Just in case you didn't get the invitation, we thought we will put it here. Most of the folks that graduated back then, have been advanced to a higher degree. If we can encourage all our youngins to push for that high school degree, we have did our share in advancing knowledge and proficiency.
This is a photo taken on the main entrance to the old Central School in Nephi, Utah which was located on Track Street at about 135 East and 100 North. It became Nephi High when the local people demanded higher education, so school officials made the top floor to Nephi High, which was the first rural high school in the State, and they had excellent teachers. Through the years it had a lot of changes and that main entrance was modified to be an auditorium. The bell tower was taken down and the bell was moved to Nephi's Pioneer Park, but is in transition to be return to the area of the Central School which is now referred to as Nephi's Town Square Park. The students of the graduating class are standing on what was the main entrance of the school. That would have been 6th or 7th grade. Through the years that building has been through many changes and eventually tore down with local people shedding tears as they were the ones who pushed the school folks to build it.
It is no longer there, but the location of this LDS Seminary building was on the west of Main Street in Nephi, Utah at about 135 North Main. It was built between what was known as the Silver Maple Service Station(now Utah Community Bank) and the UWANNA Driver INN(now Nephi Western Credit Union). The Seminary building was where Nephi High School Students could leave the High School(now the Juab County Complex) and take religion classes. As Highway 91 became a modern highway and too many near crashes with students, a new Seminary building was built north of the high school(which now serves as the very crowded Nephi Police Station). The old seminary building was used for various things including the office of the County Attorney. It has now been demolished. Two of the first Seminary teachers was James H. Ockey Sr. on the tope floor and Mrs. Edna Cazier was in the basement(one of first women to be Seminary teacher) She was born in 1895. Wife of Gerald and said to be a very Classy Women, by one of her students.
The other day we found this copy of The Times News, which is the local paper of Juab County. Regardless of how old or new it is, it is good to read. This front page talks of the Ute Stampede coming to town, which is one of the best boot stomping American sports activity we have left in America. It is also fun to read some of the ads in the paper. I am still looking for that gal dressed in the cowgirl looking outfit and take her for a bite to eat at Rays Cafe. The paper also pays respect to those who died in Viet Nam prior to the fall of Saigon in 1975.
I know it is a way too early to even see the signs of policitcans who seem to want sell their soul to get your vote, and if you search deeply, you may find that some don't even have a soul. Never the less, we thought this clipping from the Deseret News of a few decades was worth revisiting, especially since they don't print too many papers anymore. Some folks blame the media for lack of the real truth. I found it interesting the voters thought Winston Churchill was considered the most famous and great leaders of the British during Would Ward Two, but the people soon kicked him out when he re-ran. So goes it with Richard Nixon of the Unit4d States. They didn't like him in 1960, then elected him later on, only to force him out of office. So in two years, will we put in a winner or a looser. It is up to you, but I found the article as important today as it was years ago. And if you think we recently had a President who is an "egghead" read the paper, as many thought another guy that lost was an egghead. And yes, there has been former Presidential candidates that were females. So forget about any "firsts". Just get a good one that can help save America from going down the slippery slope.
On the east side of Juab County of Utah, there is some peaks capped with snow that we call Mt. Nebo. Various people; schools; FFA chapters and business' use the Nebo name in their advertisement. It is a site to hike, view and ponder. At Juab High School, the history of the Mountain is well defined in their yearbook, which is called the "Nebonian". Similar to what others have written, here is a perspective from a Nephi young man who was serving an LDS Mission in Australia when he wrote of Mt. Nebo and had it published in their newspaper.
A few weeks ago, the Garrett boys of Nephi's Garrett Ranching were on their way to the Bench to do a little branding and taking care of the "Doc-tering" of Bull Calves. I asked if me and my son-Troy Jones could tag along. They accepted the proposal, but we could have been more in the way, as we were only "pretend" cowboys, instead of real cattle hands. But in life, I believe we should experience as much of the world as we can, as we may not have another chance at it. They had two squeeze chutes, which I was somewhat used to, using them on Antelope Island for Buffalo Inspection and doctoring. These chutes were the kind you get the bovine headlocked in and then lay the whole chute down to brand them. That is normally easy, but when at 1500 lb. new bull comes in, that takes more biceps than I had years ago. The first photo shows me holding the calves leg down while Troy attempts to "Doctor" the bull calf. Russ Garrett is standing there encouraging the calf to break away from us. Tyson Garrett is playing role of Fred Chapman with his camera while Kyle, Travis and Bob Garrett are laughing at the two rookie Circus. The second photo shows me, the "old bull" being outwitted by the young calve and taking me head on. I guess we never get younger, just older and more slow. Anywho, the job got done.
