Wood Cabinet Refinishing

By Emily Sanderson, July 2009

Overview

Refinishing wood cabinets may only require a simple cleaning, but if the last job wasn’t done very well, either hire a professional refinisher or commit yourself to taking the time and attention to get the job done right. You will admire the results for years to come.

Refinishing Restores Beauty

If you have an older wooden cabinet that needs a facelift, a deep cleaning may be all the wood needs to restore its glow, but if it wasn’t done correctly or tastefully the first time, the job will require a full refinish.

In stripping layers of paint off a section of an old wooden cabinet, you discover the wood’s natural beauty, and you reconfirm your decision that the job needs to be done. But unless you are committed to completing the project, outsource it to a professional refinisher. Particularly for bigger projects, you will find that the increased cost of hiring someone to do the job is negligible in the end, particularly if you consider the time commitment and strain on your household.

Do the Research

To do the job yourself, take the time to research all the supplies you select and the techniques you use. You will save time and money by purchasing the sandpaper, seal, and finish that are best suited for your specific project. For example, use the same type of finish, oil-based or water-based, that was used previously on the wood to improve your results.

For a cabinet, disassemble doors, take out drawers, and remove hinges and handles.  If you are working with multiple doors and drawers, number them so that you can reattach them in the right places.

Use two kinds of sandpaper. Use a medium 80-120 grit first to get off the rest of the former varnish and stain after stripping. Then use extra fine 280 to 320 grit to finish the job.  Always go with the grain. Consider using a power sander if your cabinet has lots of large surfaces in order to keep the wood even. However, you will still need to sand by hand all the detailed crevices. Avoid sanding screw holes used to attach hinges and handles.

Once the wood is evenly sanded and smoothed, wipe all the surfaces with a damp cloth to remove excess dust and let dry.

Sealing and Finishing

When sealing and finishing, consider hanging the doors from a clothesline by stringing them up from screws in two places in the wood, preferably where hinges are located. This way the job can be done evenly on both sides of the doors without having to wait for the first side to dry.

Using a soft rag, apply clear de-waxed shellac onto the wood’s surface. This will work as a seal for the wood and provide an even surface for subsequent color treatments you may choose to apply. The trend today is to abandon the use of darker stains in order to display the natural wood’s beauty.

Choose varnish over polyurethane, and apply multiple layers, letting each layer dry in between, until you get the finish you desire.

References

How to Refinish Woodwork, by Keith Pandolfi, This Old House Magazine http://www.thisoldhouse.com/toh/how-to/intro/0,,20263376,00.html

Choose the Right Sandpaper, by Chris Baylor, www.about.com http://woodworking.about.com/od/finishing/p/Sandpaper.htm

What Are Some Good Walking Shoes?

By Emily Sanderson, July 2009

Overview

With the technology and knowledge about feet that we have today, walking shoes continue to get more and more advanced. And the price of a quality shoe has come down, so shoe buyers can select the shoe that not only fits well but also has some flare.

The Advanced Walking Shoe

Owning a good pair of walking shoes is essential to maintaining an effective walking routine, even if you have never experienced any foot problems such as fallen arches, an ankle sprain, tendonitis, tarsal tunnel, or plantar fasciitis.

Today we have healthier feet because of new technologies and expanded knowledge about the anatomy of the foot, which continues to make the anatomy of the walking shoe more advanced. And now such a shoe can also be stylish, as well as competitively priced. The manufacturers’ selection of, for example, sturdy shoe fabrics that are also waterproof allow the feet to breathe and give adequate flexibility and/or support where needed.

Top-Rated Shoes

Walking.org, a British-based website, recently posted their top five walking shoes. The shoes were selected based on value, performance and looks. And the winners are …

1. Merrell Chameleon Wrap Slam Gore-Tex XCR – Teak
The fabric lining, mesh upper and Tex XCR technology offer fast cooling and remove excess moisture from the feet.

