HOME OF JOHAN FRIEDRICH FECHSER AND WIFE IDA CHRISTIAN JOHNSON ~~~(From our archives)

 

 

 This home has since been torn down.

A VARIETY OF PHOTOS TAKEN FROM THE ALICE PEEL HAFEN COLLECTION

 

Orange Seely Home
Later the home of Mary Miranda Seely

498 West Main Street, Mt. pleasant

(on back it says:  Maybe Aunt Miranda's Son)

 

Mary Miranda Seely Peel 

 

(back from above)

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 

Tressa and Azel Peel 

(Back from above photo)

MT. PLEASANT ELEMENTARY CIRCA 1952)

 

FOURTH OF JULY ROYALTY FROM THE PAST

1959 Top Photo: Sue Ann Seely, Marilyn Porter, Roberta Nelson, Joan Stevens

1976 Bottom Photo:  Ervin Brotherson (Team), Johanna M. Hafen, Helen Jolley, Florence Maxwell

 

DAVID SEELEY AND THE SETTLING OF SAN BERNADINO COUNTY, CALIFORNIA (From our archives)

David Seeley 

 

''Birth: Oct. 12, 1819
Whitby
Ontario, Canada
Death: May 24, 1892
San Bernardino

San Bernardino CountyCalifornia, USA

San Bernardino County Second District Supervisor 1869-1873 Chairman 1871-1873

Son of Jestus Azel and Mehitable(Bennet)Seeley.

He was born in Canada, farming till he became 18, making occaisional trips with his father, the owner of three sailing vessels. Leaving arrived in Iowa on the Mississippi River, he built two 100-ton barges. These were used in transfering frieght across the rapids for river steamers. He was the pilot for 3 years.
In July of 1846 he started for California and wintered at Council Bluffs. Joining a large party of Mormons he he started for Salt Lake City the next spring arriving in September.
He remained till November 1849, when he joined Pomercy's train via the southern route to the gold fields of California. On the way their company picked up nine survivors from an ill-fated Death Valley party who were bare footed and near starvation. Mr.Seely rached San Bernardino in 1850,mining for a while, he then went to San Francisco. He was appointed Captain of 50 wagons of mormon pioneers coming to San Bernardino.
After going to Los Angeles and then San Francisco he returned to Salt Lake City, after wintering there he led a train of fifty wagons to Southern California, another 50 wagons were led by Charles rich, Amasa Lyman and Andrew Lytle under the direction of Jefferson Hunt.

He and his brother James Wellington Seely established a mill in the San Bernardino mountains.He was the first Stake president of the Mormon Church in the colony. Served on a state-appointed commission with Brown to establish San Bernardino County.
He had married Mary Pettit and they had 10 children;
Abrilla Seely Satterwhite
Emma E.Seely Baker
Maria Isabelle Seely Corbet(1858-1911)
Caroline Seely Barton
David Randolph Seely
Walter Edwin Seely


(Photographs provided by the San Bernardino Historical and Pioneer Society)

Family links:
Parents:
Justus Azel Seeley (1779 - 1859)
Mehittabil Bennett Seely (1780 - 1861)

Spouse:
Mary Pettit Seely (1822 - 1911)

Children:
Mary Abrelia Seely Satterwhite (1847 - 1923)*
David Randolph Seely (1850 - 1942)*
Emily E Seely Baker (1852 - 1902)*
Caroline Ann Seely Barton (1856 - 1956)*
Celestia Seely (1860 - 1860)*
Walter Edwin Seely (1862 - 1908)*
Joseph Rodman Seely (1864 - 1865)*

Siblings:
Mary Seeley Hemingway (____ - 1881)*
Elizabeth Jane Seeley Young (1807 - 1900)*
William Stewart Seely (1812 - 1895)*
Justus Wellington Seely (1815 - 1894)*
Sarah Ann Seeley McGahen (1817 - 1885)*
David Seely (1819 - 1892)

*Calculated relationship

Inscription:
San Bernardino Pioneer plaque

Burial:
Pioneer Memorial Cemetery
San Bernardino
San Bernardino County
California, USA
Plot: block 2-7-2-space 6

