Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1903-07-24

square that the "Old Fort was estab-
lished in August, lSi7. and there the
first winter was spent by the Pioneer
band.
DEDICATED FIVE YEARS AGO.
AT the dedication Of Pioneer Park on
July Is, 1898, the speakers of the occa-
sion were President MILFORD Woodruff,
Mayor John Clark, Judge W. II King
and Judge G G. Goodwin. DR. 7, c. Hin
made the opening prayer and Presl-
dent George Q Cannon offered the dedi-
catory prayer In the course Of their
remarks President Woodruff and Mayor
Clark gave some interesting state
ments concerning the settlement OF
Pioneer square,
PIONEER HISTORY.
When President Brigham Young and
his party arrived IN the valley on July
a. lS47, a camp was first established on
Washington square, where the
city and county building now stands,
but on Aug It was thought
advisable TO commence the building OF
a stockade as a protection from the
Indians, so logs we're hauled from the
mountains, aGobes were made of sun
dried clay and on Aug. 10 lsiI, the
foundations were laid OF the first homes
erected In this valley The houses eX-
tended along the east line OF Pioneer
square. beginning at the northeast cor
ner. The roofs all slanted Inward and
the doors and windows were on the In
side Of the stookade formed by the
houses
PRESIDENT YOUNG'S ADVICE,
President Brigham Young, before
leaving on his return TO Winter Quar-
ters on Aug 2b lS4j, gave the members
Of his party some timely advice. lie
admonishcd them TO live IN the stockade
until his return and 10 build II up Oh
all four sides so as TO have better pro-
lection and TO have room for the other
bands of pioneers who were then on
their way u the valley He also adj
ylse1 them TO raise all the grain they
could As winter drew near the
pioneers moved into the stockade and
the addition Of other pioneer bands
Increased the population OF the Old
Fort to such an extent that there was
an addition built onto It on the south.
In the spring Of lAS there We're more
than 400 iog aud adobe huts inside the
fort and its population was increased
to 100 people.
HARVEST HOME CELEBRATION.
un Aug. 10. is&, the first harvest
home was celebrated in the fort, when a
large bower was erected In the center
under which tables were spread and
the grateful settlers partook of a feast
Of the products OF their labor and en-.
terprise When President Young re-
turned there was such an increase In
population that city lots were laid out
and people began 20 settle upon them.
In the winter Of lS4S-i9 there was quite
a number who remained inside the fort,
but gradually from year to year il was
deserted until al length It became a
public square,
GRANTED TO RAILROADS.
Several times has the square been
granted 10 railroad corporations TO be
used as a depot site, but the terms OF
the grants have never been complied
with and II has reverted back to the
city About two months ago an or
dinancc was passed by the city coun-
ell again dedicdtng the square as a
public park and setting today as the
iate Tor 4 to be thrown open. ON last
Monday night resolution was passed
by the council authorizing tile park.
keeper to open the gates of The park to
the publi' this morning This was
done, and again the city extends a
hearty greeting TO its citizens and In
vltes them to partake Of the pleasures
and comfort afforded by another public |
breathing spot-Pioneer park.