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Show I i Kanarraville history recalls the "Good old days" By Jean Ilcndrk-kson With the installation of the telephone in 1904 a whole new era of experience came about. The cullinary water system was installed in 1911. Before this time the people had used rain water for drinking. The new system came from a spring on Kanarra Mountain. The people believed that the town would grow to the north instead of south as it did. They built a new school in 1918-19 on the northeast corner of town and there it stands alone. During the building of it, the basement caved in on Ervin and Jones Williams. Jones was buried to the shoulders and Ervin was completely covered over. It took about thirty minutes to get him out, When they did he was standing up with his hat on. The brim on his hat had left an air pocket so he could breathe. In the" so-called "Olden Days" most of the people from Kanarra were farmers and ranchers. Many of the people took their dairy cattle on the mountain, spent the summer making cheese and butter and came back to town in time for school to start. Some of the people raised cattle and took them to Nevada to sell. Rustlers too, found Kanarra good pickings and so to protect themselves, the ranchers formed the "Kanarra Co-operation" which was held in good stead for many years and made the business much more profitable for the people. Two happy traditions of the past were kept alive for years in Kanarra, the Marshall Band and the celebration of Independence and Pioneer Day. Sometime during the first years of the town a group got together to form a band that was supposed to have been a great group. July is a month of festivity. Independence and Pioneer Days are celebrated as they have been for many many years. The sunrise is brought forth with a salute of the cannon and a serenading from the Old Time Marshall Band. Sometimes there is a parade, and then a wonderful program in the church. There are sports in the afternoon with dancing in the evening. March 8, 1924 was a tragic day for the whole state of Utah. The Castle Gate Mine exploded and 171 men were killed. Several men from Kanarra had gone up there to work, 8 of them would not be returning to Kanarra. Thpre are sad davs in the town's history, but the good has a way of trying to make up for it, people like Johnny Coonsler did it. Johnny was a bachelor who was always looking for that one rich widow, but never quite found her. He traveled practically all of his life and during his travels he found Kanarra and stayed with Bishop Berry. He became fond of him and his people and when he died he left his money in a will to the Kanarra people in care of their bishop. The Williams farm was bought for the church with the Coonsler money. The church farm has been a great blessing. Kanarraville became an in- ! corporated town on August 11, I 1934. Gustive H. Pingle was the ! first mayor with Delbert J. j Peterson, Lorenzo, Jessie F and j George B. Williams on the town j board. j Kanarra as it stands is small, but is strong and thriving. The town is always ready to make improvements. , . Despite all of the failures and disappointments that have confronted the people, the threads are still strong and the people who live in Kanarra wouldn't trade it for anywhere else in the whole world. |