Created by: Barbara LeClaire
Record added: Sep 16, 2007
Find A Grave Memorial# 21578218



Photos may be scaled.
C- Brenda Tyree Holder
Added: Jun. 3, 20Added by: Barbara Le Claire

Mormon San Bernardino (Wikipedia)

See also: The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in California
In 1847, after hostilities of the Mexican-American War had ended, the Mormon Battalion of the U.S. Army occupied San Diego and Los Angeles. A detachment of the Los Angeles troops, led by Captain Jefferson Hunt was stationed at the southern end of the Cajon Pass to protect Mexican ranchos from Indian raids. The story of the Battalion started in Council Bluffs, Iowa on July 10, 1846 and arrived in San Diego on January 29, 1847. Company C was dispatched to guard the Cajon Pass. On furloughs, Captain Hunt and others worked for Rancho Santa Ana del Chino owner Isaac Williams. After the War, the Battalion mainly went back to Utah. Many Battalion troops returned to families in Utah via San Francisco and the Sacramento area. A group led by Hunt traveled to Salt Lake City by way of the Old Spanish Trail through the Cajon Pass with which they were so familiar.
After rejoining his family in Utah, Hunt got the contract for mail delivery between Salt Lake and Los Angeles. He also organized several cattle drives, buying stock from ranchos owners to deliver to hungry Mormons in Utah. It was during this time that Hunt started preliminary negotiations with Williams with the idea of buying Rancho del Chino.
Mormon leader Brigham Young saw Southern California as a supply source for Utah, and as an immigration and mail stop between Salt Lake City and San Pedro, California. A group of almost 500 Mormons left Utah for California in 1851. They found abundant water in the valley, along with willows, sycamores, cottonwood and mustard, as well as the Yucca plant. The Mormon contingent was led by Captain David Seely (later firstStake President), Captain Jefferson Hunt and Captain Andrew Lytle, and included Apostles Amasa M. Lyman and Charles C. Rich. They first made camp at the Sycamore Grove, about 1.5 miles (2.4 km) southeast of the present Glen Helen Regional Park. They stayed until the sale of Rancho San Bernardino could be arranged.
In September 1851, Lugo sold the Rancho to members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints(Mormons). The Rancho included most of modern San Bernardino among other areas, though part of the northern areas of the City were part of Rancho Muscupiabe. The price for 40,000 acres (160 km2) was $77,000 with $7,000 down.
The Mormons built Fort San Bernardino at the site of the present county courthouse. Inside the fort, they had small stores, and outside, they grew wheat and other crops. They later moved outside the walls of the fort when feared-attacks did not materialize. The Mormon Council House was built in 1852. It was used as the post office, school, church, and was the county courthouse from 1854 to 1858.
April 1865 sketch of the ruins of the Mormon Elders' residence, occupied from 1848 until 1857, when theUtah War forced an exodus from the Mormon colony.
On November 7, 1852, Colonel Henry Washington, deputy surveyor (by contract with the United States Surveyor General for California) surveyed the San Bernardino Base Line and Meridian from a point just west of Mount San Bernardino, at an elevation of 10,300 feet (3,100 m), east of present-day Highland. The Base and Meridian lines serve as the initial surveying point (known as the point of beginning) for all of Southern California.
San Bernardino County was formed from Los Angeles County in 1853 based on Assemblyman Jefferson Hunt's bill. Captain Hunt was a leader of the Mormon expedition.
In 1853, the Mormons laid out the current street grid system, one mile (1.6 km) square, which is based upon the grid layout of Salt Lake City. Each block was 8 acres (32,000 m2). The plan was laid out by Henry G. Sherwood, and assisted by Fred T. Perris. The east west streets were numbered, from First Street to Ninth Street. The north-south streets were named Kirtland Street (later "A" street, then Sierra Way); Camel Street(later "B" Street, then Mountain View Avenue; Crafton Street(later "C" Street, then Arrowhead Avenue; Utah Street (later "D" Street); Salt Lake Street (later "E" Street); California Street (later "F" Street); Independence Street (later "G" Street"); Nauvoo Street (later "H" Street); and Far West Street; (later "I" Street). The Mormons also built a road in 1853 to Los Angeles The Mormons were also responsible for the school system, creating Warm Springs, a school still in use today, as well as a school at the present site of Pioneer Park.
The City of San Bernardino was first incorporated on April 1, 1854. Mormon Apostle Amasa M. Lyman (who was later excommunicated, then posthumously reinstated) was the City's first Mayor. Apostle Charles Coulson Rich became the second Mayor. At incorporation, there were approximately 1,200 residents, 900 of them Mormons. They dominated local politics and forbade drinking and gambling.
Mormons created the first timber road to the mountains, and a flour mill (on Mill Street). In 1855, they diverted water from Waterman Canyon to Town Creek by means of a flume.
The Mormons created a temple block (but never a temple) in the center of the newly-laid out town between present-day 5th, 6th, E, and F Streets. They created a "Public Square," in which they celebrated the 4th of July. Later, after the Mormons returned to Utah, part of the land went to the Catholic Church, and part went to Dr. and Mrs. Quinn. In 1873, Bishop Amat, the Bishop of the Los Angeles and Monterrey Diocese, granted the northern part of the block to the City. It was later called "City Park," then "Lugo Park" until 1915, when it was renamed Pioneer Park, which it is still called today. A Pavilion, a log cabin, and the Municipal Auditorium (erected in 1921 to honor the dead of World War I were all built in the park, though the Pavilion and log cabin burnt down, and the Auditorium was torn down in 1979. The Norman F. Feldheym Library was built on the site in 1985. The park also contains two Civil War cannons.
The Mormons named the Arrowhead, California, a natural rock formation above Arrowhead Springs, the "Ace of Spades." On a clear day, the Arrowhead can be seen from downtown San Bernardino.
A small Jewish community formed in Mormon San Bernardino, including Lewis Jacobs and Marcus Katz in 1852. Lewis Jacobs was a miner and a peddler. He co-owned a mountain sawmill, started the original Bank of San Bernardino, and helped establish the Home of Eternity Cemetery. Services began in the 1850s, but Congregation Emanuel, still active today, was not officially chartered until 1891, and its first structure was built in 1921. The Home of Eternity Cemetery was given by the Mormons to the Jews. It is the oldest Jewish cemetery in continuous use in Southern California. Marcus Katz was a merchant and civic leader and the name-sake of the four story Katz Building (built in the 1890s) at Third and "E" Streets. He died in 1899.
x

