Special Report: Richfield Main Street Improvements

Tour of a 100-year old Hydroelectric Power Plant, Serving Ephraim, Utah

A tour of the Ephraim, Utah Hydroelectric Power Plant, still functioning after 100 years of continual use. Long-time manager, Alma Lund, explains how the hydroelectric power plant produces electricity, without any harm to the environment whatsoever.

Pioneer Log Cabin in Ephraim, Utah

A brief tour of a pioneer-era log cabin, with examples of a typical family’s belongings, now located in Ephraim, Utah.

Fish Lake’s History

Fish Lake’s History

March 11, 1889: Fish Lake Water Agreement – Paiute Indian Tribe sold all rights and title to the Fremont Irrigation Company for the right to fish the outlet forever along with 9 horses, 500 lbs. flour, 1 good beef steer, and 1 suit of clothes.

February 10, 1899: The Fish Lake Forest Reserve of 67,840 acres was established by President William McKinley to protect the Fish Lake and Fremont River watersheds. The Fish Lake Basin was the first unit of what would eventually become the Fishlake National Forest.

May 2, 1906: Fillmore Forest Reserve of 399,600 acres established by President Theodore Roosevelt.

February 6, 1907: Glenwood Forest Reserve of 173,896 acres established by president Theodore Roosevelt.

March 4, 1907: The name of National Reserve is changed to National Forest. The Fish Lake Forest Reserve officially became known as the Fishlake National Forest.

1907: Headquarters of the Fishlake National Forest located in Salina, Utah.

June 18, 1908: Beaver and Fillmore Forests combined to form the Fillmore National Forest.

July 1, 1908: Glenwood and Fishlake Forests combined to form the Fishlake National Forest.

Sept. 24, 1923: Fillmore National Forest became part of the Fishlake National Forest with headquarters in Richfield.

1959: Headquarters of the Fishlake National Forest located in Richfield, Utah.

Richfield Reaper, July 16, 1923:

Fishlake ideal place for lovers of outdoors

We read in the Kayesville Reflex published by our friend and former president of the Utah State Press Association W. P. Epperson.

Utah is indeed fortunate in having such a natural resort and outing place as Fishlake. If there is another lake in the Rocky Mountains that can compare with Fishlake, the writer would like to visit it!

Fishlake is located on top of the Wasatch range at an altitude of 8,700 feet near the east boundary line of sevier county and is 223 miles from Kayesville by speedometer. There are good cabin and boarding accommodations at the lake, boats both row and motor guides with fishing tackle and good roads both to the resort and through the district.

Fishlake is properly named and the party of Kayesville and Salt Lake people who spent the Fourth of July there can testify to the fitness of the name.

It was cool in the fine aspen groves that border the lake, it was pleasant fishing or motoring, the sleeping accommodations were good, and the grub the best that Utah could produce, and the cooks who prepare it — the best on earth. And so it was that the party had a grand outing going, while there, and coming home. It might be an improvement in the scheme of things if, after dying and going to heaven, one might spend a few days’ vacation each summer at Fishlake…

Richfield Reaper, September 15, 1921:

FISHLAKE WILL BE STOCKED WITH A MILLION TROUT

What State Fish and Game Commissioner Madsen has to say about it

At the regular weekly commercial club luncheon last Monday the members present enjoyed the company of State Fish and Game Commissioner D. H. Madsen who had come down to Richfield to attend business in connection with the proposed new fish hatchery at Glenwood and took this occasion to discuss with the members not only the new hatchery but also the request made by the Fishlake Sportsmen Club and Commercial Clubs from Salt Lake City down to Panguitch for restocking Fishlake [with] a million fish each year…

The commissioner smiled at the idea that there was danger of stocking the lake and stated that where a hundred summer homes surround the lake and as many boats plied the waters of the lake for fish, and thousands of sportsmen are waiting for some good place to go fishing, there is no possibility of overstocking such such waters. The building of the new hatchery does not mean the abandonment of experiments for hatching fish at the lake, but the inaccessibility of the lake during the winter months would not permit of the operation of a hatchery of two and one half million capacity, such as the Glenwood plant will be. Members present were assured that the Fish and Game Department realized the necessity of furnishing at least a million fish each year for Fishlake and that a special effort bould be made to bring in a supply of both Mackinaw and native trout.

“I will do more for Fishlake than you expect me to do,” concluded Mr. Madsen.

