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Show Volume XXIII Issue XI The Ogden Valley news Page 11 July 1, 2016 The Autobiography of Robert L. “Bob” Wangsgard – Part XIII Note: The following is composed of excerpts from the autobiography of Robert L. “Bob” Wangsgard who turned 100 years December 22, 2015. This autobiography was written a little more than 15 years ago when Bob was preparing to celebrate his 85th birthday. Part I-XII ran in earlier issues of the paper. If you missed a section that you would like a copy of, please contact Jeannie Wendell at 801-7452879 or Shanna Francis at 801-745-2688. Fishing We lived half a mile from the two rivers that ran through Ogden Valley and owned a 40-acre farm that was bordered by one of the rivers for about a mile. The riverbanks were covered with willow and deep holes formed under the willows where the river current changed directions. There were lots of trout to be seen swimming in schools of ten or more. We had fair success sneaking along the riverbank and dropping a worm-baited hook into the hole. If the fish could see the fisherman, they would not take the bait. In the fall, great numbers of whitefish came up the river to spawn. These fish had mouths too small to bite at bait on a fishhook. To catch a whitefish we had to snag them. Three or four large triple bar hooks were attached to a copper wire. The wire was attached to a line and pole and placed in the bottom of a hole. When the school of whitefish swam over the copper wire, the line was jerked and the fish were snagged and pulled from the water. We always carried a gunnysack to carry the whitefish. We could leave home, walk to the river, catch 10 to 80 pounds of whitefish, and walk back home in two hours. Since the family did not want a steady diet of whitefish, we were limited in the number of times we went white fishing each summer. Pineview dam was built in 1932 and the fishing changed drastically. Most of the river mileage, including our 40 acres, was covered by the reservoir. The trout and whitefish could not live in the warm water. The small creeks dried up and killed all the fish. Scott and I decided we could establish trout in two streams on the range ground and one stream in the north field. We bought 1,000 trout from a commercial hatchery and planted the three streams. The next year there were 12-inch trout in each stream. We went fishing once and each caught a couple of nice fish. That winter, the water in the streams froze solid. There were no more fish. The Hobo on the Hill One spring I was staying at the sheep camp with our sheepherder. We were camped on a high hill just south of the Weber-Morgan County line. This spot was five miles from Huntsville and five miles from Weber Canyon. As we approached the camp, it was almost dark. Silhouetted against the last rays of light from the sunset we saw a man at our camp. We demanded to know who he was, why he was there, and how he got there. His story: He was a hobo riding the railroad. The train stopped in Weber Canyon and he had been ordered off the train. In his younger days he had herded sheep and thought if he could find a sheep camp, he could get some food and a place to stay. So he climbed a hill near the railroad and looked for a sheep camp. Ours was the only one he could see. He walked five miles up and down the hills and through a lot of brush and climbed about 1,000 feet elevation to get there. He was ragged and dirty, and we had little inclination to get close to him and absolutely none to have him in the bed with us. We fixed him a good meal and he sat outside the camp door on the wagon tongue and consumed three helpings. We broke open a bale of hay and spread it under the camp for a mattress. We gave him the two sets of saddle blankets and canvas tarp for covers. In the morning he was still snoring. When we had breakfast ready, we woke him. He consumed triple portions of bacon and eggs and pancakes. Then we watched him walk down the hill toward the railroad. I have often wondered what his life was like before and after that night on the hill. opened the window on the motor home so we could converse across the front lawn. As we talked there was a tremendous flash of lightening and clap of thunder. The entire top of the motor home turned a bright red color and what looked like flames in a fireplace danced 12 inches into the air above the motor home. I received a thump on my chest that felt like someone hit me with a baseball bat. Our phone rang and it was the neighbors across the street checking to see if we needed help. They said every vent pipe on our house and our TV antenna turned a bright red when the bolt struck. We looked out at the back yard and the power pole and transformer were on fire. My chest was stiff and sore for two weeks after that lightning strike. Ever since that incident, whenever I see Bob Jones, we have the same greeting, “Haven’t seen you for a long time. Have you been struck by lightning lately?” If lightning does not strike twice in the same spot, I know of two safe places to be. From The Past . . . Operetta, circa 1941 If you can identify any of these students, please call Shanna at 745-2688 or Jeannie at 745-2879. Students Identified from Photo from the Past Thanks to Dan Shupe for identifying the names of the students in the second-grade class photo in the June 1, 2016 issue of The Ogden Valley News. Lightning – Two Close Calls In about 1932, Scott and I were in the sheep camp on top of a ridge at the dry farm. The sheep were settled for the night and we were eating our evening meal. A violent electric storm was passing the area when suddenly there was a simultaneous flash of light and tremendous clap of thunder. We were using metal plates and sparks actually flew from our knives and forks to the metal plates on the table. Our hands were not burned but were tingling for five minutes. The two dogs under the camp let out piercing yelps and ran off across the hills screaming ki-y-yi all the way. The two horses tied to the back of the camp both bolted and broke their halter ropes. Another lightning incident happened in about 1980 when we were having new tires put on our motorhome. Bob Jones from Brewer Tire Company was delivering the motor home to our residence on Circle Way. He parked in front of our house in a torrential downpour. I opened the front door of our home and he Back Row: Greg Harrop, Ella Story, Kitty C. Watts, Bob Richardson, Monty Doman, ?, Sharon L. Willard, Helen Ogden, Max Bitton, and Zelda Chard. Valley School Second Graders, 1952 – 1953 Front Row: Bill Willingham, Harold Lanier, Dan Shupe, Curtis Shupe, Jay Allen, Dennis Crezee, Bob Stoker, Stephen Frazier, Jim Fackral, and Jimmy Webb?. Middle Row: Paul Combe, David Creamer, Marilyn Crawford, Lynn Colvin, Nancy Allen, Juana Story, Sharon Manning, Kay Roylance Powers, Roger Price, and Max Burley. 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 801-745-2688 or Jeannie at 801-745-2879 if you have material you would like to share. Saturday Night 5:00 p.m. Sunday Morning 9:30 a.m. Tuesday Night 5:00 p.m. followed by The Rosary and Adoration Fr. Ken Vialpando 801-399-5627 Tuesday 5:30-6:30 p.m. or by appointment. Saint Joseph Catholic Elementary, Middle School, and High School Providing a challenging, college-focused education in the proven tradition of Catholic schools, for the families of the Ogden Valley. We want to teach your children! For information on our program, financial assistance, tours, or application, please call 801-393-6051 or 801-394-1515. |