ALTA JENSEN'S 3rd GRADE 1955

 

1922 FOURTH GRADE ~~~MINA HASLER TEACHER

 

(the following is just as it is written on the back of the photograph)

Front Row L to R: 1. Afton Zabriskie 2.????3. Madsen, 4. Anderson, 5. Lovell, 6. Tidwell, 7. Jensen, 8. Seely, 9. Maiben, 10. Christensen, 11. Myberg, 12. Christensen, 13. Myberg, 14. Anderson, 15. Seely, 16. Boyden, 17. Gunderson, 18. Haylee Ivie, 19. Abraham Burton, 20. Douglas Gunderson, 21. Hugh Barton, 22. Rhoda Jorgensen, 23. Vivian Pritchett, 24. Katie Erickson, 25. Anna Olsen, 26. Romero, 27. Montell Winkler, 28. Margaret Thompson, 29. Vera Poulsen, 30. Traunturine, 31. Hazel Poulsen, 32. Draper, 33. Alpha Madsen, 34. Leora Draper, 35. Eula Seely, 36. MelbaAldrich, 37. Christal Rosenlof, 38. Joseph Larsen, 39. Raymond Naef, 40. Cyril Fowles, 41. Merril Zabriski, 42. Mina Hasler, 43. Anderson, 44. Lawrence Johansen, 45. Hicks, 46. Virgil Bramstead.