2. Salomon Exit Peak – Dark Clay and Autobahn
They’re lightweight, breathable, moisture wicking and water resistant.

3. Brasher Diablo XCR – Nut
The Vibram Planet sole unit provides exceptional grip; also includes Tex XCR technology.

4. Hi-Tec Auckland WP – Brown and Yellow
They include waterproof protection, moisture wicking lining, a great gripping outsole, as well as good looks.

5. New Balance – MO1520GT
The shoe is lightweight but hardwearing. It also sports the Tex XCR technology.

Shape Magazine, a U.S.-based magazine, recently awarded the New Balance 760 as the best overall walking shoe for women because of its shock-absorbing inserts under the heel and forefoot that help prevent fatigue. They also recognized the Reebok Easytone for its outsoles with protruding air-filled pods that may give walkers more “burn” with their routine.

The Right Fit

An excellent walking shoe may be selected based on model, brand or the specific support features that they provide. For example, some shoes are even designed to correct over-pronating or side-to-side heel roll.  Nonetheless, selecting the right size is critical to optimal comfort and performance.

You may have gotten painful blisters and calluses from wearing shoes that are too narrow or too wide for your feet. Not having enough room for your toes at the front of your shoes can also contribute to the growth of bunions and hammertoes. Some stores, such as Nordstrom, allow you to purchase two different sizes of shoes, for those of us with one foot that is longer than the other.

Feet come in all sizes, widths, and arch types, and the more you know about your own feet, the better chance you will be able to find the right shoe for you.

References

Top 5 Walking Shoes, Walking.org, http://www.walking.org/p/top-5-walking-shoes

THIS SHOE’S FOR YOU. By: Shea, Sarah Bowen, Shape, 07445121, Apr2009, Vol. 28, Issue 8

How to Correct Bad Posture

By Emily Sanderson, July 2009

Overview

Proper posture improves your overall health by providing optimal use of your muscles. Simple exercises may be all you need to strengthen shoulder and back muscles which will help to improve your posture.

Proper Posture

Women in India have excellent posture. This is because they wear sarees — long, flowing fabric that can be arranged in a number of ways but is most commonly worn over both shoulders. The saree is anchored over the right shoulder, draped across the bosom, and then flung over the left shoulder. To wear one properly, the shoulders must always be back and the torso must be straight.

Americans don’t have such a widespread technique to master posture today. Those with good posture are traditionally those who ride horses, take a dancing class, do yoga, or play an instrument; however, for most of us video-gaming, cell phone texting and internet surfing folks, posture is something our mothers gave up on enforcing years ago.

What is Good Posture?

Chiropractor Kelly Andrews, an ergonomic specialist, says that good posture involves distributing your body weight evenly to the front, back and sides of the feet while standing.  In the sitting position, align the ears, shoulders and hips in one vertical line.

John Shubbe, also a chiropractor, says that posture is not just cosmetic but important to overall health.  Over time, poor posture can change anatomical characteristics of the spine which can affect the bones in the spine, muscles, nerves, and even the capacity of nearby blood vessels.

Correcting Bad Posture

To improve posture, a number of solutions are available, from corrective braces to exercise programs and from chiropractic visits to martial arts lessons.  Whether your problem is typical or more extensive, addressing your posture now will provide immediate benefits.  Romow.com, an online health directory, suggests three simple steps.

First, do arm and shoulder stretches when sitting hunched over at a computer for long periods of time. Allow your shoulder blades to come together. Stretch your arms behind you and over your head.

Second, place a mirror on your desk so that you are aware of your appearance. If you are aware that you are hunched over, you will be more inclined to correct your stance.

Third, tuck a pillow under your knees and lay flat on your back when you sleep. Your head should not be more than a few inches from your mattress. Raising it too much with pillows can cause the base of the skull to protrude forward.

Posture in the Workplace

If you deal with any type of hand, wrist, arm, elbow, back, or neck pain, an ergonomic keyboard and mousepad which keep the wrists straight can make all the difference when you type at the computer. If you are tall, purchase a monitor riser to prevent the overarching of your neck. Take breaks every 30 minutes to stand, walk, and stretch for at least two minutes. It is the muscles we use for positions that we stay in the longest that we can overextend or inflame over time.

