The Public Park of Huntsville, Utah
Compiled by Edna A. Melle,
November 18, 1963
In 1861, a survey of the townsite was made by David Jenkins, which is part of the present Huntsville town survey. Consisting of nine blocks of about six acres in a block, each block being divided into eight lots. In the center of the town, a public park was laid out. It was a block square. It is often called the “Square,” “The Public Square,” or “Town Square.” Whichever name you call it, it has been a recreation center from the early pioneer days to the present time.
In 1862, a schoolhouse, 16x20 feet was built of logs in the center of the Public Square.
A party of Indians arrived in Ogden Valley August 16 (Thursday), 1866 of which Elder William Halls gives the following account to the editor of the “Deseret News”:
The following named “dignitaries,” Wash-a-kee, Wa-num-bitch, Bazit, Top-si-poch, Toih-swoih, Woo-aah-goih, and Pash-up, Chiefs of the Shoshones, and about 1,000 Indians (men, squaws, and papooses) came into the valley last Thursday and camped a mile west of the settlement.
On Sunday the chiefs attended our meetings. All were very friendly. President F. A. Hammond called for a donation to be brought in the next day and invited the chiefs and all the Indians to come on to the Public Square and receive their presents. Yesterday morning early, they formed in procession and marched slowly, dancing at intervals, to the Public Square where the citizens retired to the east side of the Square, and the Indians sang and played on the square, in an immense ring, dancing round and round, circling to the left, and concluded by a sham fight, representing a recent encounter of seven braves with a very superior number of Arapahos, in which the Shoshones killed one and scalped him and make their escape. The same scalp was seen in all their processions and dancing, stuck on a long stick, the squaws now and then striking it with little sticks.
After these performances, they came to the bowery and received four beeves, nine sheep, several sacks of flour, and from 50 to 75 bushels of potatoes, carrots, beets, turnips, etc. This last scene in the bowery was truly interesting.
“They have gone away feeling well, and we feel well, for though their company is very agreeable, our philanthropy is so large that we are willing their presences should benefit other settlements as well as ours” (information taken from Huntsville Home-coming week, July 1, 2, 3, 4, 1917).
Some of the older citizens of the town tell about the Public Park being fenced in by a strong barbwire fence at one time to keep the cattle that fed in the fields from straying in. Three stiles were used to get over the fence.
At the southeast corner of the Public Square was a bowery. Each year new willows were brought in for the roof. Here concerts, concessions, and gathering of different kinds were held.
“There was a heavy debt hanging over the town. How to pay it was a problem. The mayor proposed, among other things, that the Public Square be sold, the proceeds to apply on the debt. A group of people met and decided to employ Judge Harris to defend the interest of the town. He came to town to make his report on his findings. He reported that the title of the Public Square and the streets and alleys of the town too, were held by the Probate Courts, in escrow, for the people, and no organization could sell it. The debts were finally dissolved by taxes, so the town went back to its primitive conditions” (taken from Memories of Huntsville and its People by Donald D. McKay, 1960).
The Public Square has been a center for recreation and activities of the community, school, and Church such as contest between the Indians and the townspeople, rodeos, square dancing, baseball games, Fourth of July Celebrations, horse racing, outdoor parties, and banquets, family reunions, etc. It serves as a playground for the school children while school is in session.
Three pine trees were planted on the public square in memory of three Huntsville men who served and were killed in World War I. They were David Jesperson, Lawrence Felt, and Frank Medell.
In the spring of 1920, over 600 evergreens were set out on the four corners of the square.
During the depression, the W.P.A. [Works Progress Administration—an employment and infrastructure program created by President Roosevelt in 1935] workers removed the cottonwood trees that were on the square. Later, grass was planted.
There are two monuments on the square [as of 1963]—one in memory of Mary Heathman (Grandma) Smith, mid-wife, nurse, and doctor, who delivered over 1,500 babies in the early days of Ogden Valley and took care of the sick and afflicted. The monument was erected by the Daughters of the Valley.
The other one is a monument of Jefferson Hunt, one of the first settlers of Huntsville and the man whom Huntsville was named after. This monument was erected by the Jefferson Hunt Camp, Sons of the Utah Pioneers of Huntsville, Utah. On July 2, 3, and 4, 1960, the Centennial Celebration of the settlement of Huntsville was centered around the square with a parade, square dancing, Indian dancers, games, concessions stands, etc.
Within the last two years, there have been a restroom erected and a tennis court built that is flooded in the winter for an ice-skating rink.
During election time in 1962, some of the politicians landed their helicopters on the public square, thence campaigning around the community.
As aviators fly over the square, they say, “What a green and pretty spot; a gem in the desert.”
We are proud of our beautiful park, which has served as a recreation center of our pioneer ancestors to the present days of our children and grandchildren.
