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St. George Downtown Historical District

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Family History Expos Returns to St. George, Utah

Family History Expos will return to Southern Utah with its annual flagship event, “2012 St.George Family History Expo,” Feb. 24 and 25. Dixie Convention Center will host the Expo at1835 Convention Center Drive in St. George.

“Our 2012 theme is: ‘Your family history starts here!’” FHE Founder and President Holly T.Hansen said. “We’re always thrilled to visit St. George because that really is where it all started for us in 2003. It’s hard to imagine this is our eighth year in Southern Utah!”2 © 2011 Family History Expos, Inc. – PO Box 187 – Morgan, UT 84050 -- www.FamilyHistoryExpos.com

This year’s events will feature a pre-expo tour of the historical St. George area on Thursday,Feb. 23. Participants will meet at the Dixie Center at 8 a.m. to get on the tour bus. The trip wil lend by 6 p.m.

Family History Expos is responding to a soft economy by lowering prices to makefamily history education more affordable than ever before. “We know people are stretching their dollars as far as they can and we want everyone to get the information they need,” Hansen said.

Brigham Young University Professor Susan Easton Black will offer a keynote address at 2 p.m.on Friday, Feb. 24 in the Convention Center Ballroom. Her address is titled, “Your Family History Starts Here,” in conjunction with the FHE 2012 theme. Black is a professor of Church History and Doctrine at BYU in Provo, Utah. She is also author of several books related to Joseph Smith, Jr. and the early history of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

“Our industry experts are people with years and years of experience who are delighted to assist family history and genealogy researchers break down the brick walls blocking the path to their pasts,” Hansen said.

Other scheduled presenters at the St. George Expo include: Alice Volkert, Amanda Terry, AnnaSwayne, Arlene H. Eakle, Baerbel K. Johnson, Bill Mangum, Billy Dubois Edgington, Bret Petersen, Bruce Buzbee, Carol Cofrank Swensen, Dennis Meldrum, Geoff Rasmussen, GlennRawson, James L. Tanner, Jean Wilcox Hibben, Jill R. Woodbury, John Kusmich, Jr., Joleen Aitchison, Ken Aubuchon, Leland K. Meitzler, Margo McKinstry, Marlo E. Schuldt, Michael Booth, Philipp M. Mayer, Robert Raymond, Robert Curry, Ruth Ellen Maness, Tom Underhill,Yvonne Curry, and The Ancestry Insider. Hansen will also present during the event.

Class topics will include, “Your Head in the Cloud and Your Feet on the Ground,” by BretPetersen; and, “Connecting with Cousins: Using the Internet to Locate Distant Relatives and Collaborate with Cousins,” by Yvonne Curry. Amanda Terry will teach a class called “Family History: It’s Not Just for Your Grandparents.”

Exhibitors will be on hand to offer products and services to assist families in furthering their family history research.

The cost to attend this two-day event is just $59 with pre-registration and $99 at the door. Pay only $49 for one day.

On site registration will begin and the exhibit hall will open at 1 p.m. on Friday. The event will close at 9 p.m. Exhibits and registration will re-open at 9 a.m. on Saturday. The exhibit hall will close at 4 p.m. Prizes donated by exhibitors will be given away both days and Grand Prizes donated by sponsors will be given away at the closing ceremony. This event is sponsored by Family History Expos and supported by Family Search. The St. George and Cedar City Family History Centers are local sponsors.

Register now at www.fhexpos.com or call 801-829-3295 for telephone registration.

St. George History Timeline

Geological History

Cultural History

Before St. George Founding:

Mormon Settlements before St. George:

1855 The first cotton was grown at Santa Clara.

1856 The cotton seed produced the year before in Santa Clara was planted and a new crop was harvested. Thirty yards of cloth was woven from this cotton. A hand cranked cotton gin was made.

1860 First county fair was held in Washington City.

July 1861 Brigham Young to Tonaquint to inspect the Cotton Mission
October General Conference 1861 Brigham Young called 309 families to Dixie Mission

December 1861 Erastus Snow and 309 families arrive


Territorial Legislature issues authorization statement for City of St. George 17 Jan. 1862

Early events and activities:

Village system set up, surveying done, streets laid out on square plan, irrigation system instituted, timber cut in Pine Valley, small reservoirs built, families built temporary dwellings, set up gardens and started five acre farms.

Flood of 1862

Civic buildings started:

1867 Telegraph from St. George to Logan Utah finished January 10.

In the early 1900s, piped water was brought into St George so that all water didn't have to come out of the ditches.

