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Show - - .... , ! v. WEttle Creek X -?g? -n vL. It's probably true that elderly folks like to reminesce about happenings hap-penings of the past, because they have experienced so many of thorn. This idea came to mind the other day when a "by-lined" article ar-ticle appeared in the Deseret News relative to the old Geneva Resort. Mrs. Rea told about the current plans of Orem City to take over the place and restore the recreation facilities which were so much enjoyed years ago. In recounting the history of the venerable resort, Dorothy said that it was named "Geneva" from the whistle-stop siding of that name on the Denver and Rio Grande Railroad just east of the property. Like a lot of other young whipper-snappers, Dorothy can write; but sometimes people give them the wrong steer. The resort was not named for the railroad stop. The stop was named for the resort. re-sort. Anyway, here's the way I knew it some sixty years ago. During the 1890's a Salt Lake City capitalist by the name of Dallin bought the property and established the resort. He built a boat harbor, bath houses, a beautiful beau-tiful and spacious dance pavilion, a hotel and a saloon. Geneva Dallin was his daughter daugh-ter and the resort was named for her. In order to deliver the carloads car-loads of lumber used in construction, con-struction, the D&RG established a railroad stop and siding. When the resort was named and a going go-ing concern, "Geneva" became the name of the siding. There were no automobiles In those days. So in order to "drum up" business, Mr. Dallin ran what he called "Excursions" from Salt Lake City. Vacationers rode the railroad passenger cars to the resort, re-sort, arriving at about 10 a.m. on Sundays and holidays. The cars were set out on the siding until the return trip, about midnight. mid-night. During a chat with Vern Gill-man Gill-man the other day, we recalled wandering about the resort, as boys, and peeking through the doors of the saloon as young blades of the Gay Nineties swilled swill-ed down five cent flagons of "Lager Beer." We couldn't have been older than six or seven et the time, Even before the resort was built, the spot was a favorite recreation area. Vern reminded-us reminded-us about the times our Dads drove the families down to the "Lake" in covered wagons. The horses pulled the wagons into the water as far as g'ood wading depth and were unhitched and ridden to shore. A sheet was fastened crosswise cross-wise of the wagon box making dressing rooms for men and women. wo-men. After a good swim In the non-polluted water, we got dressed dress-ed and polished off breadpans full of savory sandwiches and demijohns demi-johns of cool lemonade. Highlights of the trips were always the bullrushes we gathered gath-ered to braid into riding whips after they had been "wilted" properly. More power to Orem and the plans to restore one of Utah Valley's Val-ley's most popular recreation spots. So long 'til Thursday. |