the American Mountain West.

Globally, it is in North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Minidoka Relocation Center (here, next to this marker); On Guard (a few steps from this marker); Garden Under Guard (within shouting distance of this marker); Honor Roll (within shouting distance of this marker); A Question of Loyalty (within shouting distance of this marker); Symbols of Imprisonment (within shouting distance of this marker); Running a Camp (about 400 feet away, measured in a direct line); Censored Mail (about 500

Photographed by Don Morfe, June 26, 2009

2. Soothing Waters Marker

feet away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Hunt.

Photographed by Don Morfe, June 26, 2009

3. Soothing Waters Marker

Photographed by Don Morfe, June 26, 2009

4. Soothing Waters Marker

Photographed by Don Morfe, June 26, 2009

5. Soothing Waters Marker

Photographed by Duane Hall, September 15, 2010

6. Soothing Waters Marker

North Side Canal image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Duane Hall, September 15, 2010

7. North Side Canal

As viewed from marker

Credits. This page was last revised on January 3, 2025. It was originally submitted on February 2, 2013, by Don Morfe of Baltimore, Maryland. This page has been viewed 907 times since then and 21 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5. submitted on February 2, 2013, by Don Morfe of Baltimore, Maryland. 6, 7. submitted on February 14, 2014, by Duane Hall of Abilene, Texas. • Bill Pfingsten was the editor who published this page.