OCR Text |
Show Jess Walker relates Lindon history, choice memories hotel, 15 summer cabins, cale, warm and cool pools with access to the beach and the lake and a high sleigh tower. Dancing was a favorite pasttime of everyone, mostly doing the waltz, foxtrot and the two-step. They had an annual Old Folks . Day at the Lindon Hall, where everyone attended and was served great food. They had Thursday night movies and many stage shows in the Lindon Hall. Jess shared other memories and legends of Lindon, concluding with the statement that he would never forget the men and women he knew as strong, fine people. Many were called "Uncle" and helped influence his life. He feels proud to call Lindon his hometown. The meeting was conducted by Cadmus President, Lucille Jense, who also gave the welcome. The program was opened with prayer offered by Phyllis Thomason. Lucille urged all club members to support Strawberry Days. The hostess was June Monson, who with co-hostesses, Bea Hayes and Jean Killpack, served a lovely dessert. Cadmus friends completed a very successful year of remembering and honoring the community's past with an entertaining lecture by Jess Walker. Jess gave a reflection from his personal view of the early history of Lindon. He was introduced in-troduced by Education Committee member, Genevieve Fotheringham. Jess was born in Lindon a few years ago and received his schooling in Lindon and Pleasant Grove. He was a good student and learning came easy for him. He also loved sports and was an excellent baseball player. He served an LDS mission to the Northern States, where he met his wife, Elaine, at a church picnic. Together they have reared a fine family. When his third boy started high school, Jess decided to go to college where he earned his degree. He then taught English and debate in high school. He loved to fish and hunt in his earlier years. Now his garden and yard are his avocation. Genevieve stated that Jess is one of those rare persons who makes you feel you are important and can always find time for you. He has devoted his life to his family and others, always finding time to share his talents. Jess began by explaining that, "When one looks at early Lindon history one finds little that is fact and much that is legend." Lindon was settled around 1861, with the first homes being dugouts and sod. They were soon replaced with relatively nice homes. The first home Jess can remember was the old Bennett house. His father eventually bought the frame portion and moved it on his property to use for a shed. That was about 1915 and it is still being used. There are some interesting legends associated with this home that Jess shared with the group. The first child born in the area was generally thought to be Jim Gillman in 1864, followed by Elizabeth Cullimore in 1865. It is said that the first school was held in the old Nerdin home with Joseph Ash and a Miss Woolsey as the teachers. Early church services were held in homes, with the first chapel being built on the site where John Fugal now lives. The site was said to have been donated by Joseph Ash. The first bishop was James Cobbley. Jess remembers Joe Nerdin, who acted as a self-taught veterinarian. The community was also served by a mid-wife. Jess stated that the families in Lindon were supported in large part by their small farms, 10 acres not being unusual. Each farm house had a pantry and the farm yardiad a cellar. Jess especially remembers his Grandma's pantry, which was a room about eight feet square. It had a large flour bin with a roll-top and a shelf that always seemed to have pies sitting on it. They often ate pie for breakfast. Most of the farms had about an acre of orchard and many grew berries. Elder James E. Cullimore was reported to be the fastest berry picker, picking up to 50 30 lb. cases a day. Virginia Walker was the next fastest picker. Jess said the young people had practically steady work on the farms from the time school let out until it started again. The farmers peddled their crops themselves, along with cherry an currant wine and cider. Lindon also had a large cattle herd, with most farmers running 10 to 30 head each. Lindon, Pleasant Grove and Manila pretty well controlled the cattle range from Provo Canyon to American Fork Canyon, where several thousand head of cattle pastured. Jess's Granddad Richards herded these cattle for several years. Later the range was fenced and the cattle and horses moved from one area to another. Another source of income for the community of Lindon was from the canneries. There were major canneries in Pleasant Grove, Orem, Provo, Springville and Spanish Fork, with a small cannery at Lindon and a small fish cannery near the lake. Lindon was noted for its tomato and corn production, along with pumpkins and cherries. The famous strawberries of our area were mostly grown in Lindon. Sugar production was another big factor in Lindon's economy. At one time there were four factories and two slicers in the county. The beet juice was piped in underground pipelines to Lehi, where storage capacity of those factory warehouses was over four million bags. Some of the special features of Lindon were its famous baseball team and ball park, which was the envy of the state, having a grandstand grand-stand with a cover. Also the Geneva Resort and Lindon Marina were great attractions. The resort had a dance hall with a spring floor, a |