The Day Everything Changed: My Dad, Our Dream, and the Foundation We Built
Tim Burgess - Surveying the property of the Tolleth Home
The Day Everything Changed
Five years ago today, my world quietly shifted forever. It was the day we found out my dad had ALS and although we didn’t say it out loud, we both knew what that meant. We had just spent nine of the most meaningful months of my life side by side, bringing new life to the Tolleth Home. I thought we were just building a venue. But looking back, we were building something much deeper the foundation of my dream, and the last big project we would do together.
A Reluctant Start, A Quiet Legacy
When I first told my dad I wanted to buy the Tolleth Home and turn it into a venue, his response was classic Dad: “This is a lot.” Then, after a beat, “It’ll be fine.” He wasn’t thrilled about the scale of the project at first, but he showed up anyway, like he always did. And as the months passed, something shifted.
The outpouring of community support was immediate. Neighbors, longtime Meridian residents, and antique shop regulars stopped by to share stories and cheer us on. My dad began to see what I had always seen: that this house still had a story to tell, and people were ready to hear it again. He dove in wholeheartedly. From coordinating with the city and reviewing every permit to mapping out a 10-year renovation plan. He helped me vet contractors, troubleshoot plumbing, and figure out the tiniest quirks of a 1907 Victorian. His experience as a civil engineer became our greatest asset and his mind, a blueprint I tried to memorize. Because not long after we began, everything changed.
Tim Burgess - fixing the front porch of the Tolleth Home
The Hardest Day
October 23, 2020. Five years ago today. The day we found out he had ALS. The day everything we were building shifted. We didn’t say it, but we both knew he wouldn’t be here to see it finished. He had just retired in 2019, ready to enjoy life, help with the house, and support me in this new chapter. The diagnosis came like a gust of wind, and the decline came fast.
Those next few months were filled with quiet moments, unfinished plans, and me trying to soak up every ounce of knowledge and presence I could. He never stopped showing up. Even when he couldn’t swing a hammer. He made sure the project stayed rooted in logic, integrity, and heart.
Elizabeth & Tim Burgess: Fall 2020
The Foundation Beneath It All
My dad was the foundation of this dream, literally and figuratively. He shaped the groundwork of Hidden Gem Events and shaped me. This house carries his handprints, his wisdom, and his belief in what I was building. It also carries his legacy beyond its walls.
Bear Creek Park
If you visit Bear Creek Park in Meridian, you’ll now find a memorial Jeep at the playground. An ADA-compliant and designed for every child to play. Our family once owned land that became part of this park, and it’s no surprise to me that even in memory, my dad is still creating ways for others to enjoy the city he helped build. He was always 30 years ahead with his civil engineering career. Quietly, humbly planning for the future of Idaho’s communities.
So if you stop by Bear Creek Park, I hope you’ll visit the Jeep. Think of my dad. Think of the people who build things they may never get to fully see completed, but who lay the foundation anyway. Out of love, legacy, and vision.
Tim Burgess Memorial: Bear Creek Park