As this writer didn't learn computer junk in school, I as not able to put more photos on my written stuff on Part One. So go backwards in time, and read the non cursive stuff of today and here are more photos. Poor young kids of American, don't learn Cursive in school. No wonder we as a country are losing our past.
"We are but a speck of sand within an endless array of worlds and some of those worlds are closer to us than most know. Consider the plight of Marc and Heidi, who entered into a strange new world, and the battles they fought so they could return to their home. Their story begins now." By G.B. Jones
Gary B. Jones was born and raised in Nephi, Utah with his forefathers arriving here in the 1850's. He is a graduate of Juab High School, with the Class of 1966. He then attended BYU and USU, where he excelled in theatrical plays. He joined the US Army during the Viet Nam Era, and became a Ranger; excelling in rapid deployment for direct action raids. His older brother-Weston, who was in the Air Force at the same time, always thought it was strange for his brother to jump out of a perfectly good airplane, and yet that was Gary's cup of Tea. Later, he was in the National Guard and activated for the first Middle East War Era. His work was with Western/Delta Airlines, which took him to Alaska. It was there, that his work went to the Dogs! Yup, he got interested in the Iditarod and became a Musher, leading his dogs from Anchorage across the Tundra of a thousand miles to Nome. He was good at it, and wrote a book called "Winning the Iditarod", then another book last year writing about losing one of his dogs on the trail, while he and others, including pilots searched for the lost furry soul and after 10 days it was found. He has never married or had kids, but after 70+ years old, he adopted two youngsters as they had been abandoned. He wrote this new book as an inspiration to those two kids and all people to give us strength to overcome whatever unforeseen obstacle's our way comes. Gary has sent the book to family and friends, and three have been donated to the Nephi City Library and they have been entered into the system, for all to read. If you desire to have one of your own or to send to others, there should be an address and phone to contact G.B. or his Publishing Co. below. Have fun reading.
I can't remember what photos we have as that is in a different computer place but let me guess. Across the street north of where Safari is now, there was three gas stations in a row. First was what I still call the Forest Anderson place and the only one still alive and kicking. Then there was two more and one is now kind of a place for old vehicles, and another gas station operated by Don Eyre. Bill Stowell worked there, but so did a lot of high school boys who pumped the gas while you could listen to country music KOMA or KNAK or KOVO or KSOP, but not at the same time. The most important structure to see however, is the PC or what they call in England as the Public Convenience, and it looks like only a ONE holer! Ross Garrett had a two holer! Side note is that John Crapper of the UK invented the flushing toilets'. Stayed tuned for non essential history while sitting on the JOHN. Other photos may be the cars for sale at Parkin Motor, with Red Cliffs in the background, but hard to drive to see as it is owned and often off limits to get there and place for future LDS Nephi Temple, but that is ONLY a personal revelation! Then there should be a photo of a small store which was over Salt Creek and to the South would eventually become the Cowan gas Station. To the north was Wayne's Pool Hall and a popular two story coffee shop is now located. There should be another photo of Juab High, and to the south of Track Street, that dirt is important as it used to be the World Famous Arlington Theater from the late 1800s as visitors would get off the train and walk up Track Street to see entertainers. Then between 7th and 8th North was the Premium Oil, which was owned by Evan Blackett, and open all night. That was a good place to work for high school kids and the night worker-Ron Jones or Bob Garrett. In the back, kids would pull their hot rods in and go underground to change the oil or shoot the Bull! There was a Chicken Coop behind it and the Snak Shak got their eggs from there. The building is still there.
Last time, we displayed a few of the photos of Nephi stores of a few years ago, and we are presenting more today. One is the Clark Sparks Motel, which was located between the Madeline Pyper home on the corner of 5th North and Main(where Steels Impound is today) and the Serv(Honda shop). It was where the car wash is now. That motel was quant but a well kept place for travelers on Highway 91. It was a time when Nephi WAS friendly and no diesel noise, so visitors would walk the walk and visit with locals and watch little league at the Park. Then there should be one of Bob Anderson's magic places called the El Tonya, which was across the street west where he built the Safari. Bob's daughter is Tonya. Believe it or not, both were high class places back then and rodeo King Cotton Rosser stayed in them. Down the street south was one of the most famous and popular places to eat south of anywhere, and that was Rays Cafe. Ray Kelson had the same magic touch as Bob Anderson. Ray was a big league baseball player and his three sons were the same in all sports and only Val is left. Rays wife really ran the operation of Rays and gals got a good start of work there, as it was a time when kids had to work, and we learned money didn't grow on trees or we didn't have parents that were rich. Next door was Pextons where many of the boys and men learned work ethics. Somewhere there should be Painters Motors which is now Parks and next door is the still Nephi classy Whitmore Mansion which we have written of before, as we knew more of the history of the building than the owners. Then there should be two stores the reader will need help with, but I think one was Ralphs Market and Christenson's, but that is a guess. The one wore down motel was owned by Golden Oldroyd, a full time teacher. That place is now hidden on Main and south of Third North. The other older one was between Bow Shop and Kings Nursey was. By the way, if you eat at Lisa's, which is across the street of Rays apartments, ask for the Rays Cafe special, which is perfect French Fries, smothered with great brown gravy. And if you ever visit France, those folks have not idea what a French Fry is! I found out the hard way in Paris.
