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Show Settlers worked hard and celebrated hard Portraits of a Utah Town." Van Richard historian author "Lehi By TOM McHOES have the Rose Parade lexers wauh every in Pasadena, but V stiii able io put W: Ltrhi r that diverted their a r1' v.'Zz-sitar.en'.sor ir..; me stresses of eorlv senier hie f, -- is in'. en by lo Instead fr!t. the citizens .''.;n; iaK-m-.: Lehi relied on horse-drawfloat, which, surprising!), iook rriuh l:ke some of the floats we see ..t ir's revje'.: L- - -- n 1 loda) nd instead of elaborate fireworks disp:js. there v. ere gun salutes ! whatever theme being celebrat- ed Bt. hoeer the celebrations a ere warned out. one thing was certain Lehi citiens would make sure thex had a good time. The first celebration the town had cjn be traced to just two ears jf'er its official inception. In Waiioner describes the event as a welcome addition to the citizens' activities. "Until 1854. Indian threats and made it invasions grasshopper much in to merryengage impossible making." he writes. "But on 24 Jul) Issj . t'A0 ears. five months, and 19 dj)s after Lehi was incorporated the town earned out its first celebration." Bands, townsfolk dressed in costumes and cit) officials led a parade to begin the events of that da) celebrating the sacrifices pioneers had -- made. r After the parade, music and entertainment gave the weaned Lehi residents a rest from the intense labors and persecution man) of them had experienced oer the last decade. I. nder a willow and cottonwood tree bow en., where townspeople had one-hou- sought refuge from the summer heat, comedians, musicians and speakers entertained. Communit) leader Daid Eans. a Mormon bishop, and Silas P. Barnes, the town's ma) or. addressed concerns citiens had about the struggles the) were having with the Indians and grasshoppers at that time. Such an address and its subsequent celebration would be an integral pan of the citv's future success as it helped residents cope with difficulties while allowing them to take their minds off present worries. Nowadaxs. such a thing is labeled stress management, but for the 19th century people of Lehi. it was just plain having fun. In the years which followed. Lehians would elaborate on their parades. ex en adding a dimension known as the float. And eentually. thev found other methods of mem- - making. . tall flag pole w as erected at the city s United States Centennial celebration. By the time that dav arrived. Lehi was on the eree of becoming Utah County's mosf prA oductive city. Businesses had flounshed and the population had begun the close-kn- it to grow. But atmosphere of the com- munity had not dwindled and a grand day had been planned to honor the 00th y ear of the country "s existence. Instead of a parade. a had been the custom of early Lehi celebrations, city leaders decided on a salute. But as it turned out. the initiation of the day would make one city official rule the day tradition was 1 100-gu- n changed. Frontiersman "Uncle" Billy Dawson had headed the committee which was responsible for choosing the group of young men who would commensurate the day long celebr-- ation. ft "d ..- "As a fitting climax to the lengthy salute. Uncle Billy had planned to have all the boys fire their guns simultaneous!) while he 'fired off an ani!' - a popular pioneer custom consisting of igniting a charge of black powder under a heaxy blacksmith's anil." writes - Van Wagoner. salute ended. "When the 100-gu- n Dawson counted "one. two. three.' but the boys were in such an excited state they began to shoot as soon as he started to count. When he shouted 'three." the anvil alone boomed out like a clap of thunder." Quoting early Lehi resident Andrew Field's description of what happened next. Van Wagoner writes: "The express of utter disgust made use of by Billy, at the failure of his much cherished plan, would not look well in print." The festivities of that da) and others as years xxent by would inspire other reasons to celebrate. Rodeos. Utah Sugar Beet Days and Community Dax celebrations were among those which helped the bring Lehi citizens together in Photo courtes ot John Bfoadbent An earry Leninoat was pulled by matched gray horses during a parade. Settlers took needed breaks between threats from grasshoppers and Indians bv havina parades and aun salutes spirit of city unity . Much of that same community around spirit can still be found today the cirx. Payson Ice Plant was a cool summer place By CARIN GREEN Daity Herald Special To The PAYSON - Before the freezers, refrigerators or ex en ice boxes, there was the Payson Ice Plant, the first in Utah County . Before the Ice Plant in Pax son. there were well-buiice houses. Behind the historical Samuel Douglass home there w as one of the lt 132 first. They would seal the ice houses up solid and not let any air in." said Beth Huish. long time resident and retired teacher' of Payson. The Douglass was just one ofsexeral ice houses. The ice house was located behind the store at the comer of 00 North and Main (where First Security Bank now stands). During the winter, the Doudass's would cut the ice out of Utah Lake and Spring Lake in blocks, thev would store the ice with sawdust between them. "During the summer we would use the ice for home-mad- e ice cream and to keep cool. It was a center for the town." she said. According to Gloria Bamett. the first ice plant w as established in 1917 during the first World War. The rural towns received the "modern necessities of phone, electricity and other modern conveniences later than most. They had to be creative and make do. So they began their plant The plant wis established at 800 West and Utah Axenue. For 3 years it thrixed supplying ice to businesses and homes throughout the ear" was delivered bv an ice wagon. But the Ice Plant had seen it's greater nen days. It closed down in l3l came. and refrieeration electricity |