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Show Volume XXIII Issue XVIII The Ogden Valley news Page 11 March 1, 2016 Eden Student Seeks Scholarship Awarded Huntsville Family Purchases Monastery by the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society in Hopes of Preserving Open Space Whether it is dirt biking, parkour, skiing, or mountain biking, I love to be active. I am so grateful for the opportunity I have, now, to give back to such a great foundation My name is Jacob Peterson. When I was 2½ that has helped do so much for cancer research. years old, my mom took me in for what was I can’t wait for the day when they find a cure. supposed to be a routine well-child I was chosen to compete for a stucheck up at the doctor’s office. The dent-of-the-year candidate scholarcheckup turned out to be far from ship; so, I am raising money for the routine; we were told I had Acute Leukemia and Lymphoma Society. Lymphoblastic Leukemia (ALL). The money goes towards research for I was admitted to the hospital and Leukemia and Lymphoma and better started treatment right away. For the ways to cure it. next 3½ years, our lives were filled Jacob is the son of Jason and with doctor visits, blood transfusions, Tammy Peterson of Eden, and grandchemotherapy, emergency room visson of Lynn and Maureen Peterson, its, and hospital stays. It was a long, also of Eden. hard journey, but it was a journey If you can help, please visit that has played a key part in shaping Jascob’s web page that can be who I am today. Today I am a healthy Jacob Peterson found at <http://events.lls.org/pages/ 15-year-old who loves adventure. ut/2016SOY/jpeterson> History of the Co-op Farm, Now the Monastery The old co-op farm that commanded so much attention and jealousies by the early settlers has an intriguing history of ownership. It is now home to the present Catholic Monastery— Abbey of the Holy Trinity. Its past owners are as follows: B. H. (Baldy) Watts squatted on what has been known for many years as the Co-op Farm. This was in 1862. He used to peddle pots and pans through the town, and left about 1865 according to D. D. McKay. A. W. Cooley traded for Watts’ rights in the property. In 1873 a Huntsville Co-op was formed and the property was acquired from Cooley by Bishop Francis Hammond. The Co-op bought 450 more acres of land. When the Halls brothers, who had purchased the co-op farm from the citizens, moved to San Juan County, the property was sold to Major J. M. Langsdorf who stocked it with Hereford cattle. When the Langsdorf Company left the place, it was operated for some time by William Jennings and later on, several pieces were disposed of to other people. A Mr. Thompson managed the outfit until Joseph Barker bought what was left. In Donald D. McKay’s booklet of 1960, he states, “Before Major Langsdorf disposed of this property, he did a very gracious thing. On October 19, 1891, his company gave a deed to the present and future residents of Ogden Valley for the right, privilege, and license to quarry and take out red sandstone from Section 27, Township 6 North, Range 2 East, Salt Lake Meridian, U.S. Survey, together with the right to pass over and use the present existing roads leading to said quarry over and across the lands of said company. About 1929 or 1930, George A. Fuller and his sons of Eden purchased the property from Joseph Barker for about $62,000. Later, the Fullers deeded the land to William Park and sons—who in turn sold it to the Monastery for a reported $110,000. Rumor has it that Park and sons were not particularly anxious to part with it, so they put the price high enough that no one, so they thought, would want to buy. It is also reported that the LDS Church had a chance to buy it as a welfare farm, but thought it was too much money. The monastery land, once the old co-op farm, is considered the prettiest and most lucrative farm section in Huntsville. Bill and Alane White recently purchased Bill added that he and his wife understand the Huntsville Monastery from the Monks the sadness that Valley residents feel when of the Holy Trinity Abbey. The Whites live hearing about the future closing of the monasin Huntsville with their tery because they feel 13-year-old son Jack it too. “Working with who attends Snowcrest the monks to develop Jr. High. They also have a plan for the future two daughters who are of the monastery has attending college in been a bittersweet California. Bill serves experience. Getting to on the Huntsville Town know the monks has Council. been wonderful, but Regarding the sale, knowing that someday Bill White stated, “The they will no longer be monks