PIONEER DAY BALL INVITE 1913 (taken from the Elva Guyman Collection)

 

 

This would be what your Pioneer Day Ball invitation would look like in 1913.  


All were requested to be in "Old Fashioned Dress."


And it was to be held at the Mt. Pleasant Opera House.  


Tickets 50 cents  ~  Extra ladies 25 cents.

FAMILY PHOTOS FROM THE ALICE PEEL HAFEN COLLECTION

 

 

Barbara Peel 

Front Row:  Naomi Ericksen, Willa Rae Seely, Barbara Peel, Kent Seely

Back: Grandma Ericksen, H.G. Ericksen, Lois Peel, Margaret Peel 

Back:  Grandma Ericksen, Gladys Ericksen Seely,
Middle:  Kent Seely
Front:  Barbara Peel, Grandma Ericksen (again?)

Dancing on Water cover
Virginia in front ? 

Margaret Nielsen

AUNT MARANDY ~~~ Written by Stanley Peterson

 

AUNT MARANDY

 

This is a copy of a poem written by Stanley Peterson.

Folks call her Aunt Marandy and to them she's very dear,

Because she's worked and slave for them for many many a year.

No sacrifice too great for her, no duty will she shun,

She'll keep on trying day and night, until the job is done.

She's raised a family of her own, of them she's very proud,

Like all good mothers of the town, she'll praise them right out loud.

And then because of her ministrations, there are so many others

Who worship and adore her so and gladly call her mother.

She's cooked and darned and scrubbed so much, til not she cannot see,

But yet ambition drives her on, content she will not be

You'll find her busy, unafraid, a quilting every day

Until each grandchild has a quilt to keep the cold away.

And there she sits all soul alone, her hair a turning grey,

Her friend so rarely visit her and none with her will stay.

And still she keeps a plugging on, a doing all she can,

She'll keep on striving to the end, dependent on no man.

Her love of God and man and beast is, oh, so very real,

Her place in heaven on God's right hand, from her no one can steal.

And when her years upon this earth have been awhile suspended,

Her noble spirit with that of God will be completely blended.

HOME OF ANN WATKINS SEELY (from our archives)

 

BOARD MEMBERS OF THE MT. PLEASANT PIONEER HISTORICAL ASSOCIATION ~~~ FEBRUARY 1960 (from our archives)

 

MILDRED MORLEY SEELY

 

NINTH GRADE ~~~ NORTH SANPETE HIGH SCHOOL ~~~1962

 

TERREL MORLEY SEELY

 

Terrel Seely

May 15, 1944 — March 13, 2026

Mount Pleasant

Listen to Obituary

Terrel Morley Seely (81) passed away Friday, March 13th, 2026 after a long battle with Parkinson’s Disease. He passed away peacefully surrounded by his wife and family.

Terrel was a husband, father, business owner, traveler, tennis player, golfer, pilot and friend to all those who knew him.

Terrel was born May 15th, 1944 to Ray Edwin Seely and Mildred Morley Seely. He was the youngest of 8 children and was the first of his siblings to be born in a hospital. His older siblings were Cherron Ray, Miriam Adela, Norma, Marlane, Robert Edwin, Marilyn, and SueAnn.

At 6 years old, Terrel contracted Polio and was flown to Salt Lake City Hospital by his doctor. Several years later, Terrel would get his pilot’s license and continue to fly for decades.

He served as a missionary for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in New Zealand. Later, in 1966, he joined the National Guard and served his country for 7 years.

In 1968, he was attending Brigham Young University in Provo when he met the love of his life, Glenda Westwood. They dated for over 2 years before getting married on August 28th, 1970.

He graduated with a degree in Zoology with plans of becoming a fish and game officer. However, in 1973, an opportunity came up to purchase the Red and White Grocery store in Mt. Pleasant. Terrel, Glenda, and their oldest two children at the time began the family business. Later, he would purchase the Safeway building which became Terrel’s Foodtown. In 1991, he moved the store into its current location and called it Terrel’s Market. He always valued integrity, honesty and genuine care for others in his business ventures.

