05 Thursday Apr 2018
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DUP Marker # 555 in Layton, for other DUP Markers visit this page.
In my exploring and searching out these historic markers I talked to an employee at Layton Cycle & Sports and asked about the plaque that was supposed to be on the building – he said that a lady had taken it until after the remodeling so I’ll try back later and hopefully get photos of it.
30 Friday Mar 2018
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The First School House in Wyoming
In 1860 Judge Wm. A. Carter erected this school house for the education of his four daughters, two sons and other children of the fort. Competent instructors from the east were employed and the students of this school were permitted to enter Eastern colleges without further preparation. Thus the way was paved for future education in Wyoming.
This is D.U.P. Marker #52, located at Fort Bridger, see others in the series here.
22 Thursday Mar 2018
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Bluemel Homesteads
The Bluemel brothers, Henry John and William Oswald (Will) from Randolph, Utah, came to the Bench in February 1891 to establish the first homesteads after the Army opened the area yo homesteading. Because the elevation is higher than the post headquarters at Fort Bridger, the area was named “The Bench.” After staking claims, Will returned to Randolph to bring back their father, Henry Carl, to help them build the first house. It was a small, one-room structure built of logs with a dirt roof. Henry Carl and Will returned to Randolph to care for their family while Henry John spent the first winter alone in this home.
Will married his sweetheart, Emily Louise Pearce, in 1894 and brought her to his homestead. In 1895, Henry John married Melissa Jane Stewart, a daughter of James Wesley Stewart. Stewart was a scout in the Brigham Young party. Mary Elizabeth, a young sister of the Bluemel brothers, came for a visit. She met and later married James Wiley Stewart, a son of James Wesley.
As the area grew, the need for a community center became apparent. The first center, measuring 18 by 30 feet, was build on this site. The building served as the first church, school, community hall, and overall general meeting place. As the area continued to expand, the center was replaced by a larger building in a different location.
The Henry John homestead is still owned by his descendants who bought part of the William Oswald homestead to accommodate their growing family. This monument stands where the two homesteads come together.
See other D.U.P. Historic Markers here.
20 Wednesday Dec 2017
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We hold in sacred memory those sturdy and brave pioneer women, who left their homes in the Eastern United States or sailed from the foreign lands; that trekked across hills, plains, and mountains, forded streams and rivers, birthed and buried loved ones along the trail. Others followed, with faith in every footstep, arriving in Price River Valley. Contributing their ethnic traditions and religious beliefs; each endured hardship to conquer this desert, make a home, provide for their posterity and contribute to the settlement.
The women hoed and helped husbands, fathers, sons and daughters to prepare the soil and plant. They prayed for sun and rain, in turn; fought off crickets, grasshoppers or prairie fires in order to save their crops. They harvested, gleaned, and ground wheat on gristmill stones, lovingly shaped loaves of bread and baked in earthen ovens. They blessed and broke break, together, as families and friends.
In honor of these pioneer women’s contributions, in June of 1928, Price’s Mayor, W.F. Olson, deeded DUP land for the Pioneer Evergreen Park. Price Company Daughters of Utah Pioneers, their families, and Boy Scouts of America cleared the area and prepared for the monument and statue to be erected. Local artist, Dean Fausett, created an original statue of a pioneer woman in a walking position, dressed in a long dress with a bonnet hanging down her back, and a sack of grain over her left arm, to adorn the top of a rock cairn built by Dan Morley. The dedicatory prayer for the original monument was offered by Bishop George Jorgensen, September 7, 1931. Years later, the cement statue and bronze makers disappeared.
In 2009, a search began to locate the monument’s history. DUP minutes revealed that the original statue was modeled after Florence Virginia Horsley Jorgensen. News articles and photographs were provided to Gary Prazen, a local sculptor, to recreate the replica in enduring bronze. Richard Morley, repaired the original rock monument.
Price City Centennial Year Celecration of 2011 marks the rededication of Price Company Daughters of Utah Pioneer’s efforts to restore “Pioneer Women” to honor all women residing in this multinational community, united in their preservation of the past and dedicated to prepare for Price’s future.
This monument is #564 of the D.U.P. Markers and is located in Pioneer Park in Price, Utah.
30 Thursday Nov 2017
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A small cluster of historic markers, a wagon and a cabin are all located here in the back of an LDS Church parking lot.
