The Overland Stage

SUP Marker #4-D, located at the S.U.P. Building – see other S.U.P. Markers here.

America’s Greatest Historical Relay”
“It is not a pleasant, but it is certainly an interesting trip. Coaches will be overloaded, it will rain, the dust will drive, baggage will be left to the storm, passengers will get sick, a gentleman of gallantry well (sic) get angry, the drivers will swear, the sensitive will shrink, rations will give out, potatoes become worth a gold dollar, and not to be had at that, the water brackish, the whiskey abominable, and the dirt almost unendurable.”. . . Demas Barns’ diary dated 1866. (And) the original Overland Stage trip, St. Joseph, Missouri to Salt Lake City, took 21 days to complete.

In 1860, W. H. Russell of Pony Express fame joined Hockaday & Liggett as a business partner, bringing modern innovations to the Stage Coach Company. He placed relay stations every 10–12 miles, with fresh horses or mules at each station. He assigned new drivers every 80 miles, and cut the travel time to 10 days. He also had stagecoaches leaving daily, traveling in either direction. The coaches followed the Platte River to Fort Kearney, then to Julesburg, where it crossed the river, from there to Fort Laramie, to Fort Bridger, and through Echo Canyon to Parley’s Canyon with station stops at Wanship, Silver Creek (Kimball’s Junction), Mt. Dell, and at the mouth of Parley’s Canyon (in front of you, and just to the left). Later this station was called Dudler’s Tavern, and was owned by the Shear (Schaer) family.

The “old line” stage coach was a swinging, swaying vehicle hung on thoroughbraces (multiple leather straps) instead of springs, drawn by 6 mules or 6 strong horses. The drivers covered the same route in either direction, and knew the road so well they could travel at high noon, or during the dark of night without hesitation.

The coaches carried express packages and mail in addition to passengers. Each Passenger was allowed 25 pounds of luggage. The mail was sent for 10¢ a letter (compared to the later cost of $5.00 for ½ once for the Pony Express).

In March 1862, the stage coach line was purchased by Ben Holliday, a Salt Lake Valley resident. He had served as a courier for Col. Doniphan, and when he was only 28 years old, was a Wagon Master, bringing 50 wagons into Salt Lake City. For this he received sincere congratulations from Brigham Young.

As a new owner, Holliday extended the stage coach routes into many small towns and mining camps, still using the coach road through Parley’s Canyon as the main route. At the pinnacle of his career, he had 5,000 miles of stage coach line in operation, extending from the Missouri River to the Pacific Ocean, and into Idaho, Montana and Oregon. He employed 15,000 men, and had 20,000 wagons or coaches, and 150,000 animals in his company.

In November 1866, a “Grand Consolidation” took place, and Holliday merged with Wells Fargo, the assets of his company being placed at $2.4 million.

Charles Stillman Bridge

SUP Marker #4-F, located at the S.U.P. Building – see other S.U.P. Markers here.

Erected 1938 – Henry Blood, Governor
One half mile east of this location, a bridge was erected across the Parley’s Canyon gully so easier access to the canyon could be made from Wasatch Boulevard serving the southeast population of the valley.

The Wasatch Boulevard was built under the direction of Charlie Stillman during his administration as Salt Lake County Commissioner of Roads and Bridges from 1918 to 1922.

The Stillman Bridge spanned the Parley’s Gully tying the Wasatch Boulevard to the Parley’s Canyon Road. This bridge was named after Charlie Stillman and was erected in 1938. The Stillman Bridge stood in operation until the new four lane highway was built through Parley’s Canyon.

The bridge was removed September 24, 1964 to make way for the new modern overpass that could handle the increased traffic entering and exiting Parley’s Canyon.

Note: The Bronze plaque from the original bridge is also on the balcony at the SUP Headquarters Building. It was retrieved after the bridge was torn down in 1964. It reads as follows:
Charlie Stillman Bridge
Erected 1938
Henry H. Blood, Governor
Utah State Road Commission

U.S. Bureau of Public Roads
This Foothill Boulevard was built under the direction of Charlie Stillman during his administration as Salt Lake County Commissioner of Roads and Bridges 1918 to 1922

1997 Sesquicentennial Trekkers

SUP Marker #136, located at the S.U.P. Building – see other S.U.P. Markers here.