Serving his community was always important to Terrel. He served as Bishop of the Mt. Pleasant 4th Ward in 1980. He also served as a director and board member of Associated Foods, and Chairman of the Board for the Utah Grocers Association.

He served a second mission with Glenda in 2004 which was split between South Africa’s Area Office, and St. George, UT’s historic sites.

In 2012, he and Glenda were the Grand Marshals of the Hub City Days Parade. They felt so honored by the community they love.

Terrel is survived by his sister Marlane, his wife Glenda, and their 7 children. Robert (Elisa) Seely, Jennifer (Chris) McIff, Joe (Julia) Seely, John (Jordan) Seely, James (Shannon) Seely, Michelle (Vern) Akauola,, and Natalie (Rex) Hansen. They have 24 grandchildren and 2 great-grand children.

Terrel leaves behind a legacy of love for family, faith and community.

The family would like to thank all of the wonderful medical doctors and staff that have helped Terrel over the past several years. Your efforts and compassion have been a blessing and we are very grateful for you.

There will be a viewing the evening of Friday, March 20th, from 6 to 8 PM. This viewing will be held at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints located at 461 N 300 W, Mt Pleasant, UT 84647.

Another viewing will be held Saturday, March 21st, from 11AM to 12:30PM at the same church building.

This will be followed by funeral services at 1 PM at that same location. Interment in the Mt. Pleasant City Cemetery. 

To Watch Funeral Services Live, Click Here. The Live Zoom Link will Activate at 12:45 a.m. MST prior to service. 

HIGH SCHOOL TEACHERS IN THE 1930s

 

PIONEER DAY (UNKNOWN YEAR) BUT WE HAVE NAMES OF THOSE IN THE PICTURE

 

MOUNTAIN DELL RAMBOUILLET

 

SEELY BARN

North of the residence of Ray and Mildred Seely (1981) at 430 West Main Street in Mt. Pleasant, Utah stands a large barn, the first built in that pioneer community.  It's construction is unique to the present day and stands as a reminder of the hard work and physical labor of those early settlers.

From information obtained through Ray Seely, and his sister, Elva Guyman, it was built in approximately 1862, 3 years after Mt. Pleasant was colonized.  Huge timbers were brought down from the east mountains with teams of horses and the inner structure was built by craftsman who didn't use a single nail!  All the beams were hewn and pegged so that they fit together perfectly to make a sound sturdy building. 


When the men were lifting the timbers, one man, who they called "Joe Heave", would call out "heave" so that they could lift together the heavy beams into place.  It's original construction site was on 5th west, halfway between Main Street and 1st North.  It was later moved to Main Street on the creek just east of Aunt Miranda's home, so that the animals could have water more readily.  From there it was moved to its present location.

 

Orange Seely, brother of Joseph Seely and Uncle of Ray, was the first owner and Henry Wilcox, brother of Clarissa Jane who was a Grandmother to Ray, was the builder with much help from other members of the family and the settlement.  One can picture in his mind these men all working together with the horses and the tremendous amount of toil and labor it would have taken to move the heavy beams and hew the rough boards into the work of art that they are.

In that day, there was always the danger of Indian aggression.  Chief Black Hawk and his painted warriors terrorized the women and children.  So horses were kept saddled and ready in the barn 24 hours a day so that the minute men could ride quickly to Manti or Thistle for help.  Also, Indian squaws were kept as prisoners there during times of battle.  It was also used as a place for dancing where good times were shared by many.



When Dad (Ray Seely) move to Mt. Pleasant, from Moroni, he purchased the lot where the home now stands and the barn went with the property.  Uncle Orange had moved to Castle Dale so Dad became the rightful owner of the barn.  And no prouder owner could there have ever been!  It was his most prized possession, and he loved to tell of its history to all who would listen.  He had great respect and love for the hands who built it, and always did all he could to preserve it and maintain it.  The reverence and love that Dad had for the barn has been passed onto his family and posterity- - -a memory we all cherish.

