Visiting the North Rim of the Grand Canyon in 1896

VISITING the North Rim of the Grand Canyon in the late 19th Century was truly an adventure. Unlike the South Rim, which a railroad accessed it, the North Rim was still a wilderness.
"Kanab to the Kaibab. An expedition to the Grand Canyon" was a June 28, 1896 headline in the Salt Lake Tribune.
"Kanab is the outfitting point for an expedition from the north to the Grand Canyon of the Colorado," the newspaper reported. "The essentials comprise a water  keg of not less than five gallons' capacity for a party of three, plenty of blankets and a food supply for at least a week."
The journey from Kanab to Point Sublime viewpoint of the Grand Canyon required 75 miles of wagon travel and another 13 miles by trail, after the wagon road ends. The story stated that the final 13 miles are best taken by those who are familiar with the area, as the path is very faint and confusing.
("Point Sublime" was apparently the original North Rim viewpoint used by early visitors. However, it is about 5 miles west of today's North Rim lodge and center.)

Visiting the North Rim of the Grand Canyon today is a 90-minute drive from Kanab, or about 79 miles of paved road.

When Cache Valley fed 200 Native Americans all winter in 1860

                                    The Logan Temple, an icon in Cache Valley today.
THE winter of 1860 was a cold and snowy season and one where the residents of Cache Valley took care of some 200 Native Americans.
According to the Deseret News of March 21, 1860: "The people in that (Cache) Valley have been greatly annoyed with Indians during the winter and they have had to feed about two hundred of them most of the time since last fall, which has been a heavy tax, but it had to be borne, as there was no alternative but to fee them or do worse," the News reported.
The roads that winter from Ogden to the Box Elder County line were good, but from there on to Cache Valley were bad, an almost impassible.

Back when Davis County was all about agriculture

SOME 120 years ago, agriculture was what Davis County was best known for. A story in the Salt Lake Herald Republican on Jan. 1, 1899 touted Davis County as a narrow strip of land, but one that was very fertile.
With two railroad lines traversing the county, it was seen often by many travelers, but few know how many crops were harvested there.
"Davis County is essentially an agricultural district," the story stated. "And in the wonderful variety of its products it is unsurpassed."
Bountiful and Centerville in particular were touted as breadbaskets for the people of Salt Lake County. There were all canning factories and dairies in Davis County.
A Herald Republican story on Dec. 31, 1899 stated that Davis County was rich in "wealth, products, resources and energy."

Utah College track and field results from a century ago; And a horse riding record

                           The University of Utah stadium.

THERE'S no question that performances in track and field have improved over a century ago.

-Here are some winning times and distance from an indoor track meet between the University of Utah men and the Deseret Gymnasium team, and held at the Deseret Gym on April 6, 1918 (and results published in the Salt Lake Tribune of April 7, 1918):
35-yard dash: 3 and 4/5 seconds
Mile run (14.5 laps in the gym,) : 4:57
Running high jump: 5 feet 8 inches
Standing high jump: 4 feet 10 inches
Pole vault: 10 feet 6 inches
-Here are the results of an all-comers Utah college and high school track meet, held May 10, 1920 at Ogden's Lorin Farr Park:
100 yard dash: 10.0
220 yard dash: 22.0
440 yard dash: 53.0
880-yard run: 2:04.6
Mile run: 4:49.4
Three mile run: 18:40.1
High jump: 6 feet 2 inches
Long jump: 20 feet 1/2 inch
Pole vault: 11 feet

-The Salt Lake Tribune of Oct. 13, 1895 outlined a different racing record in Utah -- for horse riding.
"New Century Record. S.P. Durant makes the run in 7:32" was the newspaper headline. Durant of Salt Lake City rode his horse 100 miles in seven hours and 32 minutes. His ride was continuous, without any stopping for food, water or rest.

Bryce Canyon 'stirs Ogdenites' in 1920

THE Ogden Standard-Examiner of July 14, 1920 published the account of an Ogden family visiting South Utah and the majesty of Bruce Canyon was at the top of their list.
According to the Standard-Examiner, the Joseph Chez family agreed with a fellow tourist they met that Bryce was as spectacular as the famed Alps in Switzerland. They described Bryce "as an awe inspiring spectacle."
The only drawback to Bryce at the time, was that it could pretty much only be viewed from the rim above, as the only trail downward was very sketchy.
There was "a steep and somewhat uncertain trail into its depths," the Chez family reported to the Standard.

