Monday, June 30, 2014

Master of Ceremonies - Wasatch Academy Alumni Day - April 21, 1990 - Class of ‘40 Show


Lee R. Christensen's  Photos and Stories From Mt. Pleasant


Master of Ceremonies - Wasatch Academy

Alumni Day - April 21, 1990 - Class of ‘40 Show

Class of 40 at their 50th Reunion


It’s good to see a full house, a standing room only full house, because this show deserves a full house; it’s a great show and the price is right.

In keeping with my advertising background, I’ve got a commercial and a warning. All of the stars on this show are under contract to me. And while I hope you TV scouts, you movie directors and you theater producers in the audience can use their talents, I am their
agent and you must deal with me. I’ll be back in my office Wednesday in the Waldorf Towers.
That’s the Waldorf Towers, Fairview, Utah.

Lee's Waldorf Towers

Now we want you to sit back, relax and enjoy this great show. To you members of the Wasatch Academy Association, you need not worry about assessments in the future to cover this show. There are no hidden costs. All members of the cast have signed liability waivers.  Even if we strain a vocal cord reaching for a note we haven’t hit in 50 years, pull an aged hamstring or fall off the stage, we will not sue. So enjoy.

The star of our show, also the producer, the director, the choreographer, is Afton Anderson Mann.

Afton Anderson Mann

But her greatest achievement for this show has been as a talent scout, and her most astonishing find is a street musician from St. George, Roger Hansen. Roger, it is great to
have you with us.

Roger Hansen

And now for the show.
I wouldn’t have told this story in 1940, but I’ve checked with Headmaster Loftin and he assures me that the students of 1990 can handle this. So I am going to tell you about my first sexual experience. It happened right across the street on the Alice corner.
It was late afternoon and I was just sitting there in my car waiting for something to happen.  I had borrowed the car from Steve Keuseff’s cousin.

Stephen Kueseff

 Some of you will remember the Keuseffs. Great Wasatchers. As I was sitting there Doctor Holman came by. Some of you may remember the Doctor.

Doctor Holman

More of you will remember Phyllis, Camille, and Leon Holman.




When Dr. Holman came up he said “Buddy, what you doing?” He called me Buddy.  And I said, “I’m waiting for something to happen.” He said, “My golly, you’re in luck, something has just happened. I’ve delivered a baby to the Olsens".

"Would you like to see the box babies come in?” I   said “Yup.” I was always very curious.  So he put down his black satchel, opened it and pointed to a small tin box. “That’s it,” he said, “The box babies come in.” I said “Yup.”        

LaMar Olsen (the baby in the box)


  I was talkative in those days.   He closed his satchel, picked it up and walked toward main street. I pedaled my kiddy car down the street where the Alice is now. And that was my first sexual experience. And they never got any better.


Saturday, June 28, 2014

Influenza Epidemic of 1918

"The Influenza epidemic which had been sweeping over the United States, reached Mt. Pleasant in 1918, causing many deaths and much sorrow. Public gatherings were prohibited. Citizens were advised to wear muslin masks in an endeavor to prevent the spread of the dread disease."

History of Mt. Pleasant by Hilda Madsen Longsorf p201


"Of course in the beginning years, the scholastic offerings were restricted to the lower grades. The first high school class was graduated in 1887 and consisted of two members. There were no further graduates until 1895, when one student was graduated. Classes have been graduated each succeeding year, with the exception of 1900 and 1919. It was in this latter year that the local influenza epidemic made it impossible to continue after the first few weeks in the fall."
 HOM p 263


True or False? The Influenza Epidemic of 1918 killed more people than died in World War One.

