This
house was one of
the first built and although a solid log structure, it obviously
lacked the
architectural sophistication of homes built just a decade later. The split rail fence
around the yard lent a clean neat appearance. We crossed the street and stopped to visit.
Inside we met the young Gardiner
boy who had been brewing a cinnamon and mint tea which he tasted frequently in
his desire for a perfect brew. His mother was in the front room spinning flax on a
hand built hardwood spinning wheel which had seen many days of labor as shown
by the polished wood, worn smooth over the years of use.
On the
wall next to the
back door was a somewhat more modern chart made up of small pieces of plants
and a few fibers of flax next to them. It showed what color would be produced by
boiling the flax in that weed. Out back the fire was just cooling under a black
cauldron for the final dying of the day. Laura, fell right into the scene as she
checked the color so far. "Hmmmm, not quite ready yet." We moved on down
the street from house to house and through school and church. Everywhere we
went we found history unfolding in front of us. People on street corners and in
buildings carrying on conversations among themselves and with the visitors as if
it were still the 1800. There is little to show in this town, of the struggles made
by the Mormons to avoid the persecution 
of others, except for a small entry in
the printing house.
It was necessary, during the early days, for the Mormons to
print their own money, as outsiders often resisted trading with them. The Deseret
News was first printed on June 15, 1850 and is the longest running business in
Utah. It also printed the currency they adopted for the period of time it was necessary.
The paper was located in the downtown area where the Joseph Smith Memorial
Building is now standing. The re-creation of this building was equipped with
period printing equipment, donated by various surrounding printing companies.
High in the east, on the outskirts of town is a gristmill. Its massive wheel
attached to a hand hewed axle of equal proportions. Behind it lay the barren,
harsh landscape that was the home of these resourceful and determined people.
To see it all and get into the feeling as a witness or participant will take several
hours. There is a restaurant at 100 North and Main, but a water bottle is
advisable. We left tired and with a different point of view about life and times of
the early Mormons.
***THE END ***