References

Ten Tips for Improving Posture and Ergonomics, by Kelly Andrews, DC, www.spine-health.com.
http://www.spine-health.com/wellness/ergonomics/ten-tips-improving-posture-and-ergonomics

Good posture helps reduce back pain, by John Shubbe, www.spine-health.com.  http://www.spine-health.com/wellness/ergonomics/good-posture-helps-reduce-back-pain

http://www.romow.com/health-blog/correcting-bad-posture-through-small-shifts-in-everyday-living/

Exercise for a Pinched Nerve in Your Neck

By Emily Sanderson, July 2009

Overview

A pinched nerve in your neck is often caused by a trigger point that “refers” pain to another place in your body. Simple exercises will strengthen your neck, shoulder and upper back muscles.

Address the Pain

Rising from bed one morning, you experience a sharp pain in your neck with a burning sensation that flares upwards to your head and down through your shoulder, arm and possibly your wrist and hand.

The pain can level you, and no matter what your obligations that day and possibly the next, you find that extensive rest is your only option. Your doctor takes an x-ray and possibly an MRI, prescribes an anti-inflammatory medication, and then tells you to keep resting.

Although a pinched nerve may be caused by something more serious, such as a disk herniation (slipping out of place) or an arthritic spur, the book Myofascial Pain and Dysfunction: The Trigger Point Manual, suggest that trigger points in the upper back and shoulders are the most common cause of the pain. Strengthening these muscles and the muscles in your neck will help to better support your spine and reduce future injury.

Strengthen Your Back and Neck

Physical therapists and chiropractors employ a number of stretches that can make all the difference. Some will prescribe traction in addition to stretches to alleviate compacted disks. Each injury is slightly different and affects different muscles, but the following are some exercises that you can do at home:

1. Range of Motion Exercise — Lateral Flexion

• Sit in a chair keeping your neck, shoulders and trunk straight.
• Tilt your head slowly to the right shoulder, then to the left, moving to the point of pain.
• Do not rotate your head while tilting or raise your shoulder toward your head.
• Relax and Repeat.

1. Stretching Exercise – Levator Scapulae

• Sit in a chair.
• Place your hands behind your head.
• Gently move your chin to your chest while slowly turning toward the right.
• Hold for 10 seconds, then relax.
• Repeat exercise for your left side.
• Relax and Repeat.

1. Trapezius and levator scapulae muscle strengthening.

• Lie on your back with your knees bent with the soles of your feet on the ground.
• Push your shoulder blades together.  Your neck, although relaxed, should be slightly arched back and the muscles at the top of your shoulders (upper trapezius) should also be relaxed.
• Then release your shoulder blades.
• Relax and Repeat.

Do each of these exercises in sets of 10 according to your ability. Be careful not to push yourself too much at first, as this can result in additional injury. Start slowly and increase the number of sets as you are able. For best results, see a physical therapist or chiropractor who can diagnose your particular neck problem.

References:

www.triggerpointtherapyworkbook.com/neckpain.htm

Myofascial Pain and Dyfunction: The Trigger Point Manual, Part 1, by Doctors Janet Travell and David Simons, 2000

Sportsmed Physical Therapy of Bountiful, Utah

Vincent Physical Therapy, Pasadena, California, http://www.vincentpt.com/

Ephraim adopts $8.6 million budget

By Emily Sanderson — June 24, 2009

EPHRAIM — The 2009-2010 fiscal budget and property tax rate were approved by the city council June 17.

The total 2010 Ephraim City budget approved is $8.6 million.  It will pay for utilities, emergency services, the housing authority, grounds maintenance and special improvements, equipment and building capital projects, the Manti-Ephraim Airport, parks and recreation, the rodeo and the library.

The property tax rate, approved at 0.2148 percent, will generate $316,415, said Richard Anderson, city manager.

