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Show Volume XV Issue V The Ogden Valley news Page 13 February 15, 2008 Weather in Ogden Valley Note: This information was taken from LaVerna Burnett Newey’s “Remember My Valley.” One of the hardest elements of nature the early settlers had to contend with for their survival in Ogden Valley was the winter weather. Mother Nature still continues to be contemptuous if not unpredictable. The first year the settlers came it was recorded that snow fell to a depth of three feet on the little fort. Two years later, in 1862, spring came very late as there had been heavy deposits of snow during the winter and high waters followed. As a natural consequence, a great portion of the canyon road which was being made at that time, was washed away. The only means of ingress and egress to and from the settlement was by going over the mountains through Liberty. The Desert News of April 17, 1867, contains the following: “We learn from Brother William Hall, in from Ogden Valley, that when he left Huntsville on the 4th of April, snow was two feet deep on the level. The streams had not commenced to rise, and there was every indication of a late spring in the valley. The winter was very mild up to March, through which month they had a succession of storms and severe weather.” Alexander Ririe wrote in his autobiography: “In 1875 the winter was very severe. There was five feet of snow on the level. A cold spell froze one of our two-year-olds stiff while it was standing on its feet. It was 55 degrees below zero. In 1879 about 50% of the livestock perished due to the severity of the winter and lack of feed.” This quote is from the Souvenir HomeComing Booklet of Huntsville 1917. George Marsh Bronson, born in 1862 in Huntsville, told his descendants: While living in Huntsville, Father Clinton Bronson accumulated a small herd of sheep. He grazed them on the green hills by day and brought them to the corral to bed them for the night. When winter set in, feed for the sheep was somewhat of a problem. One morning after a very heavy snowfall—four feet or more—they went out to see how the sheep were, and not sheep! At least none could be seen. Coming closer to the corral, they observed numerous little round holes in the snow, apparently caused by the breath from the nostrils of the sheep. The heavy snow that had kept them from rising upon their feet had also kept them warm. The men worked to uncover the sheep, and with help from the warm sunlight the task was soon accomplished. Every sheep was alive and well! The Deseret Evening News of February 6, 1883, contained the following: “Bishop Hammond of Huntsville looked in upon us this morning. The bishop is an old ‘whaler’ and had been in the Arctic regions where he was more than once surrounded by icebergs. He states that weather at Huntsville was more severe than he had ever experienced in the regions of eternal ice and snow. On the first day of the cold spell (January 19) the mercury in the thermometer was frozen and the temperature must have been down toward 60 degrees below zero. Children had their ears, fingers, and toes frozen in going a distance of a few rods to school.” Liberty, which has the distinction of being the miniature Switzerland of Ogden Valley, also has the reputation of having the deepest snow. This may have been one of the main reasons it did not flourish in the late 1800’s as fast as its neighboring towns to the east. Sometimes during the severest winters, settlers were forced to walk on snowshoes for six consecutive weeks, and most of them moved to North Ogden during the three winter months. Doctor Robert Williams, a dentist in Ogden told this author he remembers sitting on his grandfather’s knee and hearing the following dramatic tale: Doctor Williams’ great-grandfather William Hunt had a gold mine near Willard Peak, northwest of Liberty. He worked his small claim and lived in his mountain-top cabin from early spring until Christmas. One year, late in the fall, some friends paid him a delightful visit for a few days. While they were there, an early severe storm set in. The miner prevailed upon his friends to remain as he was well-stocked with food, but to no avail. The friends had the urgency to return to Ogden. Spending the winter in this forsaken place, even though beautiful on clear days, had no immediate appeal. Mr. Hunt warned them to be sure to follow the ridge back to Ogden. In their haste they took a short cut that dropped down in a canyon ravine. They discovered too late that they had The Ogden Valley News is looking for Ogden Valley and Ogden Canyon historical biographies, stories, and photos to use in its publication. Please mail, email, or call Shanna at 745-2688 or Jeannie at 745-2879 if you have material you would like to share. tarried too long. Heavy continuous flakes, whipped by a strong wind, soon piled incomprehensible drifts. Halfway down the canyon they found themselves buried beyond rescuing. When the snow began to evaporate rapidly under the early spring sun, searchers began the grim task of discovering their fate. Just as they feared, the victims had sunk to the bottom of the deep snow, hollowed out a breathing are, and used an entire box of matches either trying to attract attention or to keep warm. Tortuous despair must have prevailed before they were softly covered over by the succeeding blankets of snow. Bucking the snow, cold weather, snowslides, and swollen streams made young people grow up faster and older men grow older. An example of what was expected of young people is told in the following account: Early in the spring of 1877, James Ririe WEATHER cont. on page 14 Historical Photo Top Photo: Birthday party for Karma Wangsgard Smith, circa 1938. Jack Smith is the driver. The picture was taken in front of Louis Wangsgard’s house in Huntsville. If you know any of the names of the sleigh riders, please call Shanna at 745-2688 or Jeannie at 745-2879. Bottom Photo: Karma Smith and Dona Smith Thompson with their snowman. Photos courtesy of Karma Wangsgard Smith, formerly of Huntsville. Celeste C. Canning PLLC Attorney at Law 2590 Washington Boulevard, Suite 200 Ogden, Utah 84401 Local: (801) 791-1092 Office: (801) 612-9299 Email: ccanninglaw@aol.com Meeting the Legal Needs of Small Business and Their Owners FREE Initial Thirty Minute Consultation. 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