The American West. The term conjures up images of a lone cowboy staring into a vast expanse of desert solitude. But what about the women and children? What about the towns and settlements in between the mountains? At the American West Heritage Center in Wellsville you can experience the full range of western pioneer life. On one side of the park is a field showcasing a … [Read more...]
Sugar House Prison Farm
At the base of the Sugar House Monument sits a bronze statue of a woman, said to represent the fertility of the Salt Lake Valley. Local lore says the figure denotes agriculture, while the male figure on the other side signifies industry. Both enterprises were successful in pioneer-era Sugar House, and surprisingly, most evident at the Utah Territorial Penitentiary. Brigham … [Read more...]
Fisher Brewing Company Part II
In previous issues of “How Beer Saved Utah” we have focused on the Salt Lake Brewing Company and the Becker Brewing Company in Ogden. For the purpose of this issue we examine the Fisher Brewing Company, which was Utah’s oldest and longest-lasting brewery. Fisher was the only brewery to survive and reopen after prohibition. And to the best of our knowledge, it was the only name … [Read more...]
Fisher Brewing Company Part I
The history of Utah’s largest, longest lasting brewery. The Mormon pioneers drank beer, and whiskey. Brigham Young had his own distillery that produced a hard, harsh liquid called Valley Tan which, according to Mark Twain was “their version of hellfire and brimstone.” It wasn’t until years after the Joseph Smith’s death that the Word of Wisdom— initially established not as … [Read more...]