“The maximum tax rate cities can charge is 0.7 percent, so we are low in comparison,” Anderson said.

Ephraim receives $855,000 each year from state-generated sales tax revenue.  $340,000 is generated each year from franchise taxes, taxes imposed on city-issued utilities.  The franchise tax must be comparable to that issued by other utilities in the area, such as Questar and CentraCom.

To balance the 2009 budget, the city council approved the movement of $93,230 from the street maintenance fund to pay for overages in the legislative, administrative, general government, police, library and cemetery funds.

Gary Anderson provided a report on the successes of the Scandinavian Heritage Festival last month.  Despite the rain over Memorial Day weekend, the numbers that came out stayed longer, and many events had more numbers than ever before, Anderson said.

“We are starting to get noticed,” he said.

The first Heritage Area Art Show featured at the Central Utah Art Center building was a success.  It was made possible by a $1,000 grant.  The show featured a pot-building activity where, for a small fee, visitors could sculpt pots out of clay and get them fired in a kiln on the spot.

“It has been very popular with families,” Anderson said.

The Fun Rin received 199 registrants, the most ever.

“A pod was there from Davis County, and some local wards have been challenging their members to participate as part of a physical fitness effort,” he said.

The parade on Saturday morning was also well attended and had the largest number of entries ever.

$3,000 was raised by the golf tournament.  Due to a mistake on the calendar, the tournament was scheduled during the festival, but next year the committee plans to schedule the tournament a week in advance.

“Many of the golfers will stay for the festival in the following week.  It often brings 150 people who stay in local hotels,” he said.

About $8,100 was raised through contributions from local businesses, including Zions Bank, Coca-Cola, UAMPS, T&R Sports, Kent’s Market and Pearson Tire.  The funds were used toward the travel council, advertising and the golf tournament.

“Pearson Tire had the most popular gifts for the Fun Run,” Anderson said.

Anderson said the Scandinavian Festival committee plans to expand by sponsoring smaller events throughout the year.

The city council also approved a resolution that supported a zoning decision made at the last city council meeting with a strong recommendation that when it is adopted, an historical overlay be added.

The previous historical zoning designation of the east half of the block between Main Street and 100 East and Center Street and 100 South was never defined.  The city has requested that the Historical Committee determine what zoning requirements such designation will require.

In other matters, Anita Raddatz, who is the new USU Extension director, provided a presentation of the services that her office provides, including tips of cooking, nutrition and emergency preparedness.  Their most popular seminars right now are how to plant and maintain a garden, as well as family finances.  The extension may be reached at 283-7596 or online at www.extension.usu.edu/sanpete.

A Planning and Zoning Committee meeting has been scheduled for Wednesday, June 24.  They will be discussing zoning amendments and flag lots.

Teresa Larsen and Jen Chamberlin were approved as new Library Committee members.

The council approved the replacement of yield signs with stop signs at the corner of 300 North and 400 East.  There have been problems with the traffic flow there because the intersection isn’t lined up.

The purchase of a new line truck for city maintenance was also approved.  The $100,000 vehicle will be paid for with funds in the 2009-2010 fiscal budget and will be supplemented with revenue from the sale of the existing line truck.

Some newly discovered burial records from the Ephraim Pioneer Cemetery have recently been added to the cemetery’s website, which is good news to families who have ancestors buried there, said Bryan Kimball, city planner.

Grand marshalls for the Gunnison Sesquicentennial Fourth of July Parade

By Emily Sanderson — July 1, 2009

MAYFIELD — Lee and Tina Sorensen from Mayfield have been chosen as a Grand Marshal couple for the Gunnison Sesquicentennial Parade July 4.  The couple has been married for seven years.

Tina graduated from Richfield High School where she served as a student body officer.  She has served in various leadership positions in the LDS Church.  Tina participated in many service projects through the Jr. Culture Club.  She taught dance lessons for 25 years.  Tina has retired from Sevier School District after 23 years working in various positions at Ashman Elementary, media specialist at Central Utah Educational Services and librarian at Pahvant Elementary School.

