SANDPOINT — As plans were being put together to celebrate the 250th anniversary of Paul Revere’s famous horse ride, Julie Ellsworth knew she needed to take action. 

The planned celebration wasn’t set to have a Revere, not in costume or on horseback, and Ellsworth, the state treasurer, wasn’t going to let that happen. So, she grabbed her spuddy buddy, the mascot of the Idaho Potato commission, and got to work on a life changing moment.

Using the sewing skills she learned from her childhood, Ellsworth transformed the potato into “Spud Revere.” Ellsworth’s first creation sat on the steps of the capitol during the celebration, and as the speeches wrapped up, a spark was lit. 

"When it adjourns constitutional officers and the governor were there and I expected people to flood up to shake hands with the governor, because that's usually what happens with the Constitution,” Ellsworth said. “They lined up to have a picture with [Spud Revere] and I was just watching it back, then I thought there is something about this.” 

Ellsworth, or as she can be referred to the “Creator-Tater,” would go on to bring 14 more revolutionary war ambassadors to life. Four of which made their way to North Idaho during a three-city tour on Wednesday, including stops in Sandpoint and Priest River. 

In addition to meeting the potato counterparts of historical figures, attendees got the chance to add their signature to a copy of the Declaration of Independence that will hang in the state capitol rotunda. Ellsworth said they have collected around 5,000 signatures from across the state so far and are hoping to gather 20,000 by the time the tour wraps up. 

“When I am in the Capitol building, I feel a tenderness towards Idaho and the Idaho history of creating that beautiful structure,” Ellsworth said. “And then I think the people that built this building would be happy to see that declaration.” 

Ellsworth’s passion for revolutionary war figures is clear from even a passing discussion, and she said that the spuds are her way of bringing that joy to others. She has also written stories for the characters that detail the real life of the figures, in potato form, which will be presented to school children in the fall. 

All the spuds come with potato-themed pun names, from “George Washingtater” to “Betsy Tots.” Ellsworth said she tries to work “tot” into all the female characters names because she is the “Creator-Tater.”  As a former teacher, Ellsworth said she’s seen the spuds, and their stories, bring the characters to life with children. 

“I love the personalities of the Revolutionary War, and I want people to know them and love them. But when you teach, you know that you need to get people's attention in a world of everything,” Ellsworth said. “In my 20s, I wanted to work for the Muppets and create costumes and create personalities with costumes, and this is pretty close to that.” 

When creating the spuds, Ellsworth said she worked tirelessly to get them to look as accurate to their historical counterparts as she could. Some were easy, but others like John Adams were more difficult to nail down. 

“John Adams, I had a real problem with his hair. And I'm like, John, like, what is going on here?” Ellsworth joked. “So, I made Abigail [Adams], but John Adams was always in Europe on assignment, but I just, I just hated this hair so much that I really had to wait, you know, and it wasn't for about three months before I actually made John.” 

As part of the America 250 celebration, Idaho’s state Liberty Bell will be making the rounds after its repairs are complete. Ellsworth, who pushed for the bell to be included in the celebration, said that the bell should be making its way up north in a custom-built “carriage” sometime this fall. 

“I've always had a sense that I am standing on the shoulders of a lot of sacrifice, but then getting involved in this, and now I feel like I know and I love them, with all their foibles,” Ellsworth said of the Revolutionary War figures. “I just absolutely love them, even though some of them have very bad hair styles.” 

When they aren’t traveling, the spuds are on display, alongside the signed Declaration of Independence, at the Idaho State Capitol in Boise. More information about Idaho’s America 250 celebration can be found at america250.idaho.gov. 

    Sandpoint resident Berit Ollestad signs her name on paper that will be transferred to a replica of the Declaration of Indepdence.