SUP Historic Marker #33 – South Cottonwood Campground
This area, 56th South and Vine Street, known as South Cottonwood, was one of the early religious and social centers for the Church in the Salt Lake Valley. To the north of here about 600 feet was a campground used by the stone haulers for the Salt Lake Temple, the site being approximately halfway between the quarry and the temple ground.
Also, may it be remembered that for those sturdy men who struggled here; the summer heat, spring and fall mud, and inadequate equipment made the task difficult. But they prevailed.
(see other SUP Markers here.)
South Cottonwood Temple Granite Rest Camp
Since 1848 this area has been known as South Cottonwood and was one of the early religious and social centers of the pioneers in the Salt Lake Valley. Approximately 600 feet north of this site, was the campsite used by stone haulers who transported large granite blocks to the Salt Lake Temple. These sturdy men moved many tons of stone with horses and wagons until a narrow gauge railway was constructed for the quarry into Salt Lake City. The wagon displayed here is a replica of similar wagons used then. On it is a stone from the old narrow gauge railway as well as large stones found along the wagon trail, from the Sandy area farm of John Smart. Marks of the rock drill are still plainly visible.
Relief Society Granary
The old Rock Granary exterior has been preserved as closely to its original construction as possible. As early as 1845, the pioneers were advised to store grain. On December 14, 1876, Bishop Joseph S. Rawlins asked the Relief Society Sisters living in this area to store wheat. Mary Rawlins was appointed chairman of the Granary building committee. Donations were received and a temporary wheat bin was built. Young men gathered the rocks, much of it from the granite quarry at the mouth of Little Cottonwood Canyon, and the rest from stones found in this area. On May 17, 1878, this granary was completed, ready to store its first deposit of 195 bushels of wheat.
DUP Marker #100 – The Old Rock Granary
As early as 1845 Brigham Young advised the Saints to store grain. December 14, 1876 Bishop Joseph S. Rawlins asked the sisters living in this vicinity to store wheat. February 8, 1877 the first donations were received. A temporary bin was built. Later, a tract of land 20 rods wide was given for the granary. On July 13, 1877 Mary Rawlins was made chairman of the building committee. Some of the young men were asked to haul the rock. On May 17, 1878 the granary was completed. (see the page for this DUP Marker here)
16 Thursday Nov 2017
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Wight’s Fort Cemetery
Early Pioneers displayed determination of spirit and purpose, even death, disaster, or elements of nature could not drive them away. About 1853, on a small knoll just south of Wight’s Fort, an Indian baby was buried. The first West Jordan pioneer child to die was a son, born to Lyman and Harriet Bateman Wight. He was buried next to the Indian infant. There two graves were the beginning of the Wight’s Fort Cemetery.
Trees and shrubs were planted to provide protection from drifting sand and to provide cooling share over the graves of the early settlers.
Sadly, many of the native sandstone headstones and markers have eroded with time, but the memories of these stalwart early settlers live on in the hearts of their descendants.
We honor the resting place of many of the early settlers of Wight’s Fort, especially the original families listed in order of their arrival: John Bennion, Samuel Bennion, Lewis Wight, Lyman and Harriet Bateman Wight, Charles Wight, John Irving and Mary Street Bateman, Joseph Stacy, J.H. Murdock, John Loveless, John Elmer Cutler and Sheldon Cutler.
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28 Friday Jul 2017
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DUP, Gardens, historic, Historic Markers, LDS Church, Manti, Pioneers, Sanpete County
The PIONEER HERITAGE GARDEN is located at the foot of the Manti Temple on the north end of Manti City next to the Pioneer Cemetery. Manti City boasts the most beautiful entrance to town in all of Utah.
The 2.24 acre site is part of the largest green space along the entire length of Heritage Highway 89. Manti’s beautiful gateway is framed by the Manti Temple, the Pioneer Cemetery and the Pioneer Heritage Gardens.
The Pioneer Heritage Gardens includes a reflecting pond, amphitheater, statue, interpretive pathways emphasizing pioneer stories and values. Come and ponder for a while.
DUP Marker #32 is also here.
25 Tuesday Jul 2017
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DUP, historic, Historic Markers, Orem, Provo, utah, utah county
Early Settlers Worked to Bring Water to Their Land
Absence of water was an obstacle to the early growth and development of the level, elevated ground north of Provo known as Provo Bench.
Landowners found the area’s rocky soil suitable for growing fruit trees. However, watering the trees required hauling water in barrels from the nearby Provo River. At the request of Brigham Young, the second president of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, the river was studied by Jesse Fox, surveyor general of the Utah Territory. He found the river full and free of claims and reported that the water was available for the taking upon the settlers’ terms. Believing canals would make cultivation and colonization of the bench feasible, landowners forned the Provo Bench irrigation Company and began construction on the Provo Bench Canal in 1862.