She is the daughter of Anna and Mark Snedeger and was married to the late Nile Nielsen.  She has four children: Kenzie, Kelli, Megan and Jace.  Hobbies she enjoys are reading, sewing, scrapbooking, blogging and quilting.

Lee is a graduate of Gunnison Valley High School.  He has served in various LDS Church positions.  Lee has served in the following organizations: Sanpete County Farm Bureau (president), Cattleman Association (president), the Utah Food Council, Utah Young Farmers and Ranchers (president) and, for 12 years, he has served on the Gunnison Hospital Board.

Lee has been involved in farming and ranching all of his life.  The last 23 years he has been a Farm Bureau Agent.  He was awarded Utah’s Agent of the Year in 1996.  In 2008 he was elected to the Farm Bureau Hall of Fame.  He currently serves on the Board of Directors for the Rural Health Management Board.

Lee is the son of Mary Louise Sorensen and the late Neil Sorensen.  He has six children: Mike, Michelle, Lisa, Shane, Tyler and Mallory.  He enjoys singing, writing and performing cowboy poetry.  He currently performs with a group named the Twelve Mile Trio.

Together Lee and Tina are participating in both the Mayfield Lions Club and the District Lions Club.  They enjoy spending time together, dancing, woodworking, horse riding and playing with their 20 grandchildren.

AXTELL — Leland and Donna Vee Sorenson were selected to represent Axtell as Grand Marshalls in the Gunnison Sesquicentennial Parade July 4.  The couple has been married for 61 years.

Leland has lived in Axtell his whole life except for two years when he served in the Marine Corps during World War II whild stationed in China.  He attended Gunnison Valley High School, and Donna Vee attended Sevier High School.  Leland married Donna when she was just 16 as he returned from the war.  Donna regrets she never finished high school, but she has gained enough life experience to make up for it and then some.

They were sealed in the Provo LDS Temple in 1982.

He and Donna Vee have worked as farmers and ranchers their whole lives.  They retired in 2000.

Leland has been a member of the Grazers Association and has served on three water boards, including the Highland Canal Company, the Gunnison Irrigation Company and the Willow Creek Irrigation Company.  Leland is an avid horseback rider.  Since his retirement, he likes to chop firewood and likes to read stories about the Indians and other histories.

Donna Vee has been mainly a housewife throughout her life, but she worked at a sewing plant for 10 years.  She is an excellent seamstress and used to make and sell quilts out of her home.  She now enjoys reading and sitting on her porch watching wildlife.  She loved it when her grandchildren come to visit.

Donna has served in the LDS Church as a Relief Society president for 20 years and as a Relief Society teacher for five years.  Leland has served in the LDS Church in the ward high priest presidency.

Leland and Donna has one son, Steven Lamar, who lives in Kanosh.  They have five grandchildren and six great-grandchildren.

CENTERFIELD — Dell and Joan Draper moved to Centerfield from the Salt Lake Valley in the early 1980s because of Dell’s job at Western General Dairy, where he drove a milk truck for many years.  He also worked as supervisor of the milk run.  Joan worked for the Moroni Feed turkey plant in Salina.  They are now both retired.

Dell was the mayor of Centerfield from 1990-1994, in which time he was instrumental in getting the sewer line installed, something very controversial at the time.   He did a lot toward community beautification and clean-up.  The city gave awards to residents who had done the most to improve the appearance of their yards, and Dell carved the awards himself out of wood into the shape of cartoon characters.

He was also instrumental in establishing a Founder’s Day celebration for Centerfield which remained strong for six to eight years.  The celebration included a state-sanctioned mud rally, a children’s parade and a community barbecue.  He also painted all the fire hydrants into cartoon characters.  Dell was a strong supporter of community values and sought to address community concerns.

