Book Review: Valleys and Canyons

Valley and Canyons by Larry Dane Brimmer, Grolier Publishing, New York, 2000.
This is a geology book rather than history; but my thought is geology is just ancient history, at least history of the rocks and natural world. 
This is a youth book.  It explains in a simple way where canyons and valleys come from.  Of course there are no canyons or valleys without mountains.  There are many causes of valleys and canyons.  Glaciers create U shaped valleys, while water and wind create a more V shaped valley.  Rift Valleys are formed by faulting action.  Often the valley sinks while the mountains rise.  This are called rift valleys.  There is a large one in Africa; but the largest is under the ocean.  Valleys under water are called submarine valleys.
The crust of the earth, sitting upon a molten core, and moving as it does, creates mountain and valley action.  When the mountain is forced up, the part left down becomes a valley.  Volcanoes also contribute to mountains being formed. 

History of the LDS Church in Othello, Washington

This is the history through 1965 when the chapel was dedicated.

Veterans Day History

Veterans Day was originally Armistice Day.  It is the day the peace treaty ending WWI went into effect, the eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month, 1918.  It was renamed Veterans Day in 1954.  It is a day set aside to remember all veterans.  Memorial Day, in May remembers all those service men who passed away in war.  National Armed Services Day, also in May, honors those currently serving. 
November 10, 1775 is the birthday of the Marines.  When Mark was in the Marines they had a yearly  party, which included a formal dance.  (Gleaned from Wikepedia)

Logging Up Blacksmith Fork Canyon

I came upon some history of Blacksmith Fork Canyon, and Hyrum which I didn't know.  This is from an article in "An Early History of Cache County."  Apparently a lot of trees were taken out of the canyon, along with other canyons for railroad ties.  they would be floated down the river in the spring, which in turn lead to the Logan River and then the Bear River.  They were removed from the river in Corrine where they were used for railroad ties.  Also much wood was removed for home construction as well as the other buildings in Cache Valley.  This article tells the story of logging, including the deaths of several loggers.  There is also a story in the Herald Journal.  They are looking for more information about James Smyth, one of the loggers who was killed in a snow slide in 1877.  This is a memorial to him just below Hardware Ranch.  He is from Kansas.  He was in the canyon logging with others from Kansas.  More than that is not known.  His companions from Kansas gave up after the slide and returned home to Kansas. 

Blacksmith Fork Canyon from Hyrum

History of Rigby First and Fourth Wards

I found a program for the dedication of the Rigby First and Fourth Ward chapel, which included a history of the wards. 
History of Rigby First and Fourth Wards
As the Snake River continued to meander across the sage-brush plains cutting channels through former Indian territory, our pioneers emigrated from northern Utah, settling in the areas now known as Menan, Annis, LaBelle, Lewisville, Milo, Willow Creek and in 1885, Rigby. 
A branch of the Lewisville Ward of the L.D.S. Church was established in this area August, 1883, by Wm F. Rigby of Driggs.  Dan Robins was sustained as Presiding Elder.
By the spring of 1886 many Saints were in the area and they began the construction of a log church house about a mile northwest of the present city.  It was never completed there, however, because early in 1886 the town site became available and the building was hauled to the church plot and finished.  It became the church house, community hall and school. 
Elder John W. Taylor of the Bannock Stake Presidency organized the Rigby Ward, May 22, 1886.  The name was selected to honor Wm F. Rigby, who had been instrumental in the organization of the former Branch.  George A. Cordon was ordained Bishop and served for the next 31 years.  He was followed by his son, Omer, in this calling, December 2, 1917.
The white limestone ward house was completed in 1898 and has served the community since.  It has been expanded twice.  In 1909, the north wing was erected and in 1931 the additions to its present size were begun. 
Growth of the community warranted division of the Rigby Ward January 18, 1919.  No change of the Bishop took place in the First Ward, but John Omer Call was chosen as Bishop of the new Second Ward.
Having served nearly 24 years as Bishop, Omer S. Cordon was released May 10, 1936, and John R. Sayer was sustained.  He served as the third Bishop until September 5, 1937, when Oluf Jensen became the leader.
The Rigby First Ward was again divided May 10, 1942, and the Rigby Fourth Ward was organized.  The First Ward supported Alden Poulsen as Bishop until August 11, 1946, when Henry W. Pieper was chosen to serve.
The Fourth Ward was presided over by Cecil A. Call until September 22, 1946 when Edwin H. Lee was sustained.  He served faithfully until February 8, 1953.  At this time J. garth Zundel was ordained.
Such rapid growth and development had taken place in the community that on January 8, 1956, the Rigby First and Fourth Wards were reorganized to form the Rigby First, Fourth and Fifth Wards with Bishops Bruce a Eckersell, Lyle R. Peterson and Floyd Wood being sustained.
Bishop Peterson of the Fourth Ward pushed for the construction of a new and badly needed church and the First Ward supported Bishop Eckersell in joining in this movement.
Construction began November 1, 1958 with ground breaking ceremonies and has steadily progressed.  However, Bishop Peterson was sustained in the Stake Presidency March 26, 1962, and on April 29, 1962 Joseph C. George was approved as Bishop of the Fourth Ward. 
Now under the able leadership of Bishops Eckersell and George, with great honor due President Peterson and many others, we humbly present this building for dedication unto the Lord, September 16, 1962.
Compiled by Charles Henry.

