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Show Glomes, Many Other Sites In Panguitch Reflect Pioneer History (A) Historical sites abound in Panguitch, the county seat of Garfield County. The town was first settled in the spring of 1864, and the hardy little band of pioneers at once began to till the soil and plant the seeds they had brought with them. Their crops failed to properly mature, working a severe hardship on the little group of settlers who were very poor. They had only one yoke of oxen to about every three families. That first winter was long and hard and extemely cold. The snow was deep and the settlers desperately in need of flour. The closest flour mills were in Gunnison, 115 miles to the north, and in Parowan, 40 miles to the west over a road that was impassable six months of the year. Seven brave men decided to try to )make it to Parowan over the road ' called the Bear Valley Road even today and designated now as Utah Highway 20. They left the little settlement with two yoke of oxen and a light wagon, but had to abandon both at the head of Bear Valley and proceed on foot. The only progress they could make was by placing a quilt on top of the deep snow, walking to the end of it and then placing another down, retrieving the first. In this slow and I, painful manner they finally arrived at Parowan. Their "quilt walk" is a central part of Panguitch pioneer history today, and remembered with a special float in each Pioneer Day parade. The little settlement was abandoned aban-doned in 1866 when Indians became too hostile, but was settled again in 1871 with a few returning and new members added to their number. They found their buildings just as they had left them and began to add (Continued On Page 13A) 1 0 . ; ' , : i ,; ;..-. i- v F7 xlf . V W : " u : '-Sr&; - T " Fishing On Panguitch Creek PANGUITCH HISTORY (Continued From Page 3 A) structures. A few of those very early structures may still be found in town and the beautiful brick homes were built from bricks made in Panguitch. Industry of all types began to grow because the need was there. There was a grist mill, a tannery, boot and shoemakers, harness and sad-dlemakers, sad-dlemakers, blacksmiths, cabinet makers, pottery makers, tombstone artists, brick and stone masons, carpenters and builders and all the crafts that make a city grow. Settlers made their own yeast, their soaps, their dyes. When sheep herds passed through the area, women would follow and pick the wool off the weeds and knit stockings, according to "Golden Nuggests of Pioneer Days" published by the Garfield County Chapter of the Daughters of the Utah Pioneers. The DUP women maintain a beautiful museum open daily from 4 p.m until 8 p.m. except Sunday so that visitors can see for themselves many for the artifacts from the early days of Panguitch. The museum is located on the north side I of Center Street in the old bishop's storehouse. Panguitch has changed over the years, but many of its residents who still carry the names of its early settlers have worked hard to maintain its pioneer heritage. There are many of the same people whose efforts today make the visitors welcome in their community. com-munity. Panguitch offers its hand in friendship and its fine services to every traveler. |