Richfield Reaper, September 29, 1921:

Spectacles Lost Twenty Years are Found at Fish Lake

A Fishlake Story — And Not a Fish Story Either

Exactly twenty years ago this summer, when fishing in Fishlake was auch that you did not use any rods and any bait, but simply took a club to kill the trout you saw near the shore, Mr. and Mrs. G.T. Bean took some visitors to the lake. Mrs. Bean gave her eyeglasses to her husband to take them along so she could do some reading while Mr. Bean was fishing, and Mr. Bean kept them in his vest pocket. Upon arrival Mr. Bean immediately vent to work to catch enough fiah for the meal and clubbed fifteen of them very quickly. In bending down to take the trout out of the water, the specs must have fallen out of his pocket into the lake, for when Mrs. Bean wanted them they were gone. Mr. Bean searchcd for them in the water but his labor was without avail. Byron Hanchet of Annabella, then a young man, now our District Fish and Game Warden, happened to come to the lake and seeing Mr. Bean carefully spying asked him jokingly: “You dont have to look for that way?” and the reply was, “In case you catch a trout with specs on his nose, the glasses belong to my wife.”

Twenty years rolled by, and a few weeks ago, Warden Hanchet went to the lake on official business and looking over the situation near the shore he saw something sticking out of the sand. He reached for it and saw it was a pair of eyeglasses. Remembering the incident of twenty years ago, he took the glasses to Mr. Bean, who recognized them as those he had lost. The spectacles were in perfect condition, too, with the only exception of one lens broken.

Richfield Mystery Restaurant!

Richfield Mystery Restaurant!

Read below, and see if you can guess which local restaurant this was / is…!

March 8, 1919, Richfield Reaper

September 19, 1919, Richfield Reaper

October 8, 1919, Richfield Reaper

From the Richfield Reaper, February 18, 1920:
THE SANITARY CAFEAND CAKE SHOP

In the very near future Richfield will have a first class restaurant. First class not only as to the quality of the meals served but first class also as to decoration and equipment. R. T. Jones, proprietor of the Sanitary Cafe, will move this cafe from the present location to the premises next door south of the Neill Drug Store formerly occupied by Hansen Flour and Feed Store. Mr Jones is building a beautiful new front and putting in new and elegant fixtures. A lunch counter on one and a counter for exclusive bakery products on the other side will be installed in the front, while the back part partitioned off by an artistic arch will be used as a dining room.

Everything will be strictly modern and up to the standard of the name given to the establishment Sanitary Cafe and Cake Shop. The bakery products of Mr Jones will be tfiinnee ecakes and french pastry the bakery will be as neat clean and sanitary as the other rooms and equipped with the latest models of electric stoves under the supervision of the proprietor. The remodeling is being pushed day and night and Mr Jones expects to be ready to welcome his friends and customers in the new cafe about the middle of next week.

July 17, 1920, Richfield Reaper

From the Richfield Reaper, September 11, 1920:
SANITARY BAKE SHOP INSTALLS DAILY BREAD ROUTE

R. T. Jones the enterprising owner and manager of the Sanitary Cafe and Bake Shop just completed arrangements for a daily bread route which will bring fresh bread rolls cakes pastry and other fine bakery products to the doors of his customers every morning.

Mr. Jones installed a new bakery on First North Street one door West of the pool hall and equipped it with brand new and up to date machinery that will enable him to turn out high class goods the oven is of the most modem design built on scientific principles the dough mixer has a capacity of about one thousand loaves a day.

Other fixtures are up to the same standard and there is no doubt Richfield housewives will appreciate it that bakery goods will be delivered to them daily fresh.

The new bakery will specialize in a kind of white bread that will be known under the name “Richfield Maid.”

From the Richfield Reaper, December 9, 1920:
SANITARY CAFE UNDER NEW MANAGEMENT

J.H. Delong of Circleville, originally of Panguitch, purchased the equipment and good will in the Sanitary Cafe from R.T. Jones and since Wednesday morning he is the new manager of this well known restaurant. Mr. Delong has gathered experience in this business in other places and makes satisfied customers his foremost aim.

He intends to make several improvements and to cater to his patrons in a way that will let them forget the good services they had from Mr. Jones so they will be still better pleased under the new management than they were while Mr. Jones conducted the place.

Mrs. Delong will be her husband’s assistant in the kitchen and as she has an excellent reputation for good cooking this department will lie properly taken care of.

Mr Delong’s family will live in the house which has been the residence of Mr. and Mrs. Jones. Mr. Jones will stay in Richfield until Spring and then remove with his family to his newly acquired farming estate in the Delta country.

March 10, 1921, Richfield Reaper

July 21, 1921, Richfield Reaper

December 22, 1921, Richfield Reaper

March 3, 1931, Richfield Reaper

From the Richfield Reaper, April 15, 1937:
IMPROVEMENTS BEING MADE BY RICHFIELD BUSINESS FIRMS

A number of improvements are being made or have been completed recently by Richfield business houses… Glen Beutler has put in large front windows on his Little Wonder Cafe and is making other changes which greatly improve the cafe.

December 21, 1933, Richfield Reaper

Still as “sanitary” and delicious as ever, the Little Wonder Cafe has been a Richfield tradition for over 85 years. Enjoy a meal (and some after-dinner shopping) at the Little Wonder Cafe and Gift Shop today!

