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Show Culture, music a part of 'Art City' since inception By LAUREL BRADY Special to the Daily Herald That Springville "An City" would be is nicknamed no surprise to early settlers, who found the setting picturesque and beckoning. From the start, culture, music and all the arts have played a central role in the development of the town. One of the first settlers of what is now Springville was William Miller, who. in September 1848. built a home there. During the Indian War of 1849. he traveled throughout the entire valley, "but found no place that delighted as did the site on Hobble Creek." When Miller returned to Springville with his wife Phoebe and Aaron Johnson, it was recorded "never had their eves beheld a more eligible site on which to make a home." Because of earlv difficulties w ith Indian. Springville settlers built a fort with logs from Hobble Creek. The first survey was completed in 1851 by Andrew J. Stewart. At that time, a location for the citv's public square and central school were selected, then home sites were chosen by casting lots. Twelve and one half rod square lots were identified on numbered slips of paper, which were shaken up in a box and drawn out by homesteaders. Twenty acres of land was the maximum amount each could claim for irrigation. The first matter of business at the first court in Provo on April 9. 852. w as the levying of taxes for building roads. The price of wheat was fixed at $1.50 per bushel for payment of tax. Ira Allen was appointed, road supervisor for Springville. and Joseph Kelly appointed one of the examiners for the common schools. 1 The Legislature chartered Springville in 1852. It was named for the large spring that furnishes water to the Houtz Mill pond. The first election was held April 4, 853. Music, drama and the arts were important and nourishing from the first. In 1853. a brass band was organized by William D. Huntington, which gave several concerts the following year. Members played instruments they'd brought from the old coun'ry, and paid instructor John Taylor $40 a month to come from Provo to give them two lessons a week. W hen he moved to Springville. the band made rapid progress. The band turned out to welcome the first train of flat cars on the narrow guage railroad laid up State Street in 1878. Band concerts were often held at the av.fgarden on top of the Wood's home. Bandmembers had to go through the attic to get to top of house. violinist Later. Norwegian Samuel F. Gudmundsen organized an orchestra in 878. A dramatic compa- 1 50 zr ...y Mkxo courtesy of G.E. Anderson Springville's Main Street looked much different in 1900 it does 96 years later. Shown is the Central School than ny was formed in 1865. and the first theater was built in 882. It cost SI 0.000 and seated 5(H). In 890. when it burned to the ground, the loss was a real calamity to the people of tow n. The dramatic company moved to the city hall to continue holding plays. City Hall also served as a dance hall, opera house and general meeting place. One memorable play conducted there was one in which a fire was part of the production. The audience was warned beforehand not to become excited, but when the scenery seemed to be burning, and one of the actors cried "Fire!" as part of his act. the audience quickly left the hall and refused to return to see the end of the play. Dancing was also popular. Beginning in 852. Bishop Johnson agreed to provide his front rooms for dancing, if townspeople would furnish fuel and lights. Many hauled wood for a week to feed the huge fireplaces, and it was common to bring a candle to each dance for lights. Admission was charged to pay the musicians. Tickets were paid for in any kind of produce musicians could be persuaded to take. 1 Usually a couple of bushel sacks sat near the door where dancers placed contributions and candles. Later, dances were held in the large halls located over some of the stores and in the basement of the Opera House and City Hall. Many people and the Springville Bank (with the cupola, at right) were built in 1892. went to dances and church barefooted: boys often borrowed their mother's shoes w hich they blackened w ith soot to disguise them. Springville's first school was a adobe house in the old fort taught by Cyrus Sanford. In 1855 townspeople built the "Big School House." which was two stories high with a belfry on the front gable. In 1866. Bishop Johnson built a school house on his own lot because the schools couldn't keep up with the grow ing population. Books were still scarce, and pencils cost 25 cents. two-room- A tax levy of one-ha- lf of one per- cent was voted in 1879 for creation of a new school which was built at 900 S. 400 East. Each pupil paid tuition of $2.50 for a term. If families had no cash, they paid in produce. The still standing Jefferson School was built in 1902." As a young man. noted sculptor Cyrus E. Dallin attended Hungerford Academy, which was built in 1886 at 200 E. 200 South. It was there he impressed a teacher from the East, w ho made arrangements for Dallin to go to Boston to study for a career as one of the outstanding sculptors of America. In spite of water, grasshopper and Indian problems, farming efforts were successful almost from the start. Aaron Johnson recorded in his diary his first crop in 1851 consisted of 600 bushels of wheat, oats and barley, as well as melons and squashes. The first peaches in Springville picked in 1857. were Mills in town produced molasses from sugar cane which could be traded in neighboring towns for 5.200 pounds of coal or SI 2.50. Sugar was also produced from local crops of sugar beets, at the Lehi Sugar in office branch Company 1. the 185 in In 1900. Springville built first flour mill in Utah County was built near Spring Creek. A lumber Mill and cotton mill were built in 865 near Spring Creek. 1 The first newspaper. was printed Springville Independent, on Aug 20. 1891. Another noteworthy event that same year was a visit by President Harrison, who passed through town in May, spending about 30 minutes and delivering a short speech in which he praised the valley and energy of the settlers. The Much of the history of Springville was preserved by pioneer photographer G. E. Anderson. Anderson had a small photo shop on the corner where the Allen's store now stands. His photos capture diverse activities from threshing wheat to bucket brigades, and have become invaluable contributions to historical photo collections owned by the LDS Church and universities. The remarkably clear pictures provide an intriguing glimpse into pioneer life and trace the growth of Springville almost from its roots to the bustlins citv it has become. |