Today is your day Little Sis. You remind me of your Mother-LaVon Harris Jones. She too, was one of the best caregivers I have ever known. When Mom's older brother had a stroke, she was the one always taking care of him and her other big brothers, and now you repeatedly check and help your five kids; grandkids and those crazy old farts that are your older brothers, all of which have had a truck load of health issues, but I think you and your parents have been proud of them for three on an LDS Mission at the same time and three serving our country at the same time. You stayed by your husbands bedside after his tragic accident, then dealt with his and other family deaths. By the way, thanks for saving my life a couple times. Your brothers shyly admit you could ride a horse better than us and saved a life when you were a Lifeguard at the Nephi Pool. You could swim great, even with handcuffs behind your back, but we wont tell which cop did that to you. Cotton Rosser appreciated how well you kept his motel room tidy, and started your high work ethics ironing for a local as the wife didn't know that trade. I will make the writing short, as I am trying to figure out how to fit photos here, and since your the Birthday gal who helps this brain dead brother with Scans and Computers, I couldn't ask you. Here goes. If the reader doesn't know who is who, they can ask on your Fakepage or YouTube.
In case you are wondering what the Old Nephi LDS North Ward Chapel looked like, we have a print, and we wrote about it some time ago. To go along with it. It is old, but you can still get together and sing it. When it isn't the Sabbath, some folks in Nephi may suggest you pay a visit to Aunt Emma's business and then when it gets warmer and you are camping overnight, try some of that Spirit, and sing, sing, sing.
I'm not sure of the year, but we have several that we will add another time. The ones today are Chapman Furniture Store and that was run by Maurice Chapman. It is now a Thrift store. Next to it is the Gadd's NAPA store, then as I recall, I think the next two smaller ones is first a barber shop ran by a man that had to quit when he had a stoke. I just had a brain freeze as to his name, but lived on 4th East at on the corner of 600 North. Then the adjoining business was Nephi Cleaners, ran by Stella Harris Boswell and Mable Anderson. A little further was Wayne's Pool Hall, then the Cowan gas station where the Old Mill park is now. The nearby Salt Creek ran under the road and Venice Theater, and the rumor(only a real rumor) was that some stupid local kids would put their life at risk and float under it. Boys could hold their breath a long time and good swimmers that MAY have become Scuba Divers! On the west, there should be a photo of The Times News; Foote Building, then the Venice Theater. The upstairs rooms were where Dentist Booth practiced, but another rumor is he only "practiced" it. Same goes for an attorney up there. Being a Movie projectionist at the Venice I had the exploratory chance to check the vacant rooms out including the spiral wooden staircase that led to the forgotten Venice Cafe which was later changed to a Pizza Place. Then down the street, you will find the LDS Seminary Building, which became the County Attorney Office and Udell Jensen office. Next door is the UWANNA Drive Inn; then Dairy Queen; TJ's, and now Nephi Western. I almost forgot. Back in the real old times, the rooms above the Chapman store used to be the offices of Nephi City and Juab County before they build the County Building on the corner of Depot and Main which is now the DUP Museum, and before Nephi City had their offices in the Nephi Smiles office. When they all vacated the offices above Chapmans, various journals and books were taken home by employees, but the government forgot about them, and low and behold, yours truly got possession of them. I tired to return some to Juab County for historical purposes, but the County Recorder back then refused them, so they given to the DUP as they had a lot of good history in them. The Brass Band was common in Nephi, and the one shown is standing in front of the Hyde and Whitmore Mercantile. Bands were important in those days and often used to welcome LDS Brigham Young to town on his way to Santa Clara.
