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Show JOak Creek recalling the early years Page by Opal Barton For a long lime I have felt that our early Oak Creek history eould be forgotten. There are few of the older generations left who could write, "tape or discuss conditions and events. Thus I am impelled to lake up my pen and make an effort in this cause. The people here in Oak Creek owned their little farms. They were two major events of the year were Stcinic Blanch and my nickname the Christmas party and the May w'as Pokic or Popic Dice. Day celebration. Fishing was good in Oak Creek. The Christmas party consisted of The Sanpitch River also had a couple a big decorated tree covered with of good swimming holes. Generbright paper chains, and strands of ally there were no problems too garlands and popcorn were in abunhard to cope with where the rivers dance. were concerned. They could be Many little wax candles on their contained, but one flood in the early little metal holders were clipped to days was indeed a threat to the lives the tree, and on Christmas Eve of our people. poor but proud. Generally, they twinkled after they were lit. A glitPeople in Oak Creek were a raised their flour, meat, vegetables, tering star adorned the lop of the people with many talents. fruit, honey and other farm pro-- i tree. Lots of dances were held in Oak There was always a program and Creek over the duce. They salt cured the meat, years. I remember bottled and dried fruit and vege-- ; Santa Claus made his appearance. how Wretha Peterson would chord tables, and made their own laundry The children received gifts which on the organ and Aaron Cheney, of were determined by the merit sysFairview, played the violin or fiddle. soap. They beautified their homes with tem. The children received merits Before them I remember watching crafts and were industrious. the dancers. The ladies with babies for each Sunday School they atwould bed their sleeping infants on The mode of travel in the early tended. Then there was May Day. Somea bench along the wall and dance davs was with wagons, buggies, times At the the times children and horseback. while braided the August Anderson and Cheal May sleighs roads were almost impassable. There Pole and played games. There was Mower called the quadrilles. There wore no electric lights in was snow, mud, deep dust and bot-- 1 always a May Queen willvtwo maids in attendance. the early days. Coal oil lamps furtom less ruts to plague them. The games the children played nished the light. They wore remember going to school in a placed horse-draw- n hack, a covered wagon were fun. Some i remember were on the walls. with a bench on each side the length drop the handkerchief, go in and When I was a young girl, John ol the hack and one down the middle out the windows, London Bride and Christensen in a small here we go round the Mulberry amount of brought from a genlor the smaller children. electricity At limes the hack driver would bush. erator plant of some kind he had in Kids ran cliques and a lot of made over on Stone Quarry. At ha e to stop at intervals and let the them had nicknames. A few I re- one time I collected horses rest. money for the Social life in Oak Creek was for member were Cooler, lehabod lights. As 1 remember it was about the most part church oriented. The Crane, Nevada, Grandma Corn, 35 cents per family. There wore no modern convenTmnmninniiimiiimimmnnnniinmiuimniuimmuiinminrrm r iences during this time. You burned w'ood and maybe some coal. If you had coal you had to haul it from over the mountains on a wagon- -a . X f fun-lovi- : F I ). 1 i went through Oak Creek loaded with young servicemen. The train stopped over at the crossing. You would never know' there was any heartbreak at leaving their homes to serve their country. The boys wcreall smiles and laughter. A most beautiful and memorable sight for a little girl to have witnessed. In 1918 a couple of young men came out to Oak Creek to break the news that the Armistice had been signed. In the early days there w'erc no local hospitals. Babies were delivered in the home. However, there was a midwife available. Her name was Janie Sanderson. There were several ladies in Oak Creek skilled in home nursing. Edna WELCOME TO MANTI CITY A SUMMER FULL OF EVENTS JULY 4th An Old Fashioned 4th Is Planned with Games, Programs, Fun, Food Fireworks MORMON MIRACLE PAGEANT 2 JULY SANPETE COUNTY FAIR AUGUST 18-2- 13-14--15 24-25--26 LADIES SOFTBALL TOURNAMENT JULY 29 MENS SOFTBALL TOURNAMENT AUG. 23-2- 6 VISIT HISTORIC PATTON HOUSE era Collections from pioneer TOURS AVAILABLE T- f Visit the Historical Section In the Manti Carnegie Library A special section is devoted to family histories Tke Vipomid Recuaiiax Kiaeieex dangerous journey. A familiar site here in Oak Creek was Mrs. Hansen driving her horse and buggy to town. The dapple gray horse was named Caesar. I loved watching her go by and also going to her house near Oak Creek Canyon. She had a hand organ that was a great attraction. One had to crank it while it played. Other musicians were Neldon Anderson, Roland Mower and Eskcl Mower who played harmonicas and sang. Girls and boys had fun. Girls made fudge and mud crawled in the Sanpitch. Boys trapped muskrats, herded cows along the railroad, rode horses, and hunted rattle snakes. Some of the landmarks were Calc Hartleys big orchard near the mouth of Oak Creek Canyon and Johnnie Mower's orchard near the Y. Erick Erickscn and Uncle DifF Terry raised sweet crab apples. Kids didnt hesitate to steal crabs They were such a temptation. Oak Creek Bridge was a meeting place for kids where they would roast potatoes over hot coals from a bonfire. How good those black, d spuds would taste. The would be seasoned with ghost party stories. The railroad crossings were landmarks. Our hearts ache now as we recall the Sanpete Flyer and the freight trains which arc things of the past. Thinking back many pictures flash through my mind. In about 1917 the militia train Guide (Hag 24. 1989 hay, he would give the figures to my mother even though he had seven daughters. Sometimes it was necessary to seek employment elsew'hcre to supplement their livlihood. Afamiliarsight in Oak Crcckwas highly-educate- d seeing August Anderson riding Old Danny to Fairview' where he did carpentry' work. Then there was the milk wagon. Louis Terry drove it and on rare occasions in the summer would give the kids a small piece of ice. The creamery was located south of Oak Creek. For many years, Johnnie Mower Jr. rode range for the Fairview Cattlemens Association. He w'ould help dehorn cattle, help on the drive Erickson, Climenia Smith and Many and look salt to the range cattle. I Mower. I marvel at how self suffi- went with him once up Oak Creek cient and self sustaining people were Canyon to the face, to Lone Pine, Fork and to Choke in their needs. to Left-han- d As the memories flash back I Cherry Flat. Oak Creek is unique and always remember my mother. She only went to the eighth grade, but she was an has been. It remains special to me, intelligent girl. In her early married and there has been a love that has life she used to figure like a pro. endured over the years. There are When Uncle Andrew Lasson sold many memories. TXT C. Growing With anpete County Ml. Pleasant Bank Olficere half-bake- Fairview Bank Officers HOOKS: LENDER B a.m. 8 PJi. far west bank MC 6-- 1 |