PIPE SPRING Cultures at a Crossroads: An Administrative History

Interpretation (continued)

Programs, 1975-1976

The Bicentennial Celebration and Honeymoon Trail Wagon Trek The country's bicentennial was celebrated at Pipe Spring National Monument during the travel seasons of both 1975 and 1976. Glenn Clark and Mel Heaton were responsible for much of the planning for the event, which temporarily broadened the scope of the monument's living history program, particularly with the addition of a wagon trek along the historic Honeymoon Trail to St. George, Utah. [2195] Tracy conceived the idea of the wagon trek shortly before Clark's assignment to the monument. As soon as Clark arrived, Tracy brought up the idea. The two men agreed a wagon trek would be a special program that would reflect Pipe Spring's original purpose. Clark prepared a proposal and submitted it to Superintendent Heyder, who gave it his approval and forwarded it to the Rocky Mountain Regional Office. Their interpretive division was also enthusiastic about the proposal. Early bicentennial funds were available for seed money to get the program started. Between July 1, 1975, and September 30, 1976, the monument received $26,100 in bicentennial funding, not including $525 received from the Zion Natural History Association.

Mel Heaton knew of an old wagon in Kanab, Utah. The monument turned to the Zion Natural History Association for funds to purchase the wagon, and the association came through with $350. The wagon required complete rebuilding by the maintenance staff. Regional Bicentennial Coordinator Paul Swearingen offered $500 for wagon repairs and $1,400 to purchase a team and harness to pull it. [2196] Monument staff met with Kanab residents Denny Judd (who operated the Tribe's gift shop) and Fred Reese (head of the local Sons of Utah Pioneers) to plan the wagon trek. Glenn Clark, Joe Bolander, and Mel Heaton scoped out the trace of the old Honeymoon Trail, looking for camping spots with water for animals. Feed had to be stored ahead at these spots. The next task was to locate a good team of horses, a harness, and old farming equipment. David Johnson, a local rancher, helped Heaton and Clark with this project. A harness, plowshare, and spike tooth harrow were purchased for $400 from Earl Sudweeks of Kingston, Utah. Later, the men located a pair of young draft horses at the ranch of L. S. McGraw in Payson, Utah. One was gray and the other a sorrel. The horses were purchased for $1,000. Tracy named the sorrell gelding Mick and the gray mare Molly.

132. Duke and Mel Heaton on wagon pulled by Mick and Molly, undated
(Pipe Spring National Monument).

133. Adeline Johnson demonstrating cheese making, July 1977 (Photograph by Paul Happel, Pipe Spring National Monument).

Mel Heaton had only two months to break in the horse team and rebuild the wagon. He made many trips over the planned route. Glenn Clark later wrote, "He never gave up on the idea that we could pull this thing off with class." [2197] Repairs to the wagon were made by Mel Heaton, Elwin John, and Duke Heaton until, Clark wrote, "it was a thing of beauty." Mel Heaton and the boys took the wagon and team out nearly every morning. Mel even began commuting in it from home, becoming a popular local spectacle! Clark contacted Clifford Jake who headed a group of Paiute dancers from Cedar City. They were offered $100 to perform at the open house. The same amount was offered to a senior citizen's old-time string band led by Mahala Sorensen of Orderville. Adeline Johnson and Lorene Jake baked some of the cookies served at the open house in the monument's old wood-burning stove. The two women prepared several rounds of cheese and Johnson churned butter that would be taken by wagon to St. George.

On September 9, 1975, the open house was held at the monument with 638 people attending. The program included Orderville's Old Time Band, the Paiute dance group, and a square dance group led by caller Burton Banks. The evening ended with Joe Bolander telling stories under the night sky around a large campfire. Light refreshments of lemonade and cookies were served. On September 10, 1975, the monument's first Honeymoon Trail Wagon Trek to the St. George Temple was launched with two authentic covered wagons, one belonging to the monument (driven, of course, by the well-practiced Mel Heaton) and the other owned and driven by Owen and Adeline Johnson of Moccasin, whose wagon was pulled by mules. In addition to the Johnsons and their son Brigham, Glenn and Pam Clark made the trek, along with Paul Swearingen. Denny Judd volunteered to be an outrider. Following the route of the old Honeymoon Trail, it took the party took four days to reach St. George, where participants ceremoniously delivered cheese and butter to Temple President Reed Whipple. The wagons' arrival was planned to coincide with St. George's Dixie Days Roundup Parade. The monument's first wagon trek was favorably received and was given a special award for its participation in the parade. The trail-worn participants headed for Ruby Heaton's where they were invited to shower and eat before dashing off to the Dixie Days' culminating event, a rodeo.

A second open house was held at Pipe Spring on September 8, 1976, with 550 people attending, including two busloads of senior citizens from St. George and Hurricane (the "life of the party," Tracy later reported). The event was billed as "an old-time dance evening" in the monument's press release. The 1976 program included music by the Old Time Band of Orderville, the "Fogey Five" of Glendale, as well as local musicians Bob Nisson, Robin Hamblin, Dwight Rogers, and Karla Esplin; story telling by Joe Bolander; a demonstration by Paiute dancers; and finally, music and dancing under the stars. As in the previous year, light refreshments were served.

The monument staged its second Honeymoon Trail Wagon Trek to St. George on September 14-18, 1976. This time four covered wagons delivered homemade cheese and butter to the Temple. (David Johnson loaned two of the wagons and Denny Judd loaned one.) The 71-mile distance was traveled in five days, with 18 people participating. This time a young couple accompanied the trek, going to St. George to have marriage rites performed at the Temple. Upon the arrival of the wagon train in St. George, Owen Johnson presented cheese and butter to President Grant M. Bowler at the St. George Temple. (Bowler later sent a letter of commendation to the monument.) News coverage of the 1976 trek was excellent. A staff writer and photographer from the Salt Lake Tribune accompanied the wagon train for the entire journey. Local newspapers and television station KOOL of Phoenix, Arizona, also provided coverage. Once again, the trek arrived in time to participate in the Dixie Days Roundup Parade and received a special award. [2198]

134. Bicentennial Wagon Trek, September 1976. Shown are Glenn Clark, Owen Johnson, Elwin John, and Steve Trujillo
(Photograph by Dale Scheier, Pipe Spring National Monument).

135. Julie Heaton and Tina Esplin baking cookies in the fort's kitchen, September 1976
(Photograph by Dale Scheier, Pipe Spring National Monument).

Thanks to bicentennial funding, in addition to the open houses and wagon treks, the monument was able to hire two Kaibab Paiute women, Leta Segmiller and Elva Drye, to demonstrate Indian crafts during the summer of 1976. The women worked beneath a recreated summer Paiute shelter. Segmiller demonstrated basket weaving while Drye demonstrated beadwork and buckskin crafts. The program was well received by many visitors.