In July 1997, one hundred and sixty-eight people representing the first company of Pioneers retraced the original Mormon Pioneer Trail of 150 years ago. They commemorated the exodus from Nauvoo, Illinois of 1846 and the company’s continued trail from Winter Quarters in Florence, Nebraska to the Valley of the Great Salt Lake in 1847. The Sesquicentennial Motorized Trek participants entered the Valley and were greeted July 22, 1997 at the Canyon Rim Stake Center by President Gordon B. Hinckley, Sister Marjorie Hinckley and J. Elliot Cameron, Managing Director of the Trek.

President Hinckley reminded the participants that “you have done something extraordinary” and thanked the leaders for planning and providing one of the official Sesquicentennial events for honoring the Utah Pioneers. The co-chairmen of the Planning Committee were William H. Child and Harris Simmons.

Note: A separate plaque lists the “Participants on the Sesquicentennial Pioneer Trek – July 12-22, 1997”

Horace A. Sorensen

SUP Marker #4-L, located at the S.U.P. Building – see other S.U.P. Markers here.

In recognition of significant contributions to the Sons of the Utah Pioneers, the Sugarhouse Chapter expresses thanks and appreciation to Horace A Sorensen
February 6, 1899 – May 2, 1977

Horace Sorensen served as National President during consecutive terms from 1954 through 1956. Under his leadership, membership grew from eleven to thirty-five chapters. He also served as President of the Sugarhouse Chapter during 1949 and 1950.

Horace performed a vital role in the construction of the National Headquarters facility, located at the mouth of Parley’s Canyon, by providing significant financial assistance. On October 31, 1950, the Sorensen barn located at the family’s estate on Connor Street (Salt Lake City, Utah) was remodeled into a small museum dedicated by President George Albert Smith. This expanding collection was later donated to the Sons of the Utah Pioneers on November 6, 1953. The collection is housed at Lagoon (Farmington, Utah) and has grown into more than thirty buildings, homes, shops, etc. The sale of Pioneer Village to Lagoon Corporation provided the initial funds toward construction of the SUP Headquarters.

Horace was very prominent in converting the old penitentiary site into Sugarhouse Park where President Gordon B. Hinckley dedicated the SUP monument which was erected in June 1988.

Railroad Village, begun by the Sons of Utah Pioneers at Corrine, Utah, to commemorate the Golden Spike 100th Anniversary in 1969, was spearheaded by Horace Sorensen.

The Chapter also extends appreciation to his wife, Ethel Melville Sorensen, and his family, who supported him in these endeavors.

Flagpole at SUP Headquarters Bldg.

SUP Marker #193, located at the S.U.P. Building – see other S.U.P. Markers here.

Flagpole
Dedicated June 17, 2000
National President – Dr. Ray H. Barton, Jr.
National Past President – John W. Anderson
National Flag Chairman – Russell A. Cannon
Donated by individual donors and the following chapters:

Box Elder, Brigham Young, Buena Ventura, Eagle Rock, Glendora, Hole-in-Rock, Mills, Ogden Pioneer, Settlement Canyon, South Davis, Squaw Peak, Temple Quarry, The Mountain Valley, and Twin Peaks

Located at 3301 E. Louise Ave in Salt Lake, the S.U.P. Building has several of the S.U.P. Historic markers that can be found on this list.

Links to posts about markers and other things located at the S.U.P. Building:

• SUP #4 – The Golden Pass Road – Parley’s Canyon
• SUP #4-A – Early Pioneer Mills
• SUP #4-B – B&K Tannery
• SUP #4-C – Ensign Peak
• SUP #4-D – The Overland Stage
• SUP #4-E – Willard Richards
• SUP #4-F – Charles Stillman Bridge
• SUP #4-G – Handcart Companies
• SUP #4-H – Kanyon Creek Mill
• SUP #4-I – Brighton
• SUP #4-L – Horace A. Sorensen
• SUP #64 – Lambs Canyon
• SUP #136 – 1997 Sesquicentennial Trekkers
• SUP #193 – Flagpole at SUP Headquarters Bldg.
• SUP #224 – Mormon Pioneer Trail, Centennial Trekkers
• SUP #E-1 – Pioneer Industry in Parleys Canyon