(written in 1981)

Photograpy by Tudy Barentsen Standlee

DEDICATION OF THE SECOND MT. PLEASANT CITY HALL ~~~ AUGUST 23, 1939

 

Dedication of the New Mt. Pleasant City Hall

August 23, 1939

An Address  by Hilda Madsen Longsdorf
 Scanned from original manuscript, corrected, edited and formatted for this presentation
 by David R, Gunderson.

Mr. Chairman, Mr. Mayor, Ladies and Gentlemen:  

I do feel highly honored to have been asked to give this part on today’s program, and I hope I may say some things old, yet new, and. interesting to you.

The history of Mt. Pleasant and the people of the community is a very interesting study, there were many phases, conditions and problems, and it seems each administration has had its own particular problems.

Since this occasion is the dedication of the New City Hall, it was thought perhaps the stories of the city halls and the buildings of the past administrations might be a most interesting topic today.       

Mt. Pleasant was granted a charter by the Territorial Government, Feb 20^th 1868. On May the 5^th the following officers were chosen:

      - First Mayor:
           W. S. Seely,  and as

      - First City Council Members:    
           Jacob Christensen,
           Peter M. Peel,
           Jens Jorgensen
           N. Peter Madsen, and
           Joseph Page.

They made the following appointments:

           1.  George Farnsworth – Recorder,
           2.  Andrew Madsen – Treasurer,
           3.   Edward Cliff – Assessor,
           4.  Paul Dehlin – Road Supervisor, and
           5.  O. Seely – Marshal.

It does not state where this administration met. Only three short items are recorded concerning this first City Council, one of these tells that Joseph Page was appointed Mayor Pro. Temp. At another, it was moved and carried that the $45.00 paid to the Indians should be taken from the treasury.                                                  

On May the 2^nd 1870 Joseph Page was elected Mayor, and records state that on May the 7^th , the council met in the hall, this no doubt was the Social Hall, which was the first meeting house built out side the fort.

They next met on July the 4^th, at Andrew Madsen’s home, next at Anthon Lund’s   home, then at the Third Ward School, then at the Forth Ward School house, the Telegraph Office, the Second Ward School room, Joseph Page’s residence, and so on making the rounds again.

Some of the problems of the early administrations were fence lines, irrigation ditches, 
irrigation rights, obtaining clear titles to property, to license or not to license the sale of liquor, establishing stray ponds, ordinances pertaining to meat marketers, to butchering, to duties of the polices and many other ordinances needed in a new community.

From the minutes of a session held in the Second Ward school house, in 1874,
the following is copied:

“The council, then took into consideration the plausibility of building a city hall and jail, and it was moved and seconded that the council proceed to build the same, at least, as far as to finish the basement or the lower rooms this year. Paul Dehlin and Andrew Madsen were appointed, as a committee, to locate said building and decide on dimensions of same, and estimate the cost.”

The minutes of the next meeting state:

“The Dehlin and Madsen committee appointed at last meeting gave report on subject of city hall, Madsen, Dehlin and Mayor Page were appointed to see to the erection of said hall, and to locate same and as far as circumstances would allow, to engage the labor for same, at best terms for the city.”

Later at a meeting held at the Second Ward school house, it was recorded:

“The question of the city hall was again brought up, and it was decided that it would not be wise to build, or commence building of the hall at present, but to arrange to rent a place for a lockup. Bennett and Monson were appointed to rent a house and repair same sufficient to make it safe to hold prisoners, and were authorized to draw on the treasury for means necessary for same.”

Later a bill for $10.00 was presented and paid.

And thus, after eight years of shifting from place to place, disappeared their first 
dream of a city hall.

Dec. 1875, John Waldermar and  W. W. Brandon were appointed a committee to rent
and furnish a building to be used as a lockup.

From the minutes of a meeting held in the post office in 1876, the following is taken:

 "'On the subject of a room for city council meetings, Councilor A. H. Bennett reported that a room belonging to P. M. Peel, could be had at a reasonable price. The council agreed to rent the room and Bennett and Page were appointed to make terms for the same.”

