June Newsletter 2010

May’s Event: May 15^th, 2010, a few members of the Sons of Utah Pioneers met at the site of the Gould’s shearing Corral for a reminder of the important history that shaped the economic future of the communities surrounding Hurricane. Victor Hall was our teacher. The late afternoon was nice, warm and wonderful for this experience. Several camp awnings were set up to provide shade and tables wereset up for serving the food. One member even brought rabbit as their portion of the meal. It was rather tasty. He said that he brought that as a reminder of what our forbearers would have eaten.

We learned that the area was named after Sam Gould, who owned the ranch that is now occupied by the Diamond Ranch Academy. Sam was in his 80’s, and was a hearty pioneer. When the Indian uprising began, and members were asked to go to Toquerville and other places for protection, he stayed on his ranch. His wife took their children and went to Parowan where she stayed. Sam continued on the ranch until he got too old to work the ranch. He then went to Parowan where he died just a short time later.

Sheep were brought to Gould’s mostly from Long Valley, and the Arizona Strip. Wayne Edwards said that some of his relatives from Beaver would drive their sheep down to be shorn. There were literally hundreds of thousands of sheep sheared at the corral. In the beginning they used hand shears for clipping, but eventually generators were provided with power shears, and as many as 15 – 20 shearer’s would be working at a time. The remnants of the building that was erected at the time can still be found lying on the ground.

Alice Isom Gubler Stratton remembered these days in these words: “My childhood home was just one

Alice Isom's Home is at the top of the big turn on the left

block from where the old road turned to cross the canal and climb the Hurricane Hill. I took for granted the teams and wagons, the cattle and the sheep that pulverized the dusty road going past our picket fence. Every spring bleating herds of sheep pattered past, moving like a continuous wooly belt around the bend and up the hill. This was as much a part of spring as almond blossoms. I still relish the memories of the sights, sounds and the dusty smell of the many sheep herds that used to pass through Hurricane, although it is all history now.”

Some excerpts from the old “Washington County Weekly News Paper”:

HURRICANE February 23, 1910 – There is some talk of sheepmen of this and Kane County building a shearing corral near Gould’s though just how much foundation there is for the rumor, we are unable to say.

HURRICANE February 28, 1910 – The proposed shearing corral at Gould’s referred to last week is a sure going. Frank Petty of Rockville has delivered several loads of lumber on the ground and Eugene Cripps and others have contracted to furnish the posts, etc. We believe it is the intention to have the corral ready for this spring’s shearing.

Things were not always roses at the corral: Again troubles surface to the new and growing sheep shearing industry. On the front page of the Washington county News, March 27, 1913 appears this headline: SHEEP SHEARING PENS AT GOULDS RANCH BURNT.

The sheep shearing pens at Gould’s Ranch were totally destroyed by fire Tuesday. A phone message to the news from Hurricane says that all evidence obtained, goes to show that the pens had been maliciously fired. An effort is being made to rebuild them at once, so as not to miss this season’s shearing.

The Shearing Corral was good for the economy of the County: HURRICANE May 19, 1913 – Sheep shearing at Gould’s for this season is over. O. A. Robinson, manager of the shearing plant, states that about 110,000 sheep were sheared this spring. The average sheep produces 7 lbs. of wool each clip. This means that our wool haulers received $7,700 for their work. The price of wool this year is the same as last, 13¢ per pound, amounting to over $100,000 for the clip at Gould's. The shearing here means much for Hurricane. The main tide comes in the spring when money is scarce and it furnishes us employment and a good market for all our products.

The Shearing operation was acclaimed as the biggest in the world: HURRICANE May 9, 1916 The Gould's shearing operation achieved a world record in the early years of its operation. While Jim Judd was in England on a mission for the L.D.S. Church (1914 – 1916) a publication came out about the Gould's Shearing Corral. Jim bought the magazine and brought it home. The English report said the Gould's shearing corral ran more sheep through in a season than any other shearing operation in the world. Its increase in production and events that follow were after it was acclaimed # 1 in the world for its output…

HURRICANE March 3, 1931 – The Gould’s Shearing Corral was burned to the ground on the night of March 1^st. This was one of the largest shearing pens in Utah.

April 2, 1931 – WOOL SUPPLIES EXCEED DEMAND. Production in 1931 may be much lower than of 1930. Prices will depend upon recovery from the business depression which has reduced consumption.

The news account of the story of the Gould’s Shearing operation ended with the final burning of the shearing corral.

The Pictures below give you the modern-day view of the area where the original shearing operation took place. It gives you a good view of the area above the Hurricane Valley.

June's Activity: On June 12^th we will go to the Parowan Gap (this is a date change, please take note.) and see one of the world’s best kept petroglyphs sites, known as "Newspaper Roc". This should prove to be an informative and positive experience. You can find out much more about it if you will look for the book “The Parowan Gap” by Garth Norman. It explains a great deal about the interpretations of the petroglyphs. Join us as Robert Heaton takes us through the Iron Mission, then on to the Parowan Gap and to the Little Salt Lake. We will begin this trek in the parking lot of the Zion’s Bank in Hurricane at 9:00 a.m. on the 12^th, and finish with lunch in Parowan. The lunch will be provided, and the cost will be $5.00 for each lunch. Bring your own water. Don’t miss this, it will be a trek to remember!

Help Needed!: At the time of Peach Days, the SUP has always had a booth set up to sell Root Beer, and has done very well with it. We have gotten response from people that we are one of the big reasons they like to come to the fair. The booth takes a great deal of planning and hard work. We have had several capable people chair this over the last several years. We are looking for one of our members who would be willing to take this responsibility on for this year. If you would be interested, please contact either Larry LeBaron 635-2080 or Garth Isom 635-0488. Your help will be greatly appreciated.

Upcoming events:

July 24^th : Early Morning Breakfast Fundraiser

 August 18^th : To be decided

September 3/4^th : Peach Days – Root beer Stand

October 21^st- 23^rd : National Encampment in St. George

November 17^th: To be decided

December 4^th: Christmas Dinner