Weber State football results from nearly a century ago

                                         Weber State University's current mascot, in a parade.

"WILDCATS whitewash Montana in opening gride game: Weberites run loco against Dillonites," was an Oct. 17, 1926 headline in the Ogden Standard-Examiner.

  Weber won that game 67-0 against Montana State, as fullback Ray Price was the outstanding Wildcat player, with two touchdowns and all of Weber's PATs. Montana was favored in the game and had a heavier team, but failed to deliver any offense or defense.
Back in the 1920s, Weber State played its home games at Lori Farr Park.

Condos and homes on Fremont Island?

                 Fremont Island is not much of an island these days, with a low Great Salt Lake.

ARE condos in the future for Fremont Island in the Great Salt Lake?

They WERE a distinct possibility.

(See 2 updates below ...)

In 2018, "Diesel Brother" Dave Sparks headed a financial group which purchased the Island from the Richards Family of Salt Lake, who had owned Fremont since the 1960s, or earlier.
When the Diesel Brother and group bought the Island, they stated on Facebook:
 "We have big, aggressive plans to open the island up for visitors from all around the world to come experience a piece of the Wild West. I hope that all of you can someday join us for an island adventure including summer concerts, offroad racing, horseback riding, camping, exploring, shooting, etc!"

No mention of condos on the island in that proclamation, but they likely have some specific plans to open up Fremont to limited public usage, or their investment yields nothing.
The Island's owners planned a January 11, 2020 bus trip to the Isle to apparently kickstart their development plans.

                   The start of the sandbar leading to Fremont Island.

If condos, or any housing (like a hotel for visitors) were to be added there, access would be a key dilemma. With a low level of the Great Salt Lake, the Diesel Brother group has a souped up bus, with giant oversized tires, called "The Freedom Bus," which can easily traverse the famous sandbar to Fremont Island, that is found off the causeway to Antelope Island.
Yet, the bus only provides limited access to the Island. And, if another causeway-- like the one leading to Antelope Island -- were built to Fremont, that would likely cost millions of dollars.
Drinking water, sewage and electricity would be other essentials there. 
For Antelope Island, the power lines are buried along the causeway to the Island. Where would Fremont's power lines go?
The shortest access would be from Promontory Point South, across Great Salt Lake water, or from Hooper westward. Taking at least power and water lines to the Isle would again be very expensive projects.
There are some small brackish type of water wells on Fremont, but whether they can produce adequate water is unclear.

             The Kit Carson Cross on the north end of Fremont Island.

Hooper City incorporated Fremont Island into its boundaries when it incorporated in the year 2000. Any developments on the Island would have to be approved by the City.
Fremont is home to the Kit Carson, Cross, likely the oldest Catholic or Christian relic in Utah. It also has some graves and the foundation to an old 19th Century home.
Sheep, cattle and horses have all grazed on Fremont Island over the decades. Wild Shetland ponies also roamed the Island until the 1990s.

                                     The Wenner Family graves on Fremont Island.

When the Richards Family obtained Fremont Island, they had dreams of its becoming the Utah version of Alcatraz Island, a prison.
(That's because a Salt Lake grave robber, Jean Bapiste, was exiled there.)
When a prison seemed unlikely there, the Richards Family hoped Fremont could be a state park, like Antelope Island is. That never happened either.

UPDATE: As of November 2020, a non-profit group, Palladium Foundation of Salt Lake has purchased Fremont Island, with the intent of preserving it as open, undeveloped land. No housing or condos! (However, before the purchase, 10,000 to 12,000 homes were planned for Fremont, though water supply and access were obvious roadblocks for any large scale development.)

ANOTHER UPDATE: As of December 2020, Fremont Island is now owned by the State of Utah, after more than 150 years of various private owners.

--All photographs above by Lynn Arave, who has visited Fremont Island four times, once by canoe, once by boat, and twice on foot.