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Show Dedication of "Past and Present" Denotes Cotton's Place in History Two important events have taken place in Utah's Dixie that illustrate the role cotton played in the settlement, growth and future destiny of this fertile western corner of the Beehive State. One of these events looks back in tribute to the Mormon pioneer settlers, and the other looks forward for-ward with optimism to the area's future economy. The Utah Park and Recreation Commission has completed the restoration work on the Brigham Young winter home in St. George, and formal dedication ceremonies have opened this building to tourists. It was Brig-ham Brig-ham Young who sent missionaries mission-aries to grow cotton in Utah's Dixieland back in J 861, thus bringing about the founding and settlement of St. George and Washington County. The forward look was brought about with the completion of a new factory in St. George by the Hawthorn Company, a division of Kellwood Company. The firm will manufacture, from cotton fibre, a variety of outdoor recreation rec-reation items. Thus, in an unexpected un-expected way, cotton once again becomes an Important part of the economy of Dixie. Dedication ceremonies for the new factory were held June 13, and for the newly-restored Brig-ham Brig-ham Young home June 14. Pairs of golden shears snipped snip-ped ribbons at both sites to officially offi-cially open them. Gov. George D. Clyde and Mrs. Fred W. Wen-zel, Wen-zel, wife of the company president presi-dent did the honors at the factory. fac-tory. Hugh B. Brown, second counselor in' the First Presidency of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints snipped the ribbon at the opening of the Brigham Young home. The new factory, which cost about $350,000 to build, will employ em-ploy approximately 200 persons in peak production. President Brown delivered the dedicatory prayer at the factory. Marion G. Romney, a member of the Council of Twelve Apostles of the LDS Church delivered the dedicatory pray at the Brigham Young winter home. Other speakers at the Brigham Young Home dedication were Al-den Al-den O. Hayward, chairman of the State Park and Recreation Commission; Mrs. Preston O. Robinson Rob-inson who led the search for antique furnishings; St. GKrge Mayor William Barlocker and State Senator Orval Hafen of Washington County. Mr. Hayward said the St. George home of Brigham Young will be under the supervision of James Gwilliam, newly appointed appoint-ed superintendent of Dixie State Park. Mr. Gwilliam also has charge of the Jacob Hamblin home In Santa Clara, Just northwest north-west of St. George. Brigham Young spent many winters in St. George, supervising supervis-ing construction of the temple there. The warm southern climate clim-ate was good for his falling health. He built the winter home In 1873. In tribute to the great Mormon leader and the agricultural agricul-tural heritage of Dixie, a cotton patch has been planted on the grounds. With the completion of the Brigham Young Winter Home restoration, D. James Cannon, director of the Utah Tourist and Publicity Council, said this summer sum-mer will be an ideal time to tour southwestern Utah. And while in Washington County( he said, be sure to visit the Mormon Temple there, the Brigham Young Winter Home, Dixie State Park and the Jacob Hamblin home. "Utah's Dixie is a land rich in pioneer history," Mr. Cannon sad. "Everywhere you go you will fine! evidence of a great pioneer pi-oneer heritage." |