Pioneer

Saturday, November 10, 2012

Annie Wilcox Madsen ~ from the Johannah Madsen Hafen Collection

Friday, November 9, 2012

Pole decorating contest winners announced : WeAreSanpete.com

Andrew Madsen Home Has Been Newly Painted ~ Hilda's House

Picture taken October 2012

Here it is hidden behind the pine trees with "Betsy the Car" sitting out front.

Here is the same home viewed from the north side.

Thursday, November 8, 2012

Family Tree Poem ~ One of our most popular posts

Wednesday, November 7, 2012

Mt. Pleasant City Hall Has A New Look

A few weeks ago we posted of the dedication of Mt. Pleasant's New City Hall. David R. Gunderson took the information from his Aunt Hilda Madsen Longsdorf files and did a very nice composition. http://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=823365018368490611#editor/target=post;postID=7162415607941360430

Now, City Hall has been painted and has a new look. The color is a little too dark for my taste. But as I examine it, and compare it to the earlier photo, I must admit it looks much better.

Tuesday, November 6, 2012

Grandma Rigby's Clipped Recipes ~~~~~ Pasted Into a Studebaker Catalog

My Grandmother Sarah Pritchett Rigby of Fairview was born in Fairview in 1884 . Her mother died when Grandma was only seven years old. She married Charles Martin Rigby and gave birth to seven children. In 1920, her husband Charles Martin was in an accident in the coal mine. He was crushed against the wall of the mine by a train car. He was taken to Salt Lake in a horse and buggy, where he died. Grandma Rigby seen many hard times in her life. I found this scrapbook among her things. She had pasted recipes clipped out of newspapers and pasted them into a catalog of Studebaker motor vehicles.

The recipes represent that time period (about 1928), But also, the way she had chosen to save them was ingenious and very resourceful. Perhaps it was nothing out of the ordinary for that time period.

Monday, November 5, 2012

Mormon Hobbles

From The Forge: Mormon Hobbles Forged By Dennis Manning

http://www.americanfarriers.com/pages/AF...

These hobbles were used by Mormon travellers on their way to Utah to prevent their horses from being stolen.

DESCRIPTION

Mormon Puzzle Hobbles were iron hobbles connected by a chain and used to hobble horses or other livestock so that they would not wander off when not otherwise constrained such as by fences.

The unique feature of these hobbles was a chain mechanism that could be easily put on or removed if you knew how to do it. But if you did not know the trick, it was almost impossible to remove. This prevented the theft of animals by native Americans or other uninitiated.
HISTORY

These hobbles were developed my Mormon blacksmiths and were used by pioneers crossing the plains as well as by settlers in the intermountain west.

At least two pairs of these antique Mormon Hobbles exist in Washington County. One is at the Daughters of Utah Pioneers Museum in St. George and the other is at the Jacob Hamblin Home in Santa Clara.

WASHINGTON COUNTY HISTORICAL SOCIETY (Washington County, Utah)

Sunday, November 4, 2012

James Hansen and John Waldemar - - - Short Story by Hanna Neiborg, St. Anthony, Idaho - 1965

This story is one of my favorites .

James Hansen, my grandfather, a Danish convert to Mormonism, emigrated from Denmark to Utah. Following church authorities decisions, he and his family were sent to help colonize Sanpete County. They arrived in Mt. Pleasant in 1859. James Hansen was a well-educated musician. He played all the instruments including the organ. The violin was his favorite. He taught music and dancing, but according to Brigham Young, he and his sons must till the soil.

It was the year 1880, Mt. Pleasant saints were having the greatest 24th of July celebrathion they had ever had. It was to be held in the bowery with songs, recitation and orations. But the crowning glory and most exciting part of the program was a contest between Mt. Pleasant's two musicians playing violins. John Waldemar and James Hansen were the contestants. John was also a well-trained and outstanding violinist.

John lived with his family on his farm several miles north of Mt. Pleasant city limits. James lived with his family in the large home on Main Street. He was a very serious man, but he could be jolly. This mood came to him only when he did the thing he loved best and which he could do best--his music, more especially his violin. John made his brags to James. He had new music that he was perfecting for the contest. This was depressing to James. New music for this frontier country was unheard of. He had used all the music and melodies that he had brought with him from the old country.

Then an idea struck this Danish musician. It was a long way to the Waldemar farm, but that would not stop him. On the evening when James felt that John's farm work was finished and he would be practicing, he rode his horse to the Waldemar farm. He crawled close to the open window where he could hear the beautiful violin music filling the air. Intently he listened until he heard John close his violin case.

Upon returning to his own home, his remarkable ear and memory let him play John's beautiful new tune.

To make himself sure, he returned several nights. Soon he knew he could play the melody better than John could. He then went to work on John's music. He used his Danish training until his piece was presentable.

With much excitement the great day arrived. Everyone in the hamlet attended. Everyone was excited about the contest. The audience's applause would declare the winner. The violinist's drew cuts who should be first. It was John. Before the tense crowd, standing erect, John Waldemar began to play. His beautiful new music filled the bowery. Women used their handkerchiefs as the melody flowed on. How could any music excel John's!

James Hansen stepped to the platform. Silence filled the bowery. He lifted the instrument to his shoulder. With his right arm outstretched, he clutched the bow with his beautiful white hand. deftly he let it slide over the strings while the long fingers of his left hand precisely pressed them. What music! It was John's melody only in a haunting minor key enhanced by the vibrato of James' left hand. Then the mood changed. It was John's melody in a vivacious Danish polka, so rhythmical it was hard for the saints to keep their feet from stamping. After retruning to John's theme, James turned the music into a scherzo, a waltz with a brilliant pizzicato, finishing with a Danish mazurka.

The bowery rang with applause. There were whoops and hollers, with hats flying in the air, to the very hills. James had won the day! His innate ability, coupled with the training acquired in Denmark, won for him the coveted prize- - - - the esteem of his fellow saints.

The friendship of the two musicians was not changed, but never again did John Waldemar make brags before James Hansen.
Sent in by Evelyn Ireland