old church

New church

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In Search Of History - The MORMON REBELLION

This is a movie produced by The History Channel.  It talks about events of 1857 and 1858.  Their last movie I watched about a Mormon issue was not very good and very biased.  This movie, based on the title "The Mormon Rebellion" hints of the same continued bias. Growing up in Utah this is known as the Utah War, not the Mormon Rebellion.  As the movie indicated, the Mormons didn't even know they were in a war until some month after the troops were already headed to Utah.
In fact most of those interviewed (although not identified as such) I felt had a non Mormon bias.  The focus of the film was the Mountain Meadows Massacre.  I have never thought of this massacre as part of the Utah war; but it is the focus here.  I guess that is because there were really no deaths in the Utah War, while there were 120 in the massacre.
I would have been very interested to more about the actual struggle with the troops headed to Salt Lake and those who opposed them.  It does say Brigham Young called up 3000 men for the volunteer militia.  It mentions some raids on wagon trains which left the army hungry, and cold.  However it really doesn't explain how the 3000 men were to be used.  it does not talk about Brigham Young's scorched earth policy.  Nor does it mention the vacating of Salt Lake City while members traveled south.  It does not talk about people being at the ready to torch the town, if Johnstons's Army did not do as agreed and just march through town and then head to Camp Floyd.  It doesn't even mention that Albert Sidney Johnston took over as the leader of the invading army.  (There is my bias, the United States Army.)  They were able to enter Salt Lake City peacefully after a peace was negotiated.  However, if they hadn't been able to slow the army down, and they had entered Salt Lake Valley the year prior there would have been a great deal of bloodshed.  
The Mountain Meadows reconciliation shown at the end of the presentation I think saved this film, as it showed healing and moving on. 

Book Review: The Courage of Sarah Noble

The Courage of Sarah Noble by Alice Dalgliesh, illustrated by Leonard Weisgard, Aladdin Books, New York, 1954. 

This is purported to be a true story, although many of the details are imagined.  That there was a girl, Sarah Noble, and eight-year-old girl travels with her father into the wilderness, to build a new house on land her father had purchased.  This was in Connecticut in 1707.  Sarah was worried about the Native Americans.  Turns out they were friendly.  An Indian family takes Sarah in while her father travels to bring back the family.  There is some controversy about this book, and that Sarah makes up names for some of the Indian children because she had difficulty pronouncing them.  Her father also makes up a name for their father.  Some think this shows a racist flavor.  However this book does show that people of different ethnic backgrounds can get along, and language does not have to be a barrier.  Nor do different colors of skin, or different cultures.