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Show Garfield County Ghost Towns iA) WIDTSOE Little remains of lie once-flourishing town of Widtsoe tat, in 1920 at its prime, boasted some 110 people, four stores, a post rffice, two hotels, an LDS Church, social hall and many homes. Located in John's Valley on Utah 22 less than 13 miles north of its junction jun-ction with Utah 12 (the Bryce Canyon National Park turnoff), and J a lew hundred yards east, weathered remains of a few of the ii buildings still stand. The first settlers came to the area in 1876 and it was an important stop lor the Hole-in-the-Rock pioneers as they made their way toward the Colorado River. It was known originally as J Adairville and later, Winder, before finally being named Widtsoe. Large farms raised oats, wheat and barley until changes in climate brought the downfall of the community which once threatened Panguitch, the county seat, for prominence. One by one the families moved away as crop after crop failed due to drought. With only 17 families left in H35, the federal government stepped in to help relocate families to more productive areas. Us interesting to study what remains of the old buildings and Ner the life their inhabitants nice lived. Nearby in the foothills to to east, the old cemetery with its approximately 100 graves is mute testimony that life and death both Opened once at Widtsoe. 'A) HENDERSON - Only three one-half miles north of Widtsoe ther small town was once full of SfcPart of one old ranch is all that Mains there now. A) OSIRIS - One of the most Picturesque spots in the county is the of Osiris, where the remains of a Wk-walled creamery and old red-fcined red-fcined grain elevator with four terete silos remind the visitor of a h earlier way of life. Located only io miles north of Henderson and eight miles south of Antimony, the very photographic P is nestled in Black Canyon founded by tall trees and canyon s, along a route where good H,n& is just a bonus. A)ASAY-lni872, Joseph Asay rtTT ' settled on what became known as Asay Creek which flowed into the Sevier River. His settlement, after a few others joined him nearby, was first known as Aaron, and his combination grocery and hardware store and restaurant became a popular stop for travelers along the north-south route between Panguitch and Orderville. After the post office was established, the name of the settlement was changed to Asay Town. An historical marker now commemorates com-memorates the little town where 24 families once lived. The marker is located not quite five miles south of Hatch on U.S. Highway 89. The tiny little cemetery is all that remains of Asay Town which was abandoned about the turn of the century when its sawmill burned down. The townsite itself is located on private property. (A) HILLSDALE Not quite six miles north of Hatch and only nine miles south of Panguitch, several weathered old houses wait the ghost town enthusiast. Old rough-sawed log houses, barns, and sheds scattered scat-tered about the lovely meadows create a picturesque setting, evoking wonder about what life must have bene like for the pioneering families who established this small town. Joel Hills Johnson, for whom Hillsdale was named (the town of Johnson in Kane county was formed just about a year earlier) was established in 1872. Like so many other areas, the almost-7,000 feet altitude was not conducive to farming far-ming and after several years of tyring hard to meet one defeat after another, in 1886 many began to leave. Not everyone gave up, however, and some residents remained until most the middle of the century. Occasionally, one of the old houses will be occupied for a short period. Hillsdale has never been totally given up for dead and the area makes for some very photogenic scenery. (A) SPRY This settlement consisted of a group of farms and homes located about five miles north of the junction of Utah High- way 20 (Bear Valley Road) and U.S. 89. Few people remain there today. It was named in honor of William Spry who was governor of Utah at the time the community was settled. (A) ORTON Orton was named for Wiliam Orton who operated the post office at this home at the mouth of Bear Creek at the junction of Utah Highway 20 (Bear Valley Road) with U.S. 89, although little settlements set-tlements in the area had different names at different times. Between Panguitch and Circleville along U.S. 89, many remains of old dwellings and old businesses testify of former activity in the area. (A) BUTCH CASSIDY HOMESTEAD Located just inside the county line, an old Butch Cassidy residence still remains. The famous member of the Wild Bunch was reared in Circleville just over the county line in Piute County. (A) GEORGETOWN Located south of the little town of Can-nonville Can-nonville on the Garfield-Kane County line, Georgetown once boasted some 200 people. Situated on Yellow Creek, the little town began to grow rapidly after 1886, growing to about 200 by 1894. While agriculture had from what appeared at first to be very favorable conditions with plenty of water, favorable soil, good pasture land, and nearby timber for homes and fuel, conditions changed and severe drought soon drove people away. It is said that during the One of the few buildings remaining at Widtsoe. a once 1 flourishing town in Johns Valley. Buildings such as this I may be found throughout the county where little towns 1 existed and later died. drought of 1886-90, half of the cattle on the range died of starvation. The little town began to dwindle in numbers and today there is little remaining. The little cemetery is often visited by local people whose ancestors are buried there and occasionally it is still used for burials for those whose cherished memories are associated with the little town. It is found by following the paved road south out of Cannonville to the Kane County line and making an immediate right turn to follow the i . ' dirt road west for about a mile. The - cemetery will be easily missed unless the visitor watches closely for it on the north side of the road just - before reaching the townsite. i (A) CLIFTON Located between ; 1 Georgetown and Cannonville about j the same time, Clifton was only a S small village and there is nothing W left at the site today to testify of its ; ' existence. ' (See GHOST TOWN, P. 16) j e Ghost Town (Continued from Page 3) (A) LOSEE OR LOSEEVILLE Called Loseeville by most who have lived in the area for any time, Loseeville, which was located about two miles east of Tropic in what the locals call "East Valley", once had its' own schoolhouse and farms flourished in the area. Abandoned about the turn of the century, only a small graveyard remains. The townsite is located on private property in the valley where crops are still grown. i Old Granary at Osiris on Antimony Road |