Although Jack Hansen is from Centerfield, we are going to still call him a "local" as his grandmother is a born and raised Nephite-Jaynette Jones Grimard. Jack is a Senior with the Gunnison Bulldogs and recently won First place in the State Championship Long Jump, at 20 feet and 10 inches. Through the years, it has been fun to watch athlete who is the son of Matt and Kami Hansen. He was one of the stars as a Quarterback for the Football Team and did basketball as well. He may not have scored as many points as I watched Gary Hill do at Gunnison more than 60 years ago as an Assistant Water Boy, but when it is family, it is exciting to see one excel in any activity. He was good at football, and not quite like his Uncle Kent Jones at Juab High, who was the third string quarter back for the football team, during a time they only had enough guys for a full string, so me and the bench became butt close friends! He did well at the State Championship, a place where I was usually found like the second phone of Jack-behind police barriers! Onward and upward Jack. You are an Alpha Bull Dog.
This photo is another one of those that we haven't seen before so we thought we would broadcast it out to the world to see if we have person that can recognize the home and/or the people. Going by the other photos of the same era, we are guesstimating the year is around 1885. We do know that they all purity themselves up as the photographer is one of the two Fred Chapmans(who worked as a father and son team), but it this case it would have to be the elder Chapman. And it may be after some type of graduation, as it appears two of them are holding a certificate of some sort. If the reader can come up with a name, you may be compensated millions and billions of dollars set aside at Nephi National Bank.
Well, the rumors are true. They did done it. We got the living proof now. On Feb. 28, 1885, Evan Harris of Nephi was joined in Lawful Wedlock with Eliza Ann Hitesman, originally out of Moroni, of the Utah Territory were hitched. The beautiful cursive writing of the JP is beholding and it appears it is he-Henry Adams that filled in all the blanks, as he has the same pen maneuvers with his H and E's. Evan was best known in Nephi as Ev, and was born in Iowa City Iowa when his parents had joined the LDS Church in the country of Wales and directed to Juab and Sanpete by the headquarters in the city of Salt. As Decoration Day is around the corner, I can't help but think of the father of Evan, who was John Harris. He is not buried where his headstone is placed. Nephi's Vinebluff cemetery is not like Nephi City Cemetery, which has no roads through it. They started putting in asphalt, but then realized they would have to dig up the vault and casket of John Harris When the Sexton contacted the Harris family, they all agreed why let taxpayers pay for that, just move the headstone. That is what they did, and one day, my mother showed me the exact place under the asphalt road where the body was buried, so I get to leave one flower in the middle of the road on Decoration Day. I kind of figured that in the next life, there is flowers beyond belief, so give them flowers while they are still on earth. Thanks for getting hitched. I guess I wouldn't be here if you didn't.
Now a days, photos are a little deceptive. New technology can modify the faces and the bodies. The photo of Glade and Lucy Sander is somewhat deceiving, as it doesn't reflect the humor, vim, vigor and vitality of Lucy. She had all of that and more. And Glade had more wit than his dry remarks when he was High Counsel speaker for Juab LDS Stake and put even teenagers to sleep. But if you look closely at the photo of Glade you can see that he has something up his sleeve. Regardless of anything, they remain high on the ladder of success and for their love of people and family. And if you know their son Kirk, he has the dry wit of Lucy. It ain't Decoration Day yet, but since I ran across this invite to their 50th Wedding Anniversary of 23 years ago, it is time to sing to their praise. And hats off to Ileen for keeping up the blooming beauty of the yard that Glade was so proud of, and for big Sis Linda, the stabilizer in the family. And if you saw Merrill at the bedside of Glade during his last days on earth, you know that Merrill is a happy camper he is with his Dad again.
