As the 24th of July came and went, I had an unbelievable urge to take my kids to some of the more important places in the lives of their anscestors. My trip happened to have a few abrupt changes but we did the best we could. Hopefully we will beable to finish it at some point. The following post are for journaling purposes so don't feel obligated to read them. A lot of it will have no meaning to anyone but me and some may mean something to a few of you. Again, no obligation!
I grew up in NewCastle, Utah, a small, quaint town tucked along the eastern mountains of the Escalante Valley. I grew up in a family of nine; 3 sisters, 5 brothers, and am the middle child. We lived relatively close to both sets of Grandparents. My siblings and I spent much of our childhood with Grandma and Grandpa Hunt branding, hauling, herding, and checking on their cattle. This took us from Jackson Wash to Cedar Mtn. (Kolob) quite often. We made lots of memories with the Hunt Grandparents and cousins. My Grandpa Platt was killed when my dad was just fifteen so I never had the chance to meet him. My Grandma Platt remarried and was known to us as Grandma Watson (her second husband was killed shortly after they were married) until I was 8. She then remarried and was Grandma G (Gubler) after that. Memories of Grandma include: John Deere riding lawn mower, unbelievable VHS and Beta movie library, the irrigation water that use to run in front of the house, her cool pantry closet, card games, and her ability to FIX everything from plumbing to serious injuries. I remember when I was six or seven my mom got kicked in the face by the horse. My older brother was probably 11 at the time and had to drive her to my Grandma's to get help. I'm not sure how he didn't kill us getting her there but he did and Grandma was able to get her the care she needed. I just recently found out that Mom stayed at Grandma's that night so Grandma could wake her every few hours because the Dr's were worried about a concussion. Anyway, I am very grateful for my heritage and hope I can pass on some of their legacy to my kids. I love that since being married I have a whole new family to add to my pedigree. Their stories are as equally interesting and inspiring!
So here is the begining of our RoadTrip:
PINTO, UTAH
My Dad's family came west with the Martin Willie Handcart Company. They spent little time in Salt Lake before being sent south. They settled in a small town west of Cedar City called Pinto. It is located about 12 miles up the canyon from NewCastle. Here is a portion of the land my Great-Great Grandpa (Benjamin Platt) owned. If you look close enough you can see the rock wall he built to keep his cows in.
A monument where the school house/church once stood. The rock is from the original building.
Matti, Brit, Teegan, Kylan, Kael, Kirby, Kase, Trey, Kylee
This house has no ties to the Platt family but my Great-Grandma Hunt (Emma)
had her 8th birthday party here. A nice home that I always thought was a mansion growing up. It now seems much smaller than I remember!
My Great-Great Grandparents, Benjamin and Mary Platt, built a dugout into this hillside for their home until they were able to build one. In their childrens histories they talk about having to pack water from the canal. I have life so easy!
Growing up we occasionally had ward parties in Pinto. We would always sneak down to the creek and try to catch poly-wogs. Once someone found a water snake and scared me with it. I don't remember to many more trips to the creek after that! I was also left there on one occasion. I was so upset with my mother for leaving me. We always counted off when we got in the car (those of you with a large family know what I mean). I couldn't understand how she could forget me. I am pretty sure one of my smart-elic siblings yelled "5" when it came my turn! She was half way home before she realized I was missing. Perhaps someone started feeling guilty. . . (I am going to go with Rawlin!) . . . and finally confessed!
This picture just shows some of the pastures in the Pinto Valley. The creek runs along the bottom.
Benjamin and Mary raised their family in Pinto and then relocated to NewCastle
with a few of their children.
Doily that Emma always had on her table. Mom and Teresa remember her hanging it on the wall next to the table whenever they ate and then putting it back on the table after the dishes were cleared. It is now hanging on a wall in one of the bedrooms.
This is a banner they used on the float at the 24th of July Parade this year.
Emma's original bed. My mom remembers sleeping at her Grandma's after Grandpa died because she didn't want to be alone.
While growing up on the ranch, my Grandpa and his siblings would come play here on the 'red hill'. My kids thought it looked fun!
Enterprise Reservoir's. This is the Dam at the Lower Reservoir. When we were younger we would walk across it. It is about 2 1/2 feet wide all the way across. Water on one side and a . . . long . . . way. . . down on the other! Amazing story about my Grandpa Hunt: He would saddle a couple horses, loading salt blocks on one, and ride across the Dam to get salt to the cattle on the mountain. I have a hard time walking across it as it is!
Hebron, Utah
My Great-Great Grandma. Her infant daughter is also buried here.
This is the old milking barn that sits behind Rue and Annie's home. 