View the Documents and Photos


Hard as it is to believe, the answer is true.
World War I claimed an estimated 16 million lives. The influenza epidemic that swept the world in 1918 killed an estimated 50 million people. One fifth of the world's population was attacked by this deadly virus. Within months, it had killed more people than any other illness in recorded history.
The plague emerged in two phases. In late spring of 1918, the first phase, known as the "three-day fever," appeared without warning. Few deaths were reported. Victims recovered after a few days. When the disease surfaced again that fall, it was far more severe. Scientists, doctors, and health officials could not identify this disease which was striking so fast and so viciously, eluding treatment and defying control. Some victims died within hours of their first symptoms. Others succumbed after a few days; their lungs filled with fluid and they suffocated to death.
The plague did not discriminate. It was rampant in urban and rural areas, from the densely populated East coast to the remotest parts of Alaska. Young adults, usually unaffected by these types of infectious diseases, were among the hardest hit groups along with the elderly and young children. The flu afflicted over 25 percent of the U.S. population. In one year, the average life expectancy in the United States dropped by 12 years.
It is an oddity of history that the influenza epidemic of 1918 has been overlooked in the teaching of American history. Documentation of the disease is ample, as shown in the records selected from the holdings of the National Archives regional archives. Exhibiting these documents helps the epidemic take its rightful place as a major disaster in world history.

View the Documents and Photos

Monday, June 23, 2014

Unknown Photos Found in Fairview Museum



It's been awhile since we posted unknown photos.  These were found at the Fairview Museum in an envelope stating "Historic Photos 1910 - 1930, Regarding Judge Ferdinand Ericksen".  Help us if you can identify them.  Sometimes looking at the background buildings help.   





Saturday, June 21, 2014

Mount Pleasant November 1876 Relief Society

Beloved Sisters and Friends !
 We make this appeal to you in all sincerity, after most serious thought on storing away grain while it is within our reach.  We wish is where possible the subject might be agitated in private until every Mother and Daughter should feel the necessity of immediate action.

It is the express wish of Pres. Young  that all sisters in all settlements set out to work with a will , and in energy become true Latter Day Saints and gather up grain and store it away against the day of want.

We the Sisters of Mt. Pleasant have met in council and have thought it best to ascertain what the Sisters can aid us in this laudable undertaking.

We have also thought that at the very least each sister or mother might help us to 1 bushel of wheat.

We also wish to be distinctly understood that every sister consult her husband and do nothing without his sanction or approval.

We also wish it to be known that all wheat donated to us at this time be stored away in a save place and kept sacred against the day of want.

The teachers going round will take the names of those who are willing to donate, and the amount donated with their names shall be entered in with the records of the Society.  Let it be understood that when we receive the names of the donors we will send round teams in the different wards to collect.

May the Lord bless those who are desirous to assist us in our efforts to do good, and may we be wise as Joseph in Egypt and as successful.

God grant that not one honest heart may falter.

Margaret F.C. Morrison, Pres.
Caroline Madsen, Councilor
Christianna Peel, Councilor
Louise Hasler, Secretary


Donors:

1st Ward
Christiana  Sina Jensen                                1 Bushel
Elizabeth McCarter                                     1
T. Winters                                                  1
Katherine Hafen                                          1
Lizetta Hafen                                             1
Sine Fowls                                                 1
Line and Stine Johansen                              3
Sarah Oldham                                            2
Emy Olsen                                                 1/2
Line Keller                                                 1/2
Mary Winkler                                             1
Tia Bramstead                                            1
Susannah Thalman                                      2
Lise Joplin                                                  1
Susannah Joplin                                          1
Mis Rolvsen                                               1
Teyentha Jensen                                         1
Kathrine Nelson                                          1
Lisse Fowls                                                1
Mary Jessen                                               1/2
Caroline Jessen                                           1/2
Emily Courts                                              1/2
T Caroline Larsen                                       2
Sophia Christensen                                     1
Sophia Jensen                                            1
Ellen Olsen                                                1 1/2
Mary Brooks                                             1
Nancy Racteen                                          1
Kathrine Nelson                                         1
Louise Hasler                                            1
Sine Peterson                                            1
Ellen Johansen                                          1/4
Mary Peterson                                          1/2
Stine Christensen                                      1
Johanna M. Peterson                                 1
Sine Anderson                                           1
Mary Peterson                                           1


























Sunday, June 15, 2014

Happy Father's Day (My Dad)