The canal started at the mouth of Provo Canyon, ran southwest along the east edge of the bench, and ended just above 400 South in Orem. With mules and homemade tools, workers excavated a furrow from the river toward the bench. As water filled the furrow and soaked the ground, workers widened and deepened the canal and directed it further toward the bench.
Building the canal was an arduous task and every settler pitched in. Some men worked in payment of their road-ditch tax, which required every male over eighteen to work on public roads or ditches. Completed in the mid-1860s, the canal was 2 feel deep and 6 feet wide and carried water to 2,000 acres of parched land. Soon afterward, the canal was enlarged to irrigate 4,000 acres, increasing the value of the land from $1.25 to $2.00 per acre. Construction of other ditches began, and eventually a network of canals and ditches watered the Provo Bench.
Water, good soil, and hard work transformed the bench from a desolate sagebrush and rock prairie to a thriving community renowned for its fruit production. The City of Orem was incorporated on the bench in 1919.
Click here to see other DUP Markers.
25 Sunday Jun 2017
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Beaver, Courthouses, DUP, historic, Historic Markers, Millard County, utah
Beaver Territorial Courthouse
Beaver Territorial Courthouse is considered one of the finest examples of Pioneer architecture. The architect, K.A. Kletting, designed the building in the Queen Ann style with Victorian overtones. The courthouse was constructed under the direction of William Stokes, a soldier of the Union army, stationed at nearby Fort Cameron. Constructed of local materials, the courthouse was built between 1877 and 1882, twenty-one years after Beaver was settled. The original cost of construction was $10,900. the three-storied structure had a deep basement made of black volcanic rock, and the upper portion was constructed of red brick. The building was finished with a tower, which was equipped with a good striking clock which faced all four directions. The clock chimed hourly. Throughout the years additions have been made to the original structure. Vaults and a county jail built of pink sandstone were eventually added to the courthouse.
Beaver was proclaimed the seat of the Second District Territorial Court in September 1870. During that time, the courthouse served as the center of justice for the expansive territory bordered by the Colorado River on the east and south and Nevada Territory on the west. Utah received statehood in 1896 and the Beaver Territorial Courthouse became known as the Beaver County Courthouse.
The courthouse survived a fire in 1889, an earthquake in 1901, and intended demolition in 1970, when a new courthouse was constructed. The courthouse was saved from demolition by the diligent efforts of Beaver Company Daughters of Utah Pioneers. Their committee, comprised of Susie Beeson, Clerynth Larson, Lulu T. Tanner, Viola Yardley, Phoebe Warby, Alta C Hickman, Margery Mackrell, Delia Nowers, Beatrice Hurst, and Jessie Ward, petitioned State Senators and County Commissioners to save the building. On December 5, 1974, county officials and DUP signed a 100-year lease which saved the historically significant courthouse. The building is now used as a DUP Pioneer Museum, and it is hoped that the building will remain in place for many generations for all posterity to enjoy. Renovations were completed in 2010.
See other DUP Markers here.
10 Wednesday May 2017
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DUP, historic, Historic Markers, Monroe, Sevier County, utah
During the winter of 1866-1867, William Cordingly built a small log cabin in the settlement of Alma, and by early spring the house was ready for his family. Indian troubles forced some of the original settlers to abandon their homes and leave this community. In 1871, when they returned, the name of the town was changed to Monroe.
One of the first families to occupy the cabin was that of Neila Mickelson. The Soren and Kristine Madsen family soon followed. Sunday School and choir practice were held here as well as many public functions.
In 1931, Camp Alma, Daughters of Utah Pioneers, decided to procure the Cordingly cabin for a relic hall. Dwight Swindle, on whose lot the cabin stood, gave the cabin to Camp Alma. In 1937, the husbands of the members along with other townspeople helped jack up the cabin and move it to the northeast corner of the Monroe North Ward property.
The cabin had no roof, floor, windows or foundation. Renovation began. Industrious members sewed and wove twelve large balls of rags together for the rag carpet. They lined the walls, covered the ceiling with White Factory and painted the interior. Many relics were given to furnish the cabin, and on May 27, 1938, Camp Alma held its first meeting in the new Relic Hall. On July 23, 1950, the cabin was moved to its present site on Main Street.
DUP Marker #468 in Monroe, see other DUP Markers here.