will continue to in our midst is a painlive at the monastery ful thought. Anyone for the rest of their lives who has had the joy of or until they volungetting to know them tarily decide to transfer immediately feels the to another monastery. warmth of these kind Hopefully, that day is and generous men.” still a long way off but Pictured above are Bill and Alane White along Bill continued, “The the monks have done with their son, Jack and daughters Annie on the monastery farm has their best to implement left and Katie is on the right. been under the watchful a plan for the future of care of the monks of the the farm.” Holy Trinity Abbey for nearly 70 years. Visitors The Whites are currently working with to the farm feel the deep sense of spirituality conservation agencies to raise money to help they have created there. Sadly, that era is slowly defray some of the costs of placing approxi- coming to an end.” mately 93 percent of the monastery farm into Alane White stated, “While we can’t posa perpetual conservation easement. The Whites sibly hope to sustain that spirituality without have also met with officials from Utah State their presence, our goal is to maintain the sense University who wish to operate the farm as an of beauty that they carefully cultivated these educational facility, providing opportunities for past decades.” students pursuing careers in agriculture. The Moose are Loose in Huntsville Note: This history was taken from “Remember My Valley” by LaVerna Burnett Newey. HUNTSVILLE ABBEY cont. from page 1 our vision and is willing to make a financial sacrifice to keep the land intact. Together we will this happen? Perhaps when the last monk agreed to keep 93 percent of the land in agridies. We are now making remote preparations culture and green space, with a few acres as for that day. our legacy to the diocese. Only 7 percent of A significant step was taken October 20, the property will be used for development, and 2015 when the community that for affordable familyvoted to sell the property. style homes. So 93 perThe sale closed on January cent of the land will be 12, 2016. This was a difunder a perpetual easeficult decision, and it was ment that forbids commade only after a year and mercial development of a half of deliberation and any kind. prayer. With the help of The monks and the the Diocese of Salt Lake buyer are sacrificing a City and others, we ponlarge financial profit by dered on what kind of not developing the land legacy we wanted to leave in an area that is predicted to Catholics of the area, as to be densely populated well as the Ogden Valley in the future. But, to our community and the many mind, the beauty of this friends and retreatants of place cannot be bought the monastery. Our Lady of the Holy Trinity Abbey in and sold. Beauty is an There has been an Huntsville was originally constructed of attribute of God, which outpouring of love for the millitary surplus Quonset huts, the reman- is reflected in people as monks and disappointment ants of which are still visible today. Photos well as in nature. There at losing one of the valu- courtesy of Intermountain Catholic. are few places as serenely able institutions of Utah. beautiful as the property People of all faiths have visited here and found it surrounding the monastery. The fact that monks a sacred place, a place filled with peace, a place to have lived and prayed here and tended the soil meet God in silence. for 68 years has left its mark on the land. It is important to us that the sacredness of this It is our fond hope that future generations place be preserved. Human beings pass on, but the will experience not only the beauty of this place land stays. We believe our legacy is to preserve but also discern the presence of God, the source the land for agriculture and conservation, with of all beauty. There is indeed a presence of the as little development as possible. The graduate Holy in the hills and valleys, the sky and mounstudents of Utah State University’s Department tains sitting so majestically right before our of Landscape Architecture and Environmental eyes in this Ogden Valley. May it always be so. Studies spent a whole semester working with us and helped us formulate a plan for our property Note: Trappist Father Brendan Freeman is the that reflects the values of our monastic life. Superior of Our Lady of the Holy Trinity Abbey. We were blessed to find a buyer who shares PreserVaTiOn. PrOTecTiOn. sTewardshiP. Join today to preserve Ogden Valley’s grace. www.OgdenValleyLandTrust.org Suzan Brown of Huntsville took this photo of a cow moose and her calf meandering through Huntsville. |