Like it or not, 2024 is here, and yup, it is an election year. So if you are a REAL American, please register, and vote who ever you wish. As most folks that know me, I DO NOT like most Politicians, even though I became one once. I didn't like them, as most were very dishonest, and not PUBLIC Servants. I used to write in my kids names, but that doesn't work anymore, as who ever wants to run as a Write-In has to register, so the several votes we got for Hollywood Ted Folkerts didn't count. And just because a Judge is on the ballot for Retention -that doesn't always mean they are good. Find out by calling folks, or just leave blank. Anywho, I found a campaign ad for Bent Bryan, and although our family of years ago was related to the Bryan family, not sure about Bent, but he did win. On the back of his ad, it shows the various other candidate's in Juab County, so you can do the research on them. I do know that Bent won; so did Sheriff Sullivan and so did Abe Murdock, but it was considered an upset, so had to do some research. He lost to the Incumbent-Wm. King, whose name I recognized. Wm. King was born in Fillmore at a time when Fillmore as the Capitol of the Utah Territory and he served as the United States Senator from 1917 to 1941, and lost to Abe Murdock. At first glance, I thought he may have lost to a guy by the name of "Abe", but that wasn't the case. In my view, he lost because even though Senator King was a Democrat, he didn't always go with party lines but what he thought was best for America, unlike todays politician's in D.C. Additionally,, King was against President Roosevelt, and that may have been fatal. Anywho, we also know that Newton was elected, and in my view, I haven't yet found a bad person from downtown Clover Creek, or Mona that wasn't bad, but that is just a professional guess! It was fun to look up Senator King, who became Senate Pro-Temp during his time.
PLEASE VOTE. IT IS THE AMERICAN WAY OF LIFE AND PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE-USA
It was more than a hundred years ago that Nephi, Utah had three elementary schools. On the south part of Nephi, the school was called the South School. Another two story school was build on Track Street at one and a half blocks east, and that was called the Central School. Then the North School was on the corner of 6th North and First East. Both the North and South School were torn down, and all Nephi Elementary kids who attend the Central School, and kids walked or their folks would take them in their horse and buggy or on a horse. Shortly after 1900, the second floor of the Central School became known as Nephi High School, and students were there until 1923, when the new school was completed on 2nd North and Main. It broke the heart of most citizens that the Central School was tore down as where the other two. The photo is taken from The Times News, and not sure what year it was, but a long time ago, as the house built where the school was is quite old. Who are the unhappy students? Your guess is good as mine.
We recognize our declaration is a little Tardy to get out to all those LDS students who wish to learn more about all kinds of spiritual things, and unlike the regular news broadcasts, we decided to be a little more honest and wrote "Braking News". It only costs a dollar per quarter, but it is for the years of 1958-59, but even then, that would seem a darn tootin good bargain. While going to the U of U, working on a Masters, I thought I would take a class to improve my worldly view of things, only because the students I saw and watched, were one Hell of a lot worse than this country boy. They had worse words than J. Golden Kimball gave at early LDS Conferences, and he had more wives that what I was searching for. Anyhow, here you go. It is history, so if want good teachings but it may Behoove one to study and make sure your kin Behave better than I done did sum of the time!
I recall reading my grandfather's LDS Missionary's Dairy from the 1800's when Wm. Jones departed Nortonville, and asked his pregnant wife to take care of the farm, with the help of the other Tolley and Jones family. She did, and while Wm. was on his mission, their son Vic Jones was born. Wm. and another Nephite by the name of McPherson took the ship to Liverpool. That is just a foundational story, as both the Jones and McPherson were key farmers in Juab County, but it was time when all neighbor's pitched in to help each other.........which may be a thing of only the past. Anywho, the two pictured ladies are of the same generation, when both were raised to take care of their family and the farm. I knew both well, and can't think of any more beautiful and high class ladies. Nephi families lost two noble queens, but Heaven gained two Angelic Angels. I have previously wrote about their family members and often think how well each of them succeeded on life on earth.
Last September, we submitted several stories written by Dean Bowles, a former Nephite who had a Dental Practice, but also an excellent book author. Some of his stories were submitted last September, so the reader would have to go to our Archives to read them. He and his wife are 90 plus years old; living with a son in Arizona, and interested in moving back to Nephi The attached is a photo of Dean and the staff he had. He is the son of Roy Bowles and lived on the corner of 5th North and 1st West in Nephi.
The attached appears to be a clipping from the local Juab County paper of The Times News. Not sure who in our family saved it but my guess would be LaVon Harris Jones, as she was very active in all drama, plays and functions of that sort. I found it interesting as most of folks may have already been elevated to do drama beyond the Veil. I sense the Fine Arts Club that may have been the lighting rod for the more recent Juab Fine Arts of today. The difference back in the 50's was that most clubs of that nature were completely Volunteer, where as recent organizations start as volunteers, but soon start collecting money's from the taxpayer by way of government funding. I am not sure, but the FHA(Future Homemakers of America) may be thing of the past, which is too bad, as it used to be just for girls in High School, but in todays world of many a single fathers who not only work their jobs, but such as my case, I had to try to cook for two young boys. In that time it was customary to not use the woman's first name, but to refer to them as Mrs. so and so. To me, Mrs. Lomax was Evelyn, and same thing with many others. See if you know who is who and if they are still kicking. My neighbor was Myrna Lunt who just passed away. She was into FHA, and what a gifted person, and a great Spirit and I can guess she reaches that she is an Angel as she was on Earth. And the Tolley gal listed as the Recreation leader for FHA is still very much alive and still a sharp person, who I keep in contact with. Not sure of the Yorganson gal, but her two brothers were gifted and popular writers, being Blaine and Brent Yorganson, and their father was the local Culligan man. That is all for now.