The next meeting was held in the Peel room, and it was reported that arrangements
had been made for same at $ 2.00 a month. The action of the committee was
unanimously indorsed. Andrew Madsen and Peter Monson were appointed to get one dozen Chairs at the best terms possible. And this, after twelve years, was the first temporary home, the council had known, and was referred to in the minutes as the Mayors office.

It seems the question of the lockup was not yet satisfactorily settled,

In 1877, Andrew Madsen, as a committee of one, was appointed to select and negotiate
for some building suitable for a city lockup, Madsen later reported, he was able to
get the former building used, but that it was in need of much repair. The matter was
fully discussed, and laid over to hear, from A. H. Bennett, as to a contract to build
a good substantial lockup.

From the minutes of a meeting held Oct 24^th is copied:

“The Mayor stated, the object of the meeting was to take into consideration the propriety of building a lockup, with height enough to admit a general city office above, this giving room for all city purposes and save rent and contingent expanses. After some discussion as to the finances to meet the expenses of said building, Mr. A. H. Bennett presented his specifications, in three divisions

First,          The lookup proper, finished and completed, to the    
                    expectance of the city council for. $275.00.

Second,      With additional room above, completed for $100.00 more, thus a total of $375.00.

Third,         In event of the council desiring only the lockup, to  
                    finish same thoroughly, save the contractor put on a
                    temporary roof’ at an agreed on price, less than $275.00.

Some discussion was had on the necessity of inviting proposals to build said building. The Council decided that time and necessity of the building, the known honor of the contracting party, his intimacy with the financial conditions of the city, his terms proposed of payment, and that none perhaps could be found to take the contract, and thoroughly complete the same, and that no version of building would be required, it being left to Bennett, therefore, it was unanimously resolved, to build said lockup, agreeable to the contingency that may arise as to the finances in the matter of completion, and the contract was awarded to A. H. Bennett.

A motion was made and carried that the Mayor make all arrangements, for the building and paying therefore with the contractor. On motion that the recorder prepare a contract, agreeable to the specifications submitted, which contract shall be duly signed by the contractor, with two approved signers, to the acceptance of the Mayor, and that said contract shall be on file in the recorder’s office.

The contract was duly signed and placed in recorder David Candland’s office. Mayor Page, Madsen and Bennett were appointed a committee on location of the building.

In December, the following was recorded:   

“The committee on receiving the City Hall from the hands of the contractor, reported favorable and that the speciation had on the part  of the contractor .been faithfully carried out. Upon its acceptance by the council, $250.00 was allowed Bennett in full price of the lockup, and co-operation notes were drawn up, bearing 1&½ per cent interest per month from maturity. Contractor Bennett delivered the keys to the Mayor; the Mayor delivered two keys to the Marshal. The Marshal was instructed to get ‘bedding’ and Councilor Peter Monsen to get a suitable stove. Records show the stove was purchased for $7.00.”

Thus with the erection of the jail, but with out the extra rooms, faded their dream number two of a City Hall.

The Council then decided to vacate its present quarters, where they paid Joseph Page $2.00 a month, and meet over the Post Office.

A year later, it was agreed, upon motion of Councilor Monson, to fence the city jail or lockup, with lumber twelve feet high.

The lockup referred to was a building erected of rock and had been built on the public square or North Fort (Now ‘1939’ the North Sanpete High School block), which, at that time, was surrounded by a rock wall.

Few claim they ever saw the inside of this lockup.- but many do remember a prisoner, who, in the early hours of the morning,  would sit upon the roof of the building and sing the popular songs of the day. This, however, was after the high board fence had been placed around it.

The story is told that, prior to the installation of the fence, a policeman, and by the way there were many of them, after locking up a prisoner, when turning a corner on Main Street, came face to face with the very prisoner he had just locked up.

Another story of later date is that of a prisoner who started a fire on the floor, in the center of the room. And, but for the timely arrival of Marshal, Joseph Monson, would surely have suffocated.

