Local sheriff finds historical treasure trove in office
Chad Huff’s cache reveals door into Payette County’s past
By Brandi Mack
Argus Observer
Tuesday, February 12, 2008 12:22 PM PST
Payette — The first sheriff of Payette County — J.H. Hanigan — stepped into office in 1917.
Since Hanigan became the top elected law enforcement officer in Payette County, 11 other men have put on the badge, including current sheriff, Chad Huff.
That legacy started by Hanigan turned out to be of particular interest to Huff, especially after he discovered an antique cabinet in his office when he was elected sheriff in 2005.
In the cabinet, Huff found old newspapers, sheriff’s day-books and a deputy’s log, all dated from 1970 and before.
Huff eventually contacted Payette Historical Museum specialist Ann Curtis and asked if she would like to display the items he found in the cabinet at the Payette Museum.
Huff said Curtis was interested, so they met at his office and he turned the items over to the museum.
“I turned these items over to her so the public could enjoy some of our local history pertaining to the sheriff’s office,” Huff said. “I had two old sheriff day-books, which were dated 1921 and 1938. I also had three old newspapers, Payette Sentinel, Independent-Enterprise and an Argus Observer. These newspapers dated back to 1948 through the 1960s. I also had a deputy’s log book from 1970.”
Huff’s interest in the sheriff’s office in Payette County expanded into a general curiosity regarding law enforcement in Idaho.
Huff’s interest led him to purchase a book on Idaho law enforcement, titled “Lawmen: The History of Idaho Sheriffs 1863-2000.”
“This book was excellent, and I learned much about past sheriffs throughout the state,” Huff said. “I am proud to be among a short list of sheriffs in Payette County. There have been 10 sheriffs before me, and I am honored and proud to serve as the 11th Payette County sheriff.”
Huff’s historical cache will prove vital to the Payette County Museum, Curtis said. She said they are working on many files to transcribe them and put them on a computer.
“Former Sheriff Bob Barowsky brought me two big boxes of items,” Curtis said. “There are a lot of murder cases that were in the boxes. We just don’t know what happened because they don’t go any further than the sheriff’s office.”
Curtis said there are 10 letters signed by J. Edgar Hoover, which have something to do with the cases. She said the investigative papers include a lot of information from the detectives that worked on the cases, including information on suspects.
“We just don’t know what happened,” Curtis said. “But, if there is anybody that knows anything about some old murder cases, come see us. That would be cool.”
Curtis said Huff’s historical cache included a notice of bond for the courthouse and some FBI reports.
“Eventually, we’ll have quite a collection of things from a variety of eras in the county,” Curtis said.
Curtis also said if there are any family members of some pioneer families in the county, she said to bring copies of anything they may have from the pioneers.