What Makes a Dad

God took the strength of a mountain, 
The majesty of a tree, 
The warmth of a summer sun, 
The calm of a quiet sea, 
The generous soul of nature, 
The comforting arm of night, 
The wisdom of the ages, 
The power of the eagle's flight, 
The joy of a morning in spring, 
The faith of a mustard seed, 
The patience of eternity, 
The depth of a family need, 
Then God combined these qualities, 
When there was nothing more to add, 
He knew His masterpiece was complete, 
And so, He called it ... Dad



Tuesday, June 10, 2014

David Lund Peterson



08/29/1925 ~ 06/09/2014
PetersonDavidDavid Lund Peterson, 88, of Mt. Pleasant, UT passed away June 9, 2014. David was born August 29, 1925 in Mt. Pleasant to Mouritz Charles and Christiana Matilda Emilia Peterson. He married Mary Lyle Mendenhall in the Salt Lake Temple on May 31, 1950.
David has spent his life in service to his community and his church. He was elected 5 times and served 18 years as a member of the North Sanpete school board, of which one term he served as President. He received special recognition for 50 years of service to the Pleasant Creek Irrigation Co., and served as President and water master. He was instrumental in spearheading the Gooseberry Narrows Project and many other water and irrigation projects. He had a love for the scouting program. He served as scout master for 20 years. David had a very strong testimony of the gospel, served in many callings and dedicated his life in service to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints.
Right from being a young boy David loved farming and knew that it was what he wanted to do. He raised sheep, pigs, mink, cows and many other animals. He raised his own hay, grain, wheat and grew seed potatoes. David was widely known for his mutton and sour dough dinners, 4th of July Breakfasts and Scout banquets.
Survived by Judith Sperry (sister), 7 children: David Leon Peterson, Susan Ann Thompson, Sarah Jane (Larry) Chatterley, Charles Allen Peterson, Martha Ellen (Jerry) Larsen, Mary Elaine (Michael) Murphy, Christianna (Kevin) Holman. 31 Grandchildren and 52 Great Grandchildren.
Preceded in death by his loving wife Mary Lyle Mendenhall, brothers: Albert Peterson and Lyman Peterson. Sisters: Eleanor Kjar Madsen, Lucille Blackham and Dorothy Victoria Blackham
Funeral services will be held Saturday June 14, 2014 at 12:00 noon in the Mount Pleasant 3rd Ward chapel (295 S State). Viewing will be held Friday from 6:00 – 8:00 p.m. at Rasmussen Mortuary and Saturday from 10:30 – 11:30 a.m. prior to services at the church. Interment in the Mount Pleasant City Cemetery. Online condolences at rasmussenmortuary.com

Tommy Leland Larsen ~ Obituary

Tommy Leland Larsen

11/01/1946 ~ 05/30/2014
Tommy Leland Larsen, 67 of Mt. Pleasant, Utah, passed away May 30, 2014 in Nephi, Utah. Tom was one of four children born to LeRoy & Carla Snow Larsen on November 1, 1946 in Mt. Pleasant, Utah. Tom was a hard worker and very dedicated to his family. He liked music and loved to dance.
Tom is survived by his sister Pat (Carl) Matthews, Farmington, NM; special cousin, Mont Larsen, Mt. Pleasant, along with many other cousins, nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents, brother, Jack and sister Glenna Nunley.
Graveside services will be Tuesday June 3, 2014 at 11:00 a.m. in the Mt. Pleasant City Cemetery. The grave will be dedicated by Bishop Jason Clawson. Pallbearers will be Mont Larsen, Clint Larsen, Quin Larsen, Shane Larsen, Jeff Parish, and Jeff Rappleye.
Donations can be made in Tom’s name to the Senior Citizens Center in Mt. Pleasant. Online condolences at rasmussenmortuary.com

Outbreak Of The Black Hawk War 1865 ~ Taken from the journal of Andrew Madsen




Location: 
vic. Salina Canyon Hwy.
SALINA
SEVIER County




Location: 
vic. N Hwy. 89
Just north of Indianola
UTAH County

In the evening a company made up at Mt. Pleasant and Fairview, visited the scene in search of the Indians, but they made their escape to the mountains.