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.

 

 

 

Share Your Family Heritage Before It Is Lost

The delightful surroundings of our new home were in direct contrast from our former city dwelling.  Our old neighborhood was much larger than the entire city of Mt. Pleasant, Utah.

State Street, Mt. Pleasant, Utah. Photo courtesy of Mikayla Ryan

The homes in Colorado were much closer together; the covenants were strict, the noise of heavy traffic, busy streets, and all that  goes with suburban living were suddenly replaced.   Now we found ourselves  one block from the center of town, rarely do we hear traffic, (this only happens when a large semi comes through town).  Walking downtown among the charming aged buildings sent our thoughts in a twirl wind of images of a past long ago.

The original buildings in downtown Mt. Pleasant, Utah.

Each building has a  plaque describing the original use and who owned it. Visiting and living in a historic  town has so much of yesteryear that we have forgotten.  I so wish that this was the case of the towns my ancestors help to establish.  I would love to walk the streets and tell my grandchildren of their heritage.  Thankfully, we have country living at its very best. We can incorporate the stories of our families with the surroundings of the historic buildings still standing. The old blacksmith shop at the corner of the Relic Home is amazing.

Photo courtesy of Mikayla Ryan

Walking through the door seems to embrace one senses of longing for a time that quickly faded away.  We realized that the only way our family heritage would survive another generation was to tell everything that we could remember from the stories our parents, grandparents, and great grandparents shared with us when we were younger. This became our mission, salvage any and all that we could remember and begin to share our heritage with our grandchildren.  On their first visit to our new home, we took them downtown.  We stopped at each building to learn what we could.  After touring the town we went home to sit by the fireplace to talk about the “Good Old Days.” The children loved this and wanted more and more.  Of course smores didn’t hurt!  

Memorial Day in a Small Quiet Town Paying Honor to Their Heritage

Veteran’s Memorial Drive Photo courtesy of Mikayla Ryan.

The small, quiet town of Mt. Pleasant, located in Sanpete County, Utah goes all out for Memorial Day.  The Veteran’s Memorial Drive is lined with United States flags much the same as every other cemetery in the United States.  What really caught my attention as we turned into the entrance was not a grave had been overlooked.  There were flowers, plants, or wreathes placed upon every one.  Never had I beheld such a sight.

Decorated graves in Mt. Pleasant, Utah. Photo courtesy of Mikayla Ryan

Over my lifetime, I have been to many cemeteries, never has one been so honored as this one.  My husband, Randy and I would take our daughters and granddaughters to the graves of our family members, to honor them and place flowers of remembrance.  For the Veteran’s and their wives, we would place flags as well.  We were in amazement to see each of the graves decorated.  Many of these graves have dates as far back as the 1800’s and they too were adorned.

Heritage is a priceless treasure!  Once the older generations are gone so are their stories.  I so wish that I had family members that I could visit to learn their stories.    I would pass these along to our children and grandchildren.  The memories are sometimes the only thing that we have to keep us going.

Take time to make a memory, share your stories, give your children and grandchildren a glimpse into your life.  Share your parents stories, keep it going for future generations.  This community honors their heritage unlike anything I have ever seen!

Families gather to pay tribute to their family members. Photo Courtesy of Mikayla Ryan

 

 

Mt. Pleasant and the Historic Treasures She Provides

Photo courtesy of Mikayla Ryan

My husband and I recently moved to Mt. Pleasant, Sanpete County, Utah.  This charming community is a wonderful change from the metropolitan city and suburbs of Denver, Colorado.  Little did we know that we were living in a historic area.

Look for these signs for a wonderful adventure into your heritage.

In Mt. Pleasant State Street is also  Utah Heritage Highway 89. Sitting on this prestigious street or highway is the Relic Home.  A large portion of The Relic Home is part of the Mormon Pioneer National Heritage Area. Historians have verified that this is where the final Black Hawk Treaty was signed.  The end of the Black Hawk War provided peaceful interactions with the Native Americans in Mt. Pleasant as well as other pioneer settlements in south central area of Utah.

While studying the historical records of the “Utah History since Statehood” historians have discovered that the home was designed by Brigham Young, the second President of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. He was a carpenter who actually laid the wooden floor planks in the front hall.  This wonderful heritage area will be a source of many wonderful adventures with our grandchildren, for many visits to come.

The Relic Home

Photo courtesy of Mikayla Ryan The Mormon Pioneer National Heritage Area and Utah Heritage Highway 89