PIPE SPRING Cultures at a Crossroads: An Administrative History

Post-war Visitation

While visitation figures had risen the first post-war year from 635 to 1,193, it declined again in 1947 (760) and 1948 (839). [1400] Travel increased in 1949 (1,290) and again in 1950 (2,352), although the latter jump in visitation is attributed to high attendance at the barbecue held in April 1950. [1401] As in years past, school children of all ages visited the site, especially near the end of the school year. In May 1950 an outing of 50 Dixie College students interrupted Heaton as he undertook stabilization work on the west cabin's south wall. While Heaton was on annual leave that month Edna Heaton took charge of tours for school children from Alton, Orderville, and Glendale, Utah. Also in May a group of 49 students from Fredonia High School camped out at the monument. Kanab seventh graders also came to Pipe Spring on an outing that month. This kind of school activity was fairly typical for the monument in late spring.

In addition to school outings at Pipe Spring, the monument received visitors associated with Church-sponsored organizations. Heaton reported in May 1946 that a party of "72 young men and boys gathered here for an outing from Kanab Stake under the direction of Edward C. Heaton, chairman of the Aaronic Priesthood, a Church group. Lunch and ball games were enjoyed." [1402] In March 1947, while Heaton was making a trip to Zion for a staff meeting and supplies, a group of 60 to 70 students from the Utah Seminary visited the monument. Heaton family members gave them a guided tour through the fort. In May 1949 Heaton guided a groups of 60 Kanab Stake Beehive Girls through the fort. After this outing, Heaton reported, "Gave first aid to one girl that was stung by a wasp. Killed a rattler the girls discovered at the southwest corner of the fort." [1403] In addition to many such groups visiting the monument, Heaton was frequently asked and agreed to give talks on Pipe Spring and on other southwestern parks and monuments to adult groups in Kanab, Moccasin, and Fredonia. In May 1949 Edna Heaton gave several artists a tour through the fort: Ivan House (Portland, Oregon), Avard Fairbanks, and Elbert Porter (both from Salt Lake City). Indian Service officials also made a few visits to the monument during this period.

As in earlier years, the fort was a favorite destination for descendents of the early Mormon settlers of Utah and Arizona or for others with family connections to Pipe Spring. Only a few of them will be mentioned here. In August 1946 a man named Heber Monair came by the monument and told Heaton he had once worked at the ranch when it was owned by David D. Bulloch and Lehi W. Jones. Monair said he had been the ranch foreman in 1895-1897. As he did with many others who had once lived at Pipe Spring, Heaton questioned him about the period and later made notes of their conversation. [1404] In August 1947 visitors to the monument included some great-grandchildren of Bishop Anson P. Winsor. On a Sunday afternoon in September 1949, Heaton reported, "A group of Sons of Utah Pioneers organization stopped for lunch and to see the fort." [1405] On Easter Sunday in 1950, visitors included more descendants of Anson P. Winsor, including 86-year-old Joseph Winsor, who provided Heaton with information about how the east and west cabins were originally used. [1406] Mrs. Sarah Terry Winsor was also among the Easter visitors. She lived at Pipe Spring in 1874-1875 and operated the telegraph office. In April 1950 visitors included the children of Luella Stewart Udall, the first telegraph operator at Pipe Spring. In October 1950 Heaton reported that Mrs. Parsellow S. Hamblin Alger, daughter of William (Bill or Gunlock) Hamblin and members of her family visited the monument. This was the Hamblin whose marksmanship, according to Heaton, "gave Pipe Spring its name in September 1858." [1407]

From time to time, Heaton received unexpected after-hours visitors at the monument, such as one he reported entered on a Saturday night in December 1948: "An Indian woman walked in last [night] about 10:30. There must have been a drunken party in town. Took her home." [1408]

In addition to the events described above, the following sections describe events from 1946 through 1950 as they relate to specific areas of interest.