Joan loves to do crafts, including fishing line Christmas trees and beadwork.  Dell loves to do woodwork and play the guitar, and their children also are musically talented.  They are the parents of two boys and a girl, Mike, Kelly and Shirlee, who all live in the Salt Lake Valley today.  When Dell and Joan lived in Salt Lake City, both were active in the Kearns American League for 7- to 12-year-old boys, the ages of their sons at the time.  They also participated in the Boy Scouts for 16 years.

The family enjoys spending time together, and they love to go camping and fishing.  The Drapers are honored to represent Centerfield in the Gunnison parade.

Mexican flag may fly at Heritage Park: Board recommends international flag display

By Emily Sanderson – June 3, 2009

EPHRAIM — At their meeting on May 20, the Ephraim city council talked over flags.

The council reviewed a recommendation by the Ephraim Cemetery Board last week to post a line of flagpoles that would fly international flags at Heritage Park.

The recommendation by the cemetery board was meant to be a compromise with the Hispanic community.  Although the board declined the proposal to fly a Mexican flag at the Ephraim Pioneer Cemetery, it encouraged the city council to consider providing a place for flags representing the national origins of city residents at Heritage Park, according to Beverly Brooks, Cemetery Board chair.

The flagpoles at the cemetery are reserved for Scandinavian nationalities which represent the origins of the pioneers who founded Ephraim in the 1800s, the board determined.

Councilman Terry Lund explained that a new board (perhaps a subcommittee to the Parks Committee) could raise funds for the project and determine which flags would be flown.

But city council members expressed concern that flying the Mexican flag may not accomplish the goal of reaching out to the Hispanic community in Ephraim.

“How does hanging a flag help me reach out to my neighbor?” said Councilman David Warren.  “I would rather see action than token [gestures].”

Councilman David Parrish agreed.  “I am a citizen of the United States of America,” he said, pointing to the United States flag posted in the city council chambers.  “The only flag I care about is that one.  We are placing too much emphasis on a flag other than this one.”

Parrish said he would rather see the “homogenizing” of cultures into one.  “I personally don’t care what ethnicity [someone is].  I just care that they honor our freedoms.”

In a letter to his fellow city council members, Parrish explained that he grew up in the South where he saw the segregation of cultures based on race.

“I remember having different schools, different water fountains and racial slurs being used rather frequently without concern for the person,” he stated.  “I do not believe that we should have any labeling in this country except that I am an American.  I may be an American of African descent or an American of Mexican descent or whatever, but I am an American nonetheless.”

“I am glad that we are honoring those pioneers that worked so hard to settle and tame the wilderness,” Parrish continued in his letter.  “[But] I cannot endorse placing a Mexican flag or any other flag at the north end of Ephraim.  … I love my country and the freedoms that we have.  That freedom allows for discussions such as this to be had.”

Warren supported the idea of a multicultural committee that would “do more than just talk about flags.”

The council determined that additional discussion was needed on the subject and opted to place it on the agenda at is next meeting.

In other matters, Holly Smith of Ephraim requested that the city consider raising taxes to pay for citywide mosquito abatement each summer.

“Ephraim is a great place to live,” she said.  “But when summer comes, I want to leave town because of the mosquitoes.”

Smith said that usually around graduation after the Scandinavian Heritage Festival is when it gets “really bad.”

“I have been bitten already,” she said.

Smith an her neighbors who came to support the cause estimated that the increase to residents’ utility bills would be about $5 more per month for part of the year.

Richard Anderson, city manager, said it costs $22 per mile for an application, or about $700 for a citywide treatment.  An application would need to be repeated every two weeks through the first half of the summer.

In previous years, mosquito abatement in Ephraim has focused on the west side of town where there is more standing water.  They also do perimeter fogging of the insecticide around city parks, Anderson said.

“I am opposed to arbitrarily raising taxes,” said Parrish.  “This is a worthy cause, but there is alwaus something to spend more money on.”

Anderson said he would research the subject and provide more information to the city council at the next meeting.

Municipal recreational boards throughout Sanpete County will meet in Ephraim on June 9 to collaborate on the start and end of seasons for different sports.  Future meeting locations will rotate to different communities around the county.