“The Company That Values are Building”

Richfield Mystery Store

Some 50 years before business management consultants started telling companies to focus on values and mission statements, this Christensen’s was “The Company That Values are Building.”

Where “Christensen’s – Where every day is cut price day” (1932)

Where “THE CHRISTENSEN’S IDEA IS:

To merchandise efficiently
To serve faithfully
To put the customer first
To be an asset to our community
To be appreciative
To work hard and like it
To develop resources
To believe in the future
To insure our growth by extra values to YOU!” (1932)

In 1933, they said, “For over four years, Christensen’s have made a practice of giving just a little better values than you have expected and so the public has depended more and more upon the Christensen’s stores for their shopping…

“We appreciate your patronage, like you to feel at home in our stores, and will do everything in our power to serve you consistently, honestly, and with “RELIABLE MERCHANDISE, REASONABLY PRICED, COURTEOUSLY PRESENTED — ALWAYS.”

February 22, 1929, Richfield Reaper

September 29, 1932, Richfield Reaper

October 6, 1932, Richfield Reaper

March 16, 1933, Richfield Reaper

May 25, 1933, Richfield Reaper

June 8, 1933, Richfield Reaper

July 20, 1933, Richfield Reaper

September 14, 1933, Richfield Reaper

March 19, 1936, Richfield Reaper

Christensen’s is still “The Company That Values are Building…” Stop by and get the “Newest Coast Fashions” today!

Richfield Pioneer Day 1925

Richfield Pioneer Day 1925

Greatest Celebration of Pioneer Day Ever Held in City Plan of Committee

Every Effort Being Made to Make it Bigger and Better Than Ever to Bestow Honor Upon Utah Pioneers of Richfield Main Object

From July 30, 1925:
UTAH PIONEERS ARE HONORED BY RICHFIELD PEOPLE

Solemn Exercises, Banquet, Free Shows and Dances Mark the Celebration of the Day

The celebration of Pioneer Day in Richfield this year was unanimously declared declared by the pioneers and old folks one of the best, if not the best, ever held here and the general public presses about the same opinion. Thus both the old generation honored and the younger generation doing honor agreeing the verdict stands that it was an outstandingly good celebration and that the Daughters of Pioneers and all committees who worked hard to make it so fine a celebration are deserving of due credit and highest praise…

Vintage Postcards from Richfield

Vintage Postcards from Richfield

“Main Street, Richfield, Utah, looking South”
“PUB. BY RICHFIELD DRUG CO., RICHFIELD, UTAH”

“Greetings from Richfield, Utah”
“RICHFIELD, UTAH”
“Main Street of Richfield, Utah. Largest city in central Utah, Richfield is gateway to many of Utah’s scenic areas. Good hunting and fishing. Located on U.S. 89.”

“MAIN STREET, RICHFIELD, UTAH”
“Richfield is the county seat of Sevier County and center of a dairying, farming and livestock area. The town site was once an old Indian Village.”
“Deseret Book Company, Salt Lake City, Utah”

“Sevier County Court House”

“How Main Street Looked Forty Years Ago” March 24, 1927

From the Richfield Reaper, published March 24, 1927:
“How Main Street Looked Forty Years Ago”

“Somewhere between thirty-five and forty years ago, when our fellow citizen, W.C.B. Orrock, conducted a store of general merchandise on Main street, he took such pride in this establishment of his that he had a photo made, and this old photograph was through the kindness of Mr. Orrock, submitted to The Reaper “just to look at.” We considered it so interesting to the larger part of our readers, old as well as young, that we are showing it herewith in our columns. The older residents will easily recognize it but the younger generation might need a few words of explanation.

“The spire domineering the right hand side is the tower of the old tabernacle which was torn down a few years ago and is now old history, just as the buildings from there south and the unpaved Main street as shown in the picture. Next to the old tabernacle, on the other side of the street, on the spot where now the Peterson Bank building stands, is a small building which at that time housed a book and stationery store, and in the rear is the residence of Christian Poulson. Next to it is the Theo. Brandley Furniture store, and south of it is the meat market, which then was conducted by Reuben Noyes. The center of the picture is occupied by W.C.B. Orrock’s general merchandise store, and perhaps some of our older readers will recongize in one of the ladies standing in front of it, the present Mrs. Chariton Seegmiller, who at that time was a young Miss Orrock. South of the Orrock store is the barber shop with the tonsorial artist of those days, James Edwards, standing in the door, and in the same building to the south is the Edwards millinery store.

“The part of Main street which this picture represents looks different now, and we don’t think that our readers are sorry of it.”

Richfield, Utah – 1993 Satellite Photo

Richfield, Utah – 1993 Satellite Photo

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