Once an attempt to answer a question about culture or history, it brings up more profound questions that are difficult to answer. Oftentimes, we don't know the real truth, but attempt to listen, read, touch and learn from all, including oral hand-me-down stories. Such is the case in Nephi, Utah, that was first named Salt Creek, Utah, when settled by white men in 1847. Like the history of the world, people have a tendency to invade other territories and people and start their own history lesson. One of the main people I turn to about the history of Nephi and Juab County is Alice P. McCune, who wrote the first known history book of Juab County. I first became aware of her in about 1959, when my father asked me to pull weeds for her. I really didn't know how to pull weeds, but she soon showed me, causing her hands and arms to be covered with blood from the rose bushes we were pulling weeds from. Although over 90 years old, she taught me good work ethics and how she knew both my grandfathers who she interviewed to write her history book. Just 7 years after the Mormons invaded Indian land of Utah, Brigham Young advised local leaders it was better to feed the Indians instead of fight them, but nevertheless, we ought to built a Fort, which we did-three blocks square. Below is the map of that Fort from the book written by my friend and teacher-Alice Paxman McCune. At the time of the Mormon invasion to Utah, people didn't appreciate the Indian culture, but through time and study, we have learned much from them. Most of the "Ancient Ones" lived off the land, from eating the buds of grains, rye and grasses'. When our European forefathers' arrived, we like steak, but cattle needed food, and ate the grasses the Indians needed. Thus hostilities broke out and we had the "Utah Indian Wars". A band of Indians were living above Nephi in Salt Creek Canyon. They were tired of the"paleface" and killed several settlers on their way to Sanpete County. We called it the "Salt Creek Massacre" and put the blame on the Indians, as did the books author. Many years later, we then learned that there was another "Massacre "outside Fort Salt Creek, where locals dumped their garbage. This time, it was the white men that massacred several Indians that came down to the Fort for free food. As that massacre happened the day after the one by the County Divide, we inadvertently butchered innocent humans, and I had been so told by a former school principle that us "kids were invading sacred land" when we played Cowboy's and Indians by the Old Holler. So far, only the local paper "The Times News" reported it. Eventually, peace was made, but all the Indians have about left the area. A photo of the last of one of the gates at the north or south end of the Fort is hanging on the hall of Nephi City. We haven't yet identified which gate it was, but we are still doing our research. Sometimes, it takes time for the final chapter to appear!
Americans are no longer safe in our protected castles or outside the mote we have built around us. In order to use the legal and lawful deadly force against another human being, one must learn to overcome the emotions within, as does our soldiers and police. Read and study what your Constitutional safeguards are, then be prepared to use whatever legal means necessary to preserve life and liberty. If your community has a course put on by the local police or sheriffs office, participate in that class to learn what they have to go though. It will help them which may help you to make the proper decisions for your own protection. Always expect the unexpected and look for the least violent way to escape. America is not the protected area it once was.
WE ARE A LITTLE LATE IN SUBMITTING THIS PROGRAM FROM JUAB HIGH SCHOOL, BUT BETTER NOW THAT EVER I THINK THE YEAR WOULD HAVE BEEN 1965.
The first high school in Nephi was the top floor of the Central School up along Track Street in Nephi. They eventually tore that two story building down, but the local folks wanted their kids to get more education, so the school was remodeled and the top floor was made in to the first rural high school in Utah; the third of any kind in Utah. They changed the name to Juab High School when the kids from Mills, Mona and Levan wanted to be included. The new building was promised to last a hundred years, and even though school officials fought for that, local folks fought against the school and won. It is still functional and now called the County Complex.
It has been a few decades since I visited Snow College, but on an invitation from nephew-Tanner Jones, I felt compelled to attend. Although it was good to see him among a thousand kids to graduate, I nearly suffered a "church stroke" listening to all of the speeches of political folks patting themselves on the back for what some attendees think did zero for Snow. Ever since the LDS Church got tired of teaching "personal hygiene" to farm boys, they turned it over to the Utah government, which may or may not have made it worse. After the ceremony, I spoke to an Alumni friend who maintains there were so many Cum Laude students who took the tests on the computer and if they had the wrong answer, the computer would prompt them into correcting it. Regardless, Tanner Jones was straight A at Juab High, so he may have well deserved and earned his Cum Laude rating, which used to be Latin for "Great Honor". Not sure, but I think I was awarded something in 1st grade for "Great Dishonor" as I remember my mother walking me to apologize to the teacher. And throughout my "Hire" Education, things got worse, so I will tip my hat to Tanner, but not to the obnoxious few who wouldn't acknowledge the US flag and decorated their hats and carried their own country flags through the line. They even posed for my photo, but I burned it. As the graduates passed my chair, I could see that some things change in life and others don't. It used to be that graduates had to dress in Sunday go to meetin attire, but the gals wore mini dresses, with not much else on. Yes, I am still a man, but come on! First photo is of first Snow College building and Kool Hippy Vans driven my old farts; cemetery photo is of a gal that was a best friend while at Snow-Karen Reid. I also had to say Hi to Professor Armstrong in the same area, who had a lot of patience with me and a Levan kid for making stink bombs. Snow is still attracting rural kids from Utah, so in my opinion a great place to send your kid, but don't have them live in the "Raccoon House", but it had a lot of escapes when Krampus Kops came looking for the Jones boys.
I suppose that anything that happens yesterday is "History" and this copy of The Tines News is not as old as many of the papers I have, but it is still kind of fun to see who or what happened just 35 or so years ago. I enjoy looking who was what back then, and how they may have changed now., I remember Russel Stuart is now gone, but at one time, he was quite the cook at the cafe now housing Kevin Olson Insurance, with the top floor ran by the telephone operators, then Kens Army and Navy store, and before that a hotel. Time flies. Back then they had church "War Ball", but that sort of thing has been done away with as it was mad men released on basketball Court, which was often the cement floor of the old Armory. Read and Enjoy.