World War I 1917, 100 young men from Washington County went to war

Highway 91 came to St. George 1930, highway connection to Zion National Park and a tunnel to the park on the north east allowing access from Cedar City, several motels builtin St. George and Springdale, tourism becomes a new industry

Great Depression 1929 to early 1940s, several WPA projects completed in St. George, a post office, an elementary school across from Woodward School, CCC camp in St. George and several other places in the county.
Airport built on the black hill, 1930s, blacktopped in 1940s, expanded in 1958

Air conditioning arrives in St. George during the 1950s, a luxury at first.
Safeway builds a grocery story east on the Boulevard with a parking lot, challenging the stores in the center of town that did not provide parking in 1959

In 1961 an industrial park was established by a citizen’s group called the Dixie Development Corporation, led by Bruce Stucki, Jim and Neal Lundberg and Doyle Sampson. They brought Hawthorne Company to the park to set up a sewing plant to make tents and sleeping bags. That was the beginning of a major economic development that has led to more industrial parks—Millcreek in 1980, The Hurricane/WalMart Park in 1990, Fort Pierce Industrial Park in the 80’s and 90’s, and the Tonaquint High Technology Park in the 2000 decade. Together they are stimulating a new Dixie area. The arrival of the Qwest Fiberoptic network in 1993 was a great aid as was the second fiberoptic network by Utah Interlinks in 2005.

Dixie Memorial Hospital completed by the County in 1952-3 with 2 beds, then expanded in 1974 to 54 beds, turned over to Intermountain Health Care in 1976 and then expanded further becoming the Dixie Regional Medical Center in 1990 with 80 doctors. Finally a new hospital campus was built on River Road in 2003 with a widely expanded service. It has since been expanded and now has over 200 doctors.

Western movies were made in Southern Utah, including St. George in the 1960s bringing the area to a worldwide audience. Soon retirees began moving to St. George in large numbers. Condominium complexes were constructed throughout the city and county.

The first golf course, Red Hills, was constructed in 1965. Then came a course at Bloomington about 1976. The city developed other courses, as did developers.

Dixie College moved to a new campus on 700 East and 100 South in 1963 with 380 students. The first four-block campus expanded gradually, now includes several blocks.

1973 brought Interstate Highway I-15 to St. George on through the Gorge to Mesquite and Las Vegas. This transformed St. George, particularly merchandising.

A shopping mall came to St. George on Bluff Street in 1980 and much of the downtown merchandising moved to the mall. A second mall arrived in 1991 on the new street, River Road. It was the beginning of a whole new area of stores, box stores, and restaurants. Franchises from all over the nation arrived—Lowes, Target, ZCMI, WalMart, Costco, and many more. Two other shopping complexes developed on River Road

Downtown St. George faced a period of decline but the city government stepped in and sponsored a downtown renewal, expanding the town square. A new County Library was built there as well as a new County School District office and a new Courthouse. Woodward School was restored as an historic site. Sculpture art was placed throughout the downtown. New office structures were built and the city built a parking ramp garage. The City Leisure Services Department sponsored the St. George Marathon, The St. George Arts Festival, the Iron Man Decathlon and many other activities throughout the city. Huntsman Senior Games were held each fall beginning 1987. Several hotels were also built.

A new Airport was completed in 2010 near the Arizona border, greatly expanding the availability of air services. Dixie State College became a four-year college in 1999 and by 2012 had over 9000 students registered (head count). Plans are laid for Dixie State to become a state university within four or five years.

On January 17, 2012 St. George City celebrates its 150th Birthday following weeks of many celebrations including a trek from Parowan and several concerts and lectures and displays. The citizens know that basking in the sunshine of this area is not our only blessing. We have great athletics, fine arts, parks, mountains, trails, city government, schools, historic sites, restaurants, churches, a temple, town square, libraries, art galleries, choirs, orchestras, and on and on. Most of all there are great people and great history.

We welcome any corrections or additions. Send to: news@dixietoday.com

The Old Spanish Trail

Much of the Old Spanish trail was first established as trade and migration routes by Native Americans long before the arrival of Europeans. It was later heavily traveled in the 1830s and 1840s by hundreds of trappers, soldiers, and traders.

Fur trapper Jedediah S. Smith was the first Anglo-American to visit present Iron County during his amazing journey of 1826. About a third of the 1,200-mile trail lies in Southern Utah with over 100 miles in Iron and Washington Counties. This trail in now marked in many areas by modern highways.

The trail was a multithreaded trail akin to a braided stream. The trail split into two basic routes between Santa Fe, New Mexico and Los Angeles, California. It had north and south branches in the eastern end and other branches in the western, Mojave Desert, section.

It saw New Mexican goods carried west for sale in Los Angeles. The reverse flow to Santa Fe included mules and horses that were purchased, or stolen, in southern California. Emigrants from New Mexico and points east also moved westward over the trail. Although most trail travel was by mule pack train, some portions of the trail eventually saw some wagon traffic. The first wagons to follow the trail were discharged members of the Mormon Battalion after the Mexican War, traveling from San Diego to Salt Lake City.

