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Show Do You Remember? . . . By MAUDE BENEDICT , DO YOU REMEMBER? . . . (Contributed) When Ella Williams, Hannah Frlel, and Mary Crandall, taught in the adobe school house on "Sage Creek?" They were all very fine teachers, who won the hearts of pupils, as well as their parents. It will be remembered that Mary Crandall was the mother of Dave Crandall, who served as city marshal mar-shal in Springville for several terms. This jovial, kindly and understanding under-standing "cop" was liked by everyone, every-one, and the years have added more and more friends to his large list. Dave Crandall deserves a vote-of vote-of thanks, late as it is, for his service ser-vice to the community when there were no motorcycles, automobiles, nor radios to help an officer "catch his man." Another officer, Frank Gam-mell, Gam-mell, who was so well-fitted for his position as marshal, Is remembered, remem-bered, and this is contributed by Elsie Weight, a former Springville girl: "When her 'crowd' went bobsleigh bob-sleigh riding to Spanish Fork, with wagon-covered box and a lantern hung from the center bow, they used to make so much noise laughing laugh-ing and singing, they'd ask the cop, Frank Gammell, to go along, so they wouldn't get arrested for disturbing the peace!" And Henry Clark, dear to the hearts of all Springvlllians, deserves de-serves a big hand for his services as marshal in those early days. One thing, he and T. L. Hatch organized organiz-ed the first city fire department, and this organization led to the better and more efficient fire-flghtlng fire-flghtlng department Springville now has. This first organization was started soon after the city water system was just into service. Other civic improvements were made under Henry Clark's helpful efforts. ef-forts. An interview with Charles Con-over Con-over brought out his memory of the old "bucket brigade" fire department, de-partment, of which he was a member: mem-ber: "At the time of the fire that destroyed Springville's beautiful opera house, which stood where the Art City Publishing company building now stands, I recall the desperate effort this bucket brigade bri-gade made to save it, water was passed down the line in pails, from hand to hand, to the ones nearest the fire. Water was dipped from a ditch that ran along Main street. A hopeless task it was, for it burned burn-ed to the ground!" This spectacular fire was a great loss to Springville, as it was a theatre thea-tre next in beauty and size to the Salt Lake theatre. Adele Hatch Johnson contributes this memory of the opera house: "Beautifully decorated, its walls were of deep red velvet, the ceiling frescoed in gold, and its curtain a huge painting of Windsor castle and grounds. Its orchestra pit was considered the finest of its kind; a gallery, and boxes, a parquet, and all the most modern furnishings for that era. "This opera house played all the famous talent drama, concert, comedy that appeared in the Salt Lake theatre. "Such famous actors and actresses ac-tresses as Joe Grismer and Phoebe Davis; the Litchfield troupe, featuring fea-turing the 'Man of Many Faces'.; all the large companies of celebrated celebrat-ed artists, troupes, that came from New York, Boston, Chicago, and other eastern points. "Many minstrel shows, melodramas melo-dramas and grand opera were played in the much-loved Springville Spring-ville opera house. "Jenny Lind sang there so it will be recognized by the younger generation that the artists then known to Springville were, as accomplished ac-complished in their line as any they may ever see, or hear!" Springville started out being a city of culture, even when the paths it trod were lined with sagebrush, sage-brush, and paved with mud and cobblestones, and it has never gone backward for that we are very proud! ' The Shepherd String Band played play-ed in the famous-for-its-beauty orchestra or-chestra pit of the opera house. This group's music always thrilled the hearts of all the troupes entertaining enter-taining there. The large companies played at the Provo opera house after the big fire. All of Utah mourned the loss of beautiful and famous Springville opera house. The origin of the fire was never aetermined. Charles Conover adds this: "A meat market next to the opera house was saved by the bucket brigade. bri-gade. It was owned by Frank Whit-more, Whit-more, and it was a miracle that it was not burned, too. Frank Whit-more's Whit-more's meat market was always immaculately clean, as Frank himself him-self always was." John Conover, Charles' father, was lamp-lighter for the lights of Springville. He carried a ladder as he made his rounds and climbed each post which were numerous, considering the blocks lighted! From First North to Fourth South on Main street, and from Main street to the Rio Grande depot. It was so dark between posts that he had to light matches to find them. Kerosene was the fuel used. Remembering back to the theatre: thea-tre: After the opera house burned down, the city hall was used- for such small troupes that came minstrel shows, one-night melodramas, melo-dramas, stands, small concerts, and other programs. Dances were held there until the foor became shaky, and was condemned con-demned as a dance hall. Remember when H. T. Reynolds built his large store, and a dance hall where many family reunions and parties were held? Remember "bow dances" were popular? The lady wore a bow of ribbon on her hair, and she deposited de-posited a duplicate in a box at the door. The gentleman drew a bow and automatically became the escort es-cort of the lady whose bow matched match-ed his. It was great fun, and jokingly jok-ingly called "Taking a long chance!" Masquerades were held in Reynolds' Rey-nolds' hall; and box parties; also paper balls, where the ladies wore dresses made of paper, and a beautiful beau-tiful sight it was! All the varied styles and colors In crepe paper. Even the hair bows made of paper. Box parties were auctions of boxes of lunch. Auctioned off to the highest bidder, the winner of a box shared his lunch with the lady who had contribuited it. Another party called "Taking a chance!" These auctions were held to raise funds for some worthy cause, and were eagerly looked forward to. The boxes were beautifully packed, trimmed in paper and lace. Peculiar-looking boxes intrigued the bidders more than the very fancy ones, and many a high bidder there was! Do you remember Cleo Peirce? Well, next time you'll read about some of her memories of Springville Spring-ville and its people. Until then Do you remember? . . . P. S. A correction about one of the teachers we listed as of Sage Creek school. Andrew Morgan did not teach there, but John Morgan did. Andrew taught at Central school. On Memorial day, we drove from Ogden to Springville; through all the towns along the way, a flag here and there showed that the day was remembered. But, when Springville was reached, imagine our pride in finding the Main street lined with flags! The only city from Ogden to Springville. Congratulations, Springville! Perhaps Per-haps the others could not afford so many flags; however, Ogden did! |