Also, the city council scheduled a budget meeting from 3-5 p.m. on May 29.

UPHA May 2009 Newsletter

Featured Member: Henson tells of Battalion trek with Google Earth technology

By Emily Sanderson — May 2009

Kevin Henson is a geologist by trade, so his account at a fireside last month of his personal Mormon Battalion was naturally topographical.  His march began in Mt. Pisgah, Iowa, on July 5, 2008, and ended in San Diego, California, on January 29 of this year.

“Trails are linear temples,” Henson says.  “They teach you things you wouldn’t learn any other way.”

Henson collected GPS mapspots on the trail that he has entered into Google Earth, which provides a continuous three-dimensional satellite image of the length of the trail.  Henson then displayed these images on a large screen in a cultural hall at a stake center in Murray, giving attendees a virtual tour of the trek.

Henson has developed a website of the information he has gathered (www.battaliontrek.com), which includes photos and information about significant findings or experiences along the trail.  What began as a scouting project in Michigan, where Henson and his wife Denny presently live, has exploded into an expanded hobby.  And they have gained an interest in trekking and mapping other pioneer trails, as well.

The actual path of the Mormon Battalion march, much of which followed the Santa Fe trail, has not been documented in some parts, but when no additional information was available, Henson was able to help decipher the trail.  He said that original leaders of the Mormon Battalion used point-to-point navigation, often mountain-to-mountain, where they were able to locate the next water source.  Viewing the terrain using this logic, Henson was able to determine the Battalion’s likely path.

Henson also discovered evidence of two additional members of the battalion, brothers Louis and John Cromwell Dent who carved their named in a rock along the trail.  They were the first individuals added to the Battalion roster in 150 years.

Henson took the trek as part of the international Mormon Battalion Association’s re-enactment coordinated by Max Jamison.

The Mormon Battalion was the only religiously based infantry unit in U.S. history and it endured one of the longest infantry marches (2,000 miles) in the history of the world.  They marched in 1846 to prove Mormon’s loyalty to the United States despite the persecution they were experiencing.  The march also provided much-needed income, which paid in great part the Mormon pioneers’ emigration to Utah.

Several of the original infantrymen held rifles with bayonets which stood 10 feet tall when carried, and packs weighing about 45 pounds.

“It was a very impressive scene when the troop of about 500 marched through town,” Henson said.

Henson said the day for the Mormon Battalion often began at the rise of the morning star, which he was able to determine through an online constellation website was at 4:15 a.m. on the day mentioned, probably in an effort to avoid the hot sun.

The trail was very taxing on the infantry.  The soldiers suffered from excessive heat, lack of sufficient food, improper medical treatment, and forced long-distance marches, according to Blaine Nay, a Mormon Battalion enthusiast.

Many who trekked all the way to San Diego across the deserts of New Mexico, Arizona and California lost about 35 percent of their body weight during the six-month period.  Modern doctors would say that such a weight loss would mean certain death, Henson said.

“Their participation in the early development of California by building Fort Moore in Los Angeles, building a courthouse in San Diego, and making bricks and building houses in southern California contributed to the growth of the West,” writes Nay.

Many in the Battalion also helped settle Salt Lake City and assisted emigrants on their journey West.  For example, a number of former Battalion men helped rescue the Martin and Willy Handcart companies, who were assailed by severe winter storms in 1856.

Along the trail, Henson and the re-enactment group last year provided educational seminars to high school groups and others.  The Harvest Festival at Rancho Golondrinas was the location of one such presentation, where they have been invited to return.

Conquering other Mormon historical trails is in the Hensons’ immediate plans, Henson said.

Upcoming Events

May 2009

Here are some events to have on your radar.  For more information about any of these events, check out our website or call (801) 706-1997.

May 30 – UPHA Quarterly Social, 9-10:30 a.m. in Salt Lake City

July 25 – Brigham’s Ball at This is the Place Heritage Park

August 14-15 – International Folklore Festival in West Jordan City