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Show Thursday, August 19, 1999 Messenger-Enterpris- Page 5 e Old trees in Sanpete stand as ancient historical markers If trees could talk, what amazing things the Rocky Mountain Juniper at 35 West and 100 North in Ephraim could say. For more than 300 years, the tree has watched the comings and goings in Sanpete County. It could reminisce about the days when the county was nothing more than trees and open spaces, and Native Americans had the run of the land. It could talk about the arrival of the valley's settlers, the coming of the railroad, the first automobiles, and the years of droughts and floods. The tree could also give history lessons based on firsthand knowledge. Chief Blackhawk and a parley passed a peace pipe and signed the treaty that ended Utah's Blackhawk War under the trees branches, earning it the name The Peace Treaty Tree. It still stands proudly, although age and the elements have taken their toll. Its trunk is now hollow and many branches bare. The Peace Treaty Tree is only one of more than three dozen trees in Sanpete County that could chum out interesting tales of the past. Nearly 40 local trees have been identified as being at least 80 years old by Brad VanDyke, VanDyke was commissioned by the Sanpete County Heritage Council and Utah Community Forest Council to take an inventory of historic trees in the county. They were identified, their condition noted and a historical analysis conducted. The trees and stories of their pasts are currently being entered into a database. Together, the stories and the trees provide an understanding of the importance of trees, both as practical members of the commu nity, as geographical and historical landmarks and as rich sources of meaning and heritage to lies and individuals, fami- VanDyke says. The types of trees and their histories - run the gamut. For example, the black willow trees near the cemetery and Highway 89 in Ephraim grew from slips that were brought across the plains by pioneer Sarah Ann Nelson Peterson and kept moist in a wagon. Another Ephraim black willow, this one at 50 W. 100 North, has a sad -- history. Henry Theron Thompson (bom 1911) recalls a tragic incident in 1920 when a young boy fell from the tree and died. A plaque was later placed on the tree in his memory. Then there is the box elder tree at 394 W. 100 North in Mt. Pleasant that the late Herb Norman remembers from his childhood as always being very large. He told relatives that he took violin lessons from a Danish man named Amott who lived on the property. Herb remembers looking up and up at the tree as a child. Or take the willow at 500 W. 500 North in Manti. Locals say back in the 1940s, it was a campsite for tramps and peddlers. Residents boast it is the oldest living planted tree in Manti and say it was planted in 1854 or 1857. While these are a wonderful sampling, VanDyke says sadly, many stories of the areass oldest trees have been lost over time. Hopefully, this research can serve as a reminder of the importance of telling stories. Many of the stories about trees served as connections for their tellers to other stories about other important events, people or places, he says. I hope this research will inspire the kind of interest and wisdom about trees that filled ourpio-nee-r forefathers. Other historical trees in the area are: Manti-Ephrai- m Ephraim: Austrian pine, 39 E 200 reGreen and Veon Alan South, member playing in this tree when they were children in the 1920s and 930s. They said they always ended up in the tree when we couldnt find anything else to do. Apple, 245 N 300 East, Max Jorgensen, the current owner, says his mother always called this tree Early June. He says the apple tree behind the house was planted by William Will Buck Jensen, whom Jorgensen remembers as a man with a horse and buggy who wore a bearskin coat. 1 Manti: Ash, 400 N 200 East, believed to have been brought from Scandinavia and estimated to be 00 years old. Pear, 94 W 500 South, Lloyd Kjar, former Manti Temple gar1 dener and current property owner, restored the pear to production and said it is believed to be 130 years old. Black walnut, 404 W 500 North, current resident Vonda Merriam says the tree was planted in 1903 by Old Dan" Henry, and the Merriam family says many family gatherings were held under the tree. The family used nuts dropped from the tree in cooking. 