I am not sure if this is good news or bad news, but at least it is History- an almost forgotten educational skill once used in public schools when I went to Nephi Schools. Although I have attended and got my certificates of completion or diplomas from various colleges and asked to teach at many, the best education I ever received, was that which I received during my 12 years of schooling at Juab High School. I was never as smart as my siblings, including one who breezed through most, but I think I learned how to study and endure to the end. Graduating from High School was one of my most saddest days, as not only was I leaving the best hundred classmates and friend's, but leaving behind the best teachers, including the creme of the crop Admistratiators. In talking to various students and nephews both locally and in the big city, I learned that many schools are so big, the kids don't have a lot of chances to participate in sports; plays, or various clubs. Oh well, I guess the 6 plus years in colleges and universities at least....... it taught me how to work the night shift to pay for college and my student loans, which apparently, is not the case anymore. During my career of 42 years, I have also learned not to trust the present day media, and haven't watched a news cast for more than 45 years, as I was involved with some of the events of the past, and few meda folks were not "Just the Facts Ma'am" and often only interrupted what would suck people in, as that is what their bosses told them to do-to please their funders. Sounds like Politician's huh? Below is the last of the box of newspapers I collected while working at various cities or States in America. Nowadays, I only read the old papers and the Times News. Today's paper is when I spent some time in Kentucky, and that paper is not too different that what readers may feel obligated to read or watch today. You be the Judge! When we find papers and magazines from around the world, we will consider putting them on the blog. Once when I was in Mexico, I picked up that evil magazine called "Playboy". Back then, in looking through it, the photo's were PG, as one could find in America, but in those days, that magazine was mild as what is accessible to people now adays. I did take the time to look at the cartoons, and gee whiz, I couldn't understand one dam joke! It took another person to tell me I had to learn Spanish first. Dam. So I hollered " Una Cerveza Mas Por Favor, then Gracias" and left a dollar so we didn't get knifed. Since warm beer was not to my liking, we fled the coop.
Jan 5, 1979, was a day of excitement for your family kid. We weren't sure if it was going to be a boy or girl, but we had already decided on a name. You were a boy, so named Justin, but if it was a girl, it would have been Justine. I opened a Savings Account in both names at Zion's Bank. It was late at night that you were born, and back before I lost my addiction for BYU, Dr. Spencer and I was watching the Holiday Bowl on TV in a room near the birth room at Cottonwood Hospital. We kept telling your screaming Mom to just grin and bear it, as the game was about over. It ended, and I got there just in time to catch you when you popped out. You must have known who won, as you came out smiling. From that day on you were a happy kid, and made every human and animal around you love you. You had that instant affect on all. You and I became not so much a father and son, but extremely close friends. As soon as you were able to walk, and before seat belts, I would take you for a drive when our new home was in the country. I would secure you standing behind my right shoulder and we talked from that time on just as if you were a full grown adult. You and your two St. Bernard's bonded and when you got older, you were good at all sports, and drove to the armpit of the big city and take on gangs for money....but it was on the basketball court. You brought home your winnings, but scared the BeJesus out of me when you told me where you played. Little did you know, California gangs were there, but you played cool with it all. I am sitting at my desk, and have been going through the ten binders full of your stuff, even from Kindergarten. Only now, I can't figure out why the school charged me more than $4000 dollars and that didn't even cover your lunch! Oh well, you aced school and college and went on to help heart patients with the new system to repair the chambers going through the Femoral artery. You, your brother and I fell in deep depression when we lost your baseball coach on the field at 38 and I couldn't save him with CPR. I knew the Medical Examiner and he told me that Craig Siciliano was dead before he hit the ground. Although most folks couldn't tell, your Depression increased when your mother wanted a break, so we divorced and she departed the home while you and Troy were young. She wasn't all to blame, as you and your brother were my first obligation and then my career, which I spent more time at than I should have. She has been there for you more than you know. Your two marriages ended in divorce and when we spent over a hundred thousand dollars on professional counselling, that only seemed to make matters worse, so you chose to end your life on earth at age 38. Somehow, I think you followed what you had been taught and prayed about it, and I can only think He knew your Big Heart could take no more pain. From time to time, in my gloom, I can feel your presence above my right shoulder, and so please continue to be our Guardian Angel. Troy greatly misses you, as you were his guiding light. Just keep on being that Pale Rider in the Sky and we will get on the horse and play Getty Up Go once again. Me and Troy will catch up with you but not today!
