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Show f; ..7 M . Jx'i) GEORGE LONG and wife, Reva, are history buffs spendine many long huurs investigating local history. George is displaying four copies of the first newspaper in Vernal called the Uintah Papoose. He is owner of copies to the paper's first publication in 1891. Abandon ghost towns attract history buffs Photo and article by Margaret Bason, Society Editor George E. Long and Reva Olivers Long are Vernal born residents interested in-terested in local history of the Basin. George was born in Ashley Ward, Feb. 3, 1925 and Reva was born in Vernal Sept. 6, 1930. During off times from work, George is exploring local historical land sites with his wife. When vacation time rolls around for the Longs, it is off to adventures ad-ventures in occupied or abandoned ghost towns and mining camps. These travels take the Long's to places either in their home state of Utah or other states in the U.S. A large part of George's life, is dedicated to recording and preserving early Uintah Basin history. He has written several articles published in the Vernal Express and Salt Lake Tribune. Reva adds, "I love to go with George and re-live the past when we go investigate in-vestigate a place he is researching. It is so fascinating." : "Ever since' I was a small boy I have enjoyed being around people and old timers who related historical backgrounds," George stated. "My favorite subject is narrow gauge railroads and early mining towns. My wife and I have ridden on many railroads that are still in existence. If they were not running we would walk the old tracks," George continued. Minnie Long, George's mother was born in Vernal in the Ashley secion of town in 1888. George and his mother were born on the same ground. Minnie's Min-nie's father was William S. Powell who was among the first settlers to the area. He came here in 1877. He was a rancher and one of the first people to introduce honey bees in Vernal. He came from Missouri. Porter Long, George's father and his father's twin brother came to Vernal in 1905 when the Uintah Ouray Indian Reservation was open for homesteading. They came from Iowa. Reva grew up at the Rainbow Gilsonite Mine location. She started school there at six years of age. When the mine moved to Bonanza, the family also moved. "My mother, Delia Rob- bins Olivers, ran the boarding house for the miners at the Rainbow location," Reva commented. She stated also that the train came in every day and brought fresh foods and supplies. "We had more modern conveniences than the town of Vernal had," reported Reva. During the time the Rainbow Mine was in operation it was served by the narrow gauge railroad, called the Uintah Railway. Sixty miles from Vernal was the closest the railroad ever came to town. She attended school until fifth grade at the Bonanza location. At this time Reva moved to the Ashley Ward area, in Vernal and completed her education through high school in town. Ray Olivers was Reya's father. Both Delia and Ray were born and raised in Vernal. Ray was a miner and rancher. Delia's father came to Utah from England; he was among some of the first settlers in the Basin. Delia's mother was a native of Utah and raised in the Basin. ,,, The Long's, were married,jn,1947 At this time Reva found herself living once again back in the Bonanza location of the Basin due to George's occupation as a miner. Reva concluded, "I can see places where homes and cabins used to be. People look at me funny when I stated that a certain location is where so and so lived. Some people can't imagine how it used to be." Goerge and Reva are members of the Utah Historical Society and the Uintah County Historical Society. George helped to organize the Uintah Basin Historical Society in 1978. George is a miner and vocationally involved with milling as his job occupations. "I am a farmer at heart. My folks were farmers v and ranchers. I love working with the soil and watching things grow," George commented. Presently, George is researching the Carter Road and the Dyer Mine as well as the Harry Ratlif f story. He states his long range future plans as, "To compile in sequence all the date I have collected for historical reference for people to have access to." |
