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Show t Page Tuirfue The Vyumid Remaim Guide (Hag 24, 1989 Gentle craftsman brings old world skills to Sanpete and money, would not be feasible by Penny Hamilton Although at home among Bent over a drafting table. Len- without a proposed Sanpete's majestic peaks, remindnart Eriksson, of Spring City, puts resort and improvements at Mt. ers of his homeland scattered around the final touches on his master- Pleasants municipal airport. Yet, him, reveal a double allegiance. as he lovingly displays page after With pride he speaks of his grandpiece. When completed, his masterpiece page of the complex blueprints, one fathers, who he never knew, who will include detailed plans for a can see the glimmer of hope in his were craftsmen, like himself, in Sweden. His father owned fine proposed Scandinavian designed eyes. is his of the extent Also cenevident, convention hotels. restaurant, hotel, The only son, he was well eduter, and shopping mall complex, mastery No novice drew the plans. Lennart is an anomaly in todays cated, attending Swedens equivacomplete with heliport, landscaped society. His long braided hair and' lent to public schools (w here younggardens and waterfalls. His project could be built in any gray streaked beard lend a mystery sters were introduced to drafting prestigious resort city, but he has to the man that dreams of and de- and other trade skills in the sixth dollar hotel grade), and spent an additional six dreams that it will become a reality signs in nearby Mt. Pleasant. complexes. His quiet broken Eng- years studying in business, drafting Of course, he is quick to point out lish speaks of another time, miles and art. He wanted to bean engineer, but the kind of commitment, both time and even generations awav. jokingly says he was born during four-seaso- . multi-millio- n Marva Olsen, Fountain Green, feeds orphaned lambs grown they will go to market. by hand. When Lamb Day set in Fountain Green by Jessie Oldroyd Fountain Green, at the north ;nd of Sanpete, is nestled at the foot of the Sanpitch Mountains .in the west, usually pretty and green in spring and summer, and :olorful in the fall. To the north is Mount Nebo. Fountain Green is near recreation and picnic areas and sportsmen find deer, elk, bear and cou- - noted as the richest little city, for its size, in the United States. The sheepmen of today are the sons and grandsons of those early men. Some include Vance Aagard, Brad and Scott; Jay Olsen and families; Euray Allred, Phil and Bryon; John and Roger Aagard; Owen and Perry Christensen; John Mikkelsen, David Cook, Emerson Cook and son, Dean Hansen, Alan and Warren Bailey, Morris and Dale Log Canyon is not only a popular Allred. Vance Aagard and his sons wintunfingspot, but edible berries can e found there in the fall. Other ter their sheep west of Delta and eautiful canyoas are Gamit, Maple bring them to Jericho in the spring md Pine. Each July Lamb Day and Home-:omin- g for sheering. Jericho, for many years, was the busiest and most popular celebration gives people a sheering corral. In June sheep are taken to Soltoliday that was started over 50 ears ago by the citys sheepmen, dier Summer and Soldier Creek rhis year Lamb Day will be held and in July to the summer range. Some sheepmen, like the Olsens, uly 14 and 15. is two of one The sheep industry keep their sheep nearer to home. nain agricultural interests in Foun-ai- n Shearing and lambing are done in their Fountain Green sheds. In May, Green. The other is turkeys. the In the early years, sheep they trail their sheep up Water made the city grow and for a Hollow, and in July, to the summer ong time, Fountain Green was range on the Manti LaSal. calls them, noting an artist cannot survive on pictures alone, grace the walls, as do drawings of homes and cabins he has designed for people. This one I actually got paid for, he notes pointing to a drawing of one home. The painting that helps provide for his family is of a more practical nature, the kind he learned as a building contractor. He has a display case of rocks and crystals salvaged from his experience working for a local crystal manufacturing company. Although not perfect enough for market, the crystals are polished like gems. In his workshop he displays unique specialty items, a lamp fashioned out of scrub oak, and a three-legge- d Both were created so that Swedens baby boom and there were stool. natural grain would be the men woods with other the too many just same desires that were better highlighted. He has also fashioned tables and book shelves, but, he with his limited tools they Instead he used his background admits, arc not finished like fine furniture. in drafting and woodworking and Lennart's yard speaks of yet became a contractor, working in of the artist. The flowSweden, Norway and Denmark. ers Eriksson the family have carHe married and began a family, to home are growried from home choosing to live in Denmark beis He there. building a rock cause Sweden did not permit chil- ing border. dren to be taught in home schools. Shrubs and trees are growing Although he was w'ell educated, he amidst the flowers. Until recently, preferred to teach his three sons. the Erikssons had a successful family Jared, Daniel, and Michael, and landscaping business to supplement daughter, Sarah, at home. and He says he taught them every- their construction, drafting, work. handyman surthing he knew and then they Now the children are growing up. passed him. His sons can nowdo on His daughter is a nanny in New a computer what it takes hours for two sons want to get into Jersey, him to do on paper at his drafting trucking, one son spends time in table. Salt Lake City as a computer proLennart first came to the United Stales when he was 35 to visit one grammer. Lennart's work, generally alone of his two sisters. That visit began a is limited by declining health. series of visits that eventually ended now, from diabetes and high He suffers with his immigration to Utah, settling first in Duchesne, Cedar City, and Salt Lake City, and eventually making his way to Mt. Pleasant in 1979. Although finding it tough to make a living, he cant imagine living anywhere else. His home is two miles south of Spring City. Yet, as he shows off the panorama of mountains around him, Nebo to blood pressure, and his back, he says, is just worn out from a life of hard work. Yet, he keeps painting, and designing, and working in his shop, as well as dreaming of what he wants to do to make his home more suited to his family. He speaks of being able to care foran invalid niece, the only surviving member of his sisters family who were all tragically killed several years ago. She is confined to a care center and Anja, his wife, helps care for her. Lennart is working to prepare a place for them all, while trying to remain near the town he has grown to love as home. His dream plans for the hotel are for that tow n. Although he doesnt expect he will ever be compensated for the hours it has taken to prepare them, those plans, like his expectations for his family, are for the future. The future is important it) Lennart. As one visits with this gentle craftsman, it is easy to relate to other immigrants who first entered and settled the Sanpete Valley. Like Lennart, they were strangers, some from Sweden, w hen they arrived, but the marks of their craftsmanship remain visible today in Sanpetes most famous landmarks. Perhaps someday a modern hotel surrounded by beautiful gardens, restaurant, and shopping mall will be filled with travelers arriving by private jet to play at the resort. four-seaso- One more landmark will then bear testimony of the power of dreams and the kind of men. like Lennart, who are still shaping Sanpete. the northwest and Horseshoe directly east, one feels it is the land and not the towm that he loves. Inside his home, the marks of his trades stand or hang in mute testimony of his talents. Paintings and watercolors, fantasy pictures he Forest Service maps available A new Forest Map will be available to the public by June at the cost of S2. In addition, a new travel map will also be available. Campers are strongly urged to be cautious with fire. Anyone spotting a fire should immediately notify the Forest Service Office, in Ephraim, 283-415- 1. m i , ' ip 'n itTAiTi Using modest tools a modern-daions a lamp from scrub oak. w - y rWfMiiifiida craftsman, Lennart Eriksson, fash- |