Pardee was located on the upper Clearwater River. It was named for a Philadelphia capitalist and investor Alfred Day Pardee. He invested heavily into mining properties. According to Jennifer Stewart the town was platted in March 1902 and established in April 1902. It was right next to the river and the railroad tracks. The two dwindled and eventually only a post office was there. It closed in 1941.

Pardee came to central Idaho region in 1890 as part of the mining speculation. The sides of the Clearwater River are peppered with deposits of gold, silver and copper. The tramway extended from the Pardee townsite directly across from Six Mile Creek three miles directly up river across from Jackson Flat.

Though the mines never made anyone rich, from estimates of assays, they can provide a fair day/s wage for one willing to take the time to work them.

Besides homes, the mining town had a depot, post office and general store that kept the farmers of the area supplied.

The Bethmann family was one of those involved in the mining industray and Harry Bethman provided most to the money for the Tri-Metallic Mine. The legend persists about their connection to U.S. President Grover Cleveland.

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