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Show Settlement of Panguitch I ' H- . - v. . -, Watch for Livestock! PANGUITCH (A) -Historical sites abound in Panguitch, the county seat of Garfield County. The town was first settled in the spring of 1864 and the hardy little band of pioneers at once began to till the soil and plant the seeds they had brought with them. Their crops failed to property mature working a severe hardship on the little group who were very poor. They had only one yoke of oxen to about every three families. That first winter was long and extremely cold. The snow was deep and the settlers desperately in need of flour. The closest, flour mills were in Gunnison, 115 miles to the north, and Parowan, 40 miles to the west over a road that was impassable six months of the year. - Seven brave men decided to try to make it to Parowan over that road, called the Bear Valley Road even today and now designated Utah Highway 20. They left the little settlement set-tlement with two yokes of oxen and a light wagon but had to abandon both at the head of Bear Valley, and proceed on foot. The only progress they could make was by laying down a quilt, walking to the end of it, and then laying down another, retrieving the first. In this slow and painful manner they finally made it to Parowan. Their "quilt walk" is a central part of Panguitch pioneer history today, and remembered with a special float in each Pioneer Day parade. The little settlement was abandoned in 1866 when Indians became too hostile, but it was settled again in 1871 with a few returning and new members added to their number. They found their buildings Just as they'd left them and began to add structures. A few of those very early structures may still be found in town and the beautiful brick homes were built from bricks made in Pangutich. Industry of all I types began to grow because the need was there. There was a grist mill, a tannery, boot and shoemakers, harness and saddlemakers, blacksmiths, cabinet makers, pottery makers, tombstone artists, brick and stone masons, carpenters and builders and all the crafts that made a city grow. Settlers made their own yeast, their soaps, their dyes. When sheep herds passed through the are, passed through the area, women would follow and pick the wool off the it and knit stockings according ac-cording to "Golden Nuggets of Pioneer Days" published by the Garfield County Chapter of the Daughters of the Utah Pioneers. The DUP women maintain a beautiful museum open daily from 4 p.m. until 8 p.m. except Sundays so that visitors can see for themselves many of the artifacts from the early days of Panguitch. The museum is located on the north side of East Center Street in the old bishop's storehouse. Panguitch has changed over the years but many of its residents who still carry the names of its early settlers set-tlers have worked hard to maintain its pioneer heritage. They are many of the same people whose efforts today make the visitor so welcome in their community. com-munity. Panguitch offers its hand in friendship and its fine services to every traveler. KWU:,,,.,,,,,,,,.,,,.,. . . , .XI,.:.. .ft:! V 1 -'. Panguitch information center. |