In 1881, a room for council meetings was secured at Bishop Seeley’s home, for $1.25 a month. Later they met up-stairs over the co-op store, in the South Brick school house, up stairs in the Wasatch: Mercantile building and perhaps in other places not named. It was a difficult matter to check their trail.

In 1888, Councilor Syndegaard called attention to the city jail, and said it was not a fit place to put a prisoners. Later Marshal Burns reported the jail had been repaired and he thought it was now a comfortable place to retain prisoners.

In 1890, during John Carter’s term as Mayor, again the subject of a city hall was discussed. The council favored erecting a water works system, instead of a hall, if the City must be bonded for either.

And thus, that city hall dream again faded away. (Number Three)

In 1895, during the time that Abram Johnson was Mayor, the record states:

“Considerable discussion was indulged in by the council, in regards to the immediate construction of a city hall, and the Mayor was authorized to procure plans etc. and it was resolved that it be the purpose of this council, to erect   a city hall, at an aggregate sum of from four to five thousand dollars, at as early a time as practicable, and that we proceed during the present year to excavate for basement and build foundation of said building. July 15^th Architect Watkins presented the plans for the proposed city hall. The plans submitted were for a two story building with the jail in the basement, a council chamber, police court, vault and three offices on the first floor, one office and a public hall on the second floor. Aggregate cost to be $5,500.00.  It was discussed for some time, finally disposed of by appointing a committee to prepare an estimate of current income and expenses of the city, with the object in view to ascertain what available funds the city could command. July 19^th the subject of erecting a city hall was again taken into consideration, and discussed as to weather said building should be constructed or not. A motion was made to lay the matter over indefinitely, while the motion was lost, no farther action was taken”.

And thus faded dream number four of a City Hall.

In 1896, during N. S. Nielsen’s term as mayor, at the time of the building of the
Central or Hamilton School, School Trustees, Ericksen and Jensen, representing the
School Trustees, met with the council, to confer with them, in regards to disposing of the North School house. Council took the matter under consideration

No farther mention is made of a City Hall was made until 1898, during the time
that Ferninand Ericksen was Mayor when the following discussion took place:
(By then, the City Council had been wandering about homeless for 30 years.)

North Brick School remodeled into Mt. Pleasant’s First City Hall (1898)

“School trustees Johnson and Jensen appeared for the purpose of making a proposition for the transfer of the North Brick school house to the city. It was moved and carried that it be the sense of the council that they purchase the house, providing the offer of the School trustees meets the approval of the council. Mr. Johnson stated that after through consider-ation, the school trustees had concluded to ask the sum of $2,000.00. On motion of' councilman Sorenson, a com-mittee of three were appointed, to visit the School house for the purpose of ascertaining the condition of the property. On Feb. 4^th the council met in   special session, the committee reported the school. Building to be in better condition than anticipated, and recommended the purchase of the building at fifteen hundred dollars, which Mr. Johnson of the school trustees stated they had decided to accept the offer.  It was moved, and carried to purchase same and to pay the school board, $500.00 down, $500.00 in six months and $500.00, again in nine months. Notes were issued bearing interest at 5 per cent per annum from date of purchase.”

       “A motion was made to reconsider motion, motion lost.” 

The committee on improvements were instructed to take immediate action, and in due time after thoroughly remodeling the building, installing a heating plant, a vault, cells and suitable office furniture, It became an up to date, and creditable City Hall.  And dream number five, came true, when the council met in their session, in the first real home the Mt. Pleasant City council had ever known.

But, that, was forty years ago.   

                    We are here today, in honor of dream number six, and to dedicate the new Mt. Pleasant City Hall of 1939[1].                            

                                               

Mt. Pleasant’s New (1939) City Hall[1]

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[1] Pictures of the “Old” and “New” City Halls are from the Book, “Mt. Pleasant” By Hilda M. Longsdorf - 1939 

Thank You

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[1] City Government in 1939 – Mayor:  Justice Seely,
City Council:  J. H. Stansfield, Dr. A. L. Peterson, L. A. Phillips and William Olsen.

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[1] Scanned from original manuscript, corrected, edited and formatted for this presentation by David R, Gunderson.