Camp 28 Huntsville, Utah
North Weber Company
Mrs. Edna A. Melle, Historia
Compiled by Edna A. Melle,
November 18, 1963
In 1861, a survey of the townsite was made by David Jenkins, which is part of the present Huntsville town survey. Consisting of nine blocks of about six acres in a block, each block being divided into eight lots. In the center of the town, a public park was laid out. It was a block square. It is often called the “Square,” “The Public Square,” or “Town Square.” Whichever name you call it, it has been a recreation center from the early pioneer days to the present time.
In 1862, a schoolhouse, 16x20 feet was built of logs in the center of the Public Square.
A party of Indians arrived in Ogden Valley August 16 (Thursday), 1866 of which Elder William Halls gives the following account to the editor of the “Deseret News”:
The following named “dignitaries,” Wash-a-kee, Wa-num-bitch, Bazit, Top-si-poch, Toih-swoih, Woo-aah-goih, and Pash-up, Chiefs of the Shoshones, and about 1,000 Indians (men, squaws, and papooses) came into the valley last Thursday and camped a mile west of the settlement.
On Sunday the chiefs attended our meetings. All were very friendly. President F. A. Hammond called for a donation to be brought in the next day and invited the chiefs and all the Indians to come on to the Public Square and receive their presents. Yesterday morning early, they formed in procession and marched slowly, dancing at intervals, to the Public Square where the citizens retired to the east side of the Square, and the Indians sang and played on the square, in an immense ring, dancing round and round, circling to the left, and concluded by a sham fight, representing a recent encounter of seven braves with a very superior number of Arapahos, in which the Shoshones killed one and scalped him and make their escape. The same scalp was seen in all their processions and dancing, stuck on a long stick, the squaws now and then striking it with little sticks.
After these performances, they came to the bowery and received four beeves, nine sheep, several sacks of flour, and from 50 to 75 bushels of potatoes, carrots, beets, turnips, etc. This last scene in the bowery was truly interesting.
“They have gone away feeling well, and we feel well, for though their company is very agreeable, our philanthropy is so large that we are willing their presences should benefit other settlements as well as ours” (information taken from Huntsville Home-coming week, July 1, 2, 3, 4, 1917).
Some of the older citizens of the town tell about the Public Park being fenced in by a strong barbwire fence at one time to keep the cattle that fed in the fields from straying in. Three stiles were used to get over the fence.
At the southeast corner of the Public Square was a bowery. Each year new willows were brought in for the roof. Here concerts, concessions, and gathering of different kinds were held.
“There was a heavy debt hanging over the town. How to pay it was a problem. The mayor proposed, among other things, that the Public Square be sold, the proceeds to apply on the debt. A group of people met and decided to employ Judge Harris to defend the interest of the town. He came to town to make his report on his findings. He reported that the title of the Public Square and the streets and alleys of the town too, were held by the Probate Courts, in escrow, for the people, and no organization could sell it. The debts were finally dissolved by taxes, so the town went back to its primitive conditions” (taken from Memories of Huntsville and its People by Donald D. McKay, 1960).
The Public Square has been a center for recreation and activities of the community, school, and Church such as contest between the Indians and the townspeople, rodeos, square dancing, baseball games, Fourth of July Celebrations, horse racing, outdoor parties, and banquets, family reunions, etc. It serves as a playground for the school children while school is in session.
Three pine trees were planted on the public square in memory of three Huntsville men who served and were killed in World War I. They were David Jesperson, Lawrence Felt, and Frank Medell.
In the spring of 1920, over 600 evergreens were set out on the four corners of the square.
During the depression, the W.P.A. [Works Progress Administration—an employment and infrastructure program created by President Roosevelt in 1935] workers removed the cottonwood trees that were on the square. Later, grass was planted.
There are two monuments on the square [as of 1963]—one in memory of Mary Heathman (Grandma) Smith, mid-wife, nurse, and doctor, who delivered over 1,500 babies in the early days of Ogden Valley and took care of the sick and afflicted. The monument was erected by the Daughters of the Valley.
The other one is a monument of Jefferson Hunt, one of the first settlers of Huntsville and the man whom Huntsville was named after. This monument was erected by the Jefferson Hunt Camp, Sons of the Utah Pioneers of Huntsville, Utah. On July 2, 3, and 4, 1960, the Centennial Celebration of the settlement of Huntsville was centered around the square with a parade, square dancing, Indian dancers, games, concessions stands, etc.
Within the last two years, there have been a restroom erected and a tennis court built that is flooded in the winter for an ice-skating rink.
During election time in 1962, some of the politicians landed their helicopters on the public square, thence campaigning around the community.
As aviators fly over the square, they say, “What a green and pretty spot; a gem in the desert.”
We are proud of our beautiful park, which has served as a recreation center of our pioneer ancestors to the present days of our children and grandchildren.
Camp 28 Huntsville, Utah
North Weber Company
Mrs. Edna A. Melle, Historia