500 S 200 East, Lillian I lansen Fox relates how her father and brother used to bring mountain transplants like these from Manti Canyon back in about 1915. New Horizons Crisis Center to receive larger quarters, Children's Justice Center Because of increases in services, numbers of clients served, and the inadequacy of area space, New Horizons is in need of a larger shelter. Property has been purchased and architectural plans have been drawn for a new shelter in Richfield. Plans for the facility provide sleeping space for 24 individuals and six babies. The new building will have seven bedrooms, five bathrooms, a large kitchen, counseling rooms, childrens play area, and a family room. This facility will allow for future growth with a total square footage of 4 0 square feet. square footage is 1 500 square feet. CJCs are homelike facilities which serve children and families who are experiencing the crisis and chaos that comes with the disclosure of significant physical or sexual abuse of a child. Children do not stay overnight in these facilities. The atmosphere is and the interview rooms look much like a childs bedroom, in a private home. Children visit the center w hile investigators meet w'ith them. The goals of a Children's Justice Center are: to increase the effectiveness of protecting children; to reduce trauma; and help children and family members recover from a difficult experience. child-friend- ly Quilt Guild will Jr. Templars hold meeting Little League Football The Horseshoe Quilt Guild w ill sponsor a workshop Monday. August 23 at 10 a.m. in the Ephraim Co-o- p at 96 North Main. Ephraim. Carmen Martinez from American Fork will present a "potpourri" of ideas for making scrap quilts. The workshop will be followed by a pot luck luncheon. Anyone who is interested in quilt making is inv ited to attend. tiple interviews of the child victim by police, social services, medical personnel, psychologists, and attorneys. The presence of a CJC can reduce this number to one or two interviews. The focus and function of the Children's Justice Center is to reduce the trauma of the child abuse investigation and help the child feel safe to reveal the truth. At the present time, there are 12 CJCs in Utah, but none are located in the area. The total cost of the new six-coun- ty Justice Center w ill be about $630,000. Grants have Childrens Justice Center been written to meet some of the (CJC) will be built as part of the g will costs, but local shelter, but will have its own enalso have to be done. The new centrance and parking facilities, sepater is an opportunity for commurate from the shelter. The CJC will nities in the area to consist of two interview rooms, a Traditionally, investigation of form a partnership of caring to waiting room, office space, and a child sexual abuse required mul- - children and their families who video equipment room. Total have been hurt by abuse. Anyone who wishes to make a donation to this worthy project can send their tax deductible contributions to New Horizons Crisis Center, P.O. Box 9, Richfield, Utah 84701. 1 1 fund-raisin- non-offendi- six-coun- ty May I give you a bid? PAPKEPfl (435) 462-396- 5 J . if interested. - entries will receive favorite number! First chance at your If you have questions, contact Donald Evans, P.O. Box IQS, Mmersville. L'tah S4752, (435) SS6-2- 4 1 1. & --- openings for Fall Semester - August 23 GlobaTpositira Engineering 2240 Prerequisite: Trigonometry Fall Semester Mondays- - 2:30 to 6:30 p.m. Three Credits Wednesdays - 2:30 to 3:20 p.m. Classes held on the Ephraim Campus Specializing in floor and wall coverings. Quality Service. 750 & (State ML Pleasant 0 It s time again for the Beav er County Fairs Demolition Derbv ! We appreciate vour support in past y ears and hope to see y ou here again this y ear. A few changes The main one: the date is the 3 rd weekend in August. The Derby will be held Saturday, August 21st at 7 p.m. Inspections will be from 3 until 6 p.m. Driver s meeting will be held at 6 p.m. Please have your entry forms and fees paid before the Drivers meeting, preferably by August 19 so that you can be on the program. For those of y ou vv ho are new to the Beav er County Fair, our derby is held at the Fairgrounds up Minersv ille Canyon toward Beaver. We will be charging $30.00 for the entry fee for both the men & women. This will include three pit passes along vv ith the driv er's pass. Early Sign Up Now! Surveying 283-457- All Demolition Derby Car Drivers... FLOOR COVERINGS Let us help with concerns of coordinating colors, styles, etc. Come in and relax. We love to help make your house a home. Call Phil Murray at (Mte 'O |