The Relic Home, photo by Randee Ryan

While our granddaughters were visiting us, we took them to the Relic Home located on Utah Highway 89 in Mt. Pleasant, UT.   This was another one of those wonderful events to do with little or no cost.  The Relic Home features an interesting look into the past generation’s lifestyle, the clothes they wore, the living areas, the equipment that they used, and all without the electronics we enjoy today.

Our granddaughters thought this was so exciting since they had just received a Prairie Diamond ring from the Blacksmith shop located next to the Relic Home,  in Mt. Pleasant, UT.  Owner, Pete Hafen was working in his shop during our visit, and made each of the girls a ring.

Continuing our travels  south on Highway 89, we came across the town of Salina, UT.  There we discovered a wonderful western shop to visit. There was not so much different from this shop and the shops in our former state of Colorado, except for an item that they carry in their jewelry department.  We saw the prairie Diamond rings for sale.  The girls were really excited to see their new prized possession on display in the Burns Saddlery!

Family owned since 1876

 

 

The Prairie Diamond, Then and Now

Prairie Diamond Rings

This is a very sweet poem that depicts the resolve that so many of our ancestors had.  While the Mormon pioneers crossed the plains many young men and women met their soon to be spouse.  Without any way to save for a wedding ring, a sympathetic blacksmith came up with the perfect solution.

Prairie Diamond

As the settlers came west to settle their land,

Many of the youth walked hand in hand.

Some fell in love and wanted to marry,

But, money and jewelry they did not carry.

A kind young blacksmith knew just what to do.

He bent the nail from an old horseshoe.

The Prairie Diamond  was the name of the ring. 

So much happiness it surely did bring.

During the early days of the Mormon settlement of Nauvoo, Illinois, a blacksmith and a wagon shop was family business owned by Chauncy Webb and it included the talents of his father and his brothers to provide the much needed services in the LDS community.  The blacksmith shop along with a wagon shop was located on the corner of Parley and Granger Streets.  The blacksmiths furnished the iron parts for the wheels, and the wheelwrights were the experts in wheel construction of the wheels.  This was a vital service needed when the LDS community began their trek west to the Salt Lake Valley.  During the height of the bustling community there were forty-eight blacksmiths and fourteen members listed as members of the Nauvoo Coach and Carriage Manufacturing Association.

Historic Webb Blacksmith Shop in Nauvoo, Illinois

Today, in Nauvoo, Illinois there are still blacksmiths that make and give out Prairie Diamonds to everyone that visits their blacksmith shop. Now Nauvoo is not the only place with a working blacksmith shop.  Mt. Pleasant, Utah has a working shop owned and operated by Pete Hafen, located at the Relic Home.  He also makes the Prairie Diamond and gives these out to visitors.

In 1997 as the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints began their reenactment of their trek from Nauvoo, two young singles meet and fell in love.  Without a means of an engagement to present to the young lady, a blacksmith gladly provided the prospective groom with a special Prairie Diamond to present to his new fiancee.

The Prairie Diamond received its name due to the diamond shape stamped on the head of the nails, representing the manufacturer, the Diamond Company.

 

 

 

Grandpa Tell Me About The Good Old Days

Emma’s-Sleighride by Robert Duncan

While driving around our new community, we were unaware that  we had moved into the boundaries of the Mormon Pioneer National Heritage Area.  There are so many points of interest,  stories to learn about and  events to attend.  I was drawn to the song released many years ago by the Judd’s, “Grandpa, Tell Us About the Good Old Days”  kept playing in my mind.  I began to recall the many stories that I had heard as a child from my grandparents and so wanted our grandchildren to hear everything that I could remember.  My husband never knew any of his grandparents, so he missed out on so many wonderful opportunities to have precious memories he could have had.  He was determined that our grandchildren would know how much they were loved, just how special that they are, and that there was so much fun in learning about the past while  visiting with their grandparents.  They would learn not only about our lives, but those of many special men and women in our family as well as those that are known and unknown.

Best Of Friends, one of many original works by Robert Duncan

 

While searching for music to have to share with our grandchildren,  I ran across a beautiful slide presentation  featuring the paintings of a very talented artist, Robert Duncan using the Judd’s song, Grandpa Tell Me About The Good Old Days .  It is with great memories I wish to share this wonderful song and artwork that depicts a time of not so long ago.

We began our time with our grandchildren telling them stories of the past.  They loved hearing of persons they wish they knew.  Before they went home, another visit was planned for them to come back to the “Good Old Days”,   as they put it.  This has become the theme of each visit.  Now we hear from them regularly wanting for “Poppa to tell them more about the “Good Old Days”!