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Show Garfield County Ghost Tm;g WIDTSOE Little remains of the once-flourishing town of Widtsoe that, in 1920 at its prime, boasted some 110 people, four stores, a post office, two hotels, an LDS Church, social hall and many homes. Located in John's Valley on Utah 22 less than 13 miles north of its junction jun-ction with Utah 12 (the Bryce Canyon National Park turnoff), and a few hundred yards east, weathered remains of a few of the old buildings still stand. The first settlers came to the area in 1876 and it was an important stop for the Hole-in-the-Rock pioneers as they made their way toward the Colorado River. It was known originally as Adairville and later, Winder, before finally being named Widtsoe. Large farms raised oats, wheat and barley until changes in climate brought the downfall of the community which once threatened Panguitch, the county seat, for prominence. One by one the families moved away as crop after crop failed due to drought. With only 17 families left in 1935, the federal government stepped in to help relocate families to more productive areas. It's interesting to study what remains of the old buildings and ponder the life their inhabitants once lived. Nearby in the foothills to the east, the old cemetery with its approximately 100 graves is mute I I Ik V - Old Granary at Osiris on Antimony Road testimony that life and death both happened once at Widtsoe. HENDERSON Only three and one-half miles north of Widtsoe another small town was once full of life. Part of one old ranch is all that remains there now. OSIRIS One of the most picturesque spots in the county is the site of Osiris, where the remains of a rock-walled creamery and old red-stained red-stained grain elevator with four concrete silos remind the visitor of a much earlier way of life. Located only 10 miles north of Henderson and eight miles south of Antimony, the very photographic group is nestled in Black Canyon surrounded by tall trees and canyon walls, along a route where good fishing is just a bonus. ASAY In 1872, Joseph Asay settled on what became known as Asay Creek which flowed into the Sevier River K- stabl few others f, first knon ai , J,tuc comblna'ior. i:-.- ni? store and rt; ; , inothe popular sKp:;: : eaye north-saitr. ;. N-ot Panguitcha:; ; ind so post oifice r nost name of -ho. )cCasil to Asay T.ir. jn be An hisv-Tici - liHsda memora'e; . jven i families or.ce : .-: nakes located not q. r cenery Hatch on U S H : little ceme'er; .. onsistt Asay Town - omes about the tun : orth o: its sawmill L 'ay 20 i townsite itsd: .; 9- Few property. ; was i WLIi:-: pfy vrt miles north o: ::. etime miles south of ?- 0 weathered o',::.. )r WlJi' townenfc: log houses. ' B'ar( tered ,r. 3 '. emente evoking ,v- amesa must U; ' anguitc pioneering :a:. : mani this small low ldoldj Joel Hills . ;tivit j Hillsdale as in OMEST (Con'.i"- , GIHOST TOWNS y (Continued From Page 2-C) 0 Johnson in Kane county was formed just about a year earlier) was established in 1872. Like so many other areas, the almost-7,000 feet ';r; altitude was not conducive to far- L ming and after several years of S; tyring hard to meet one defeat after Cl another, in 1886 many began to f-i X leave. e:; V Not everyone gave up, however, IC; and some residents remained until ;' most the middle of the century. Occasionally, one of the old houses will be occupied for a short period. G Hillsdale has never been totally given up for dead and the area rts makes for some very photogenic a- scenery. SPRY This settlement e consisted of a group of farms and at homes located about five miles V- north of the junction of Utah High-i' High-i' way 20 (Bear Valley Road) and U.S. P- 89. Few people remain there today. It was named in honor of William P Spry who was governor of Utah at tlj ' the time the community was settled, s h ORTON Orton was named s: for Wiliam Orton who operated the t if post office at this home at the mouth i- of Bear Creek at the junction of Utah & Highway 20 (Bear Valley Road) s: with U.S. 89, although little set- tlements in the area had different fit names at different times. Between it Panguitch and Circleville along U.S. 89, many remains of old dwellings r t and old businesses testify of former itf activity in the area. BUTCH CASSIDY af HOMESTEAD Located just inside the county line, an old Butch Cassidy residence still remains. The famous member of the Wild Bunch was reared in Circleville just over the county line in Piute County. GEORGETOWN Located south of the little town of Can-nonville Can-nonville on the Garfield-Kane County line, Georgetown once boasted some 200 people. Situated on Yellow Creek, the little town began to grow rapidly after 1886, growing to about 200 by 1894. While agriculture had from what appeared at first to be very favorable conditions with plenty of water, favorable soil, good pasture land, and nearby timber for homes and fuel, conditions changed and the little town began to dwindle in numbers and today there is little remaining. The little cemetery is often visited by local people whose ancestors are buried there and occasionally occa-sionally it is still used for burials for those whose cherished memories are associated with the little town. It is found by following the paved road south out of Can-nonville Can-nonville to the Kane County line and making an immediate right tum to follow the dirt road west for about a mile. The cemetery will be easily missed unless the visitor watches closely for it on the north side of the road just before reaching the townsite. CLIFTON - Located between be-tween Georgetown and Cannonville about the same time, Clifton was only a small village and there is (Continued On Page 10-C) j r f' - v, .. ,','' ' - i- f ' ' , t 1 ' ' ( ' ' - !' ' ' 7 , ' ' . ' ' ''ft '' ' ' " v ' ' I ' ' , ' "" ' ''' 1 , " t . , ' .-' ' r ' ' w ' , , ' " 1 ! I "'.' ' : . I. 4 " ' f ' l : ; ' 7 i , 1 . -',' :1 " ' ; , pm, ' - -i ! 1 i ; Horseback Rides Are Only One Of The Many Ways To Enjoy Bryce Canyon. There Are Footpaths, 1 Auto Rides & Airplaines. j GHOST i. (Continued F- lno nothing left at l01 its existence. ' LOSEE-' . Called Lcsv (ac( have lived in fc hih Loseeville, ro two miles east nop the locals call - had its own ,n farms flourish -ral ; doncdaKiuH11''''! a only a small Pof-l The townsitc i 1 jihe property in I11' ack arc still grown g th, |