By the time of the Spanish visit, the area was inhabited by semi-nomadic Piute Indians. These natives traveled and traded over an area ranging from Colorado to Mexico and California. Their descendants still live throughout southwestern Utah.

- Utah Chapture Old Spanish Trail Association

The First Christmas in St. George – 1861

In May of 1861, in general conference in Salt Lake City, Brigham Y oung announced that during a tour of the Santa Clara and Tonoquint settlements he had a vision of a city "with spires, towers, and steeples, with homes containing many inhabitants…" The new city would be called St. George. A number of stalwarts, proficient in every occupation, were called on a mission to make this vision a reality.

Newly-built homes in Salt Lake City were sold, wagons were loaded with necessities, and the people began the six-week trek southward over unmarked roads.

The first wagon, driven by Robert Thompson and William Faucett, arrived November 1. By December 4, the main body of 378 men and 370 women arrived. They set up camp in the adobe yard (where Dixie College is located today). The weather was mild, and they went to work to get some crops. Food was scarce and there were no trees to provide shelter or fuel.
The leader Erastus Snow of the Quarum of the Twelve Apostle, decided the people must have some break in their back-breraking labor. Christmas was at hand and that seemed an ideal time for celebration. It would give the people something to prepare for, participate in, and talk about for the rest of the year.

Elder Sow had a tent big enough for the entire group to gather for a service. Afterwards the fiddler could play, and they would dance until dawn on the salt grass floor.

A drizzling rain began on Christmas Eve, but Snow decided to go ahead with the plan. The wagon boxes they were using as homes offered less protection than the big tent. Snow had a special Christmas treat for everyone. A man managed to get down from Pine Valley with a big sack of potatoes. These would be roasted in the coals of the community fire and given to each person as they entered the tent. They would serve as handwarmers and later as a special Christmas meal.

As the group assembled, the drizzle changed into a downpour. The performers increased their volume, and the audience huddled together for warmth, as the rain increased.

After the benediction, Snow informed the people they could go on with the dance or return to their wagons. There really wasn't much choice. The wagons were covered with canvas, but waterproofing was unheard of. Even their bedding was soaked. Drizzles were seeping through the roof of the big tent. They decided to stay and dance. They would have company and maybe they could move fast enough to keep warm.

And dance they did. Mothers put their babies to sleep on the benches that lined the walls, but the majority of the camp danced on until midnight. They stopped to give the fiddler a rest and to eat their potatoes.

But, the fiddler found he had literally sawed through the strings of his fiddle, and he had no replacements. An old lady had one treasure - a spool of silk thread. As a member of a handcart company, she walked across the plains with this thread in her waist apron. She was saving it for some special occasion. She decided nothing was more special than giving joy to these young people who had so little. The fiddler managed to contrive an acceptable substitute from the thread, and the dancing continued until dawn.

This was the beginning of the famous 40-day-and-night rain that changed the Virgin River from a trickle in a small ditch into a rampaging river.
But people did not remember the damp discomfort of wet clothes, bedding, inadequate shelter, and scarce food. They spoke of it as the best Christmas because of the feeling of unity and the love that was there.

By Mary Pheonix

Settlement of St. George, Utah

In 1854, the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (also known as the LDS Church, or Mormon Church) established an Indian mission in Santa Clara, two miles northwest of present-day St. George. The church set up experimental farms in the St. George Valley in 1857-1858. In October 1861, church leaders called 309 families to establish the Cotton Mission. After the outbreak of the Civil War that same year, LDS Church President Brigham Young felt it necessary to grow cotton, if possible. Many of these families assigned to settle the area hailed from the South and possessed the necessary skills to grow cotton and establish a community. Paying homage to the nickname of their former home, these settlers called the region "Utah's Dixie."

St. George, Utah was named in honor of Mormon apostle George A. Smith, also known as the "Potato Saint" because he urged early settlers to eat raw, unpeeled potatoes to cure scurvy. Smith did not participate in the town's settlement, but personally selected many of the pioneers that originally settled the area. The first years in St. George proved difficult for early residents due to challenges such as flooding, lack of culinary water and scorching summer heat. A cotton factory erected soon after the settlers' arrival produced off and on for approximately 50 years, but overall, cotton proved an unsuccessful venture. The area also produced silk as early as 1874, but its production did not contribute significantly to the area's economic prosperity. Other early pioneer endeavors included the production of molasses, dried fruit and even wine.

The Virgin River Anasazi were St. George's earliest residents, inhabiting the area from approximately 200 B.C. to 1200 A.D. They left behind rock art and ruins of their dwellings. The reason for their departure is unknown to this day. The Paiute tribe arrived between 1100 and 1200 A.D., utilizing the area as a hunting ground for deer, rabbits and other animals. The Paiutes also grew crops along the riverbeds, including corn, wheat and melons. In 1776, the Dominguez-Escalante Party became the first recorded European-Americans to visit the area. Fur trappers and government survey parties followed.

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