Pioneer Museum offers view into Mormon past as temple tour bonus
Early sacraments sets on display at the Daughters of Utah Pioneers Museum in Ogden on Thursday
By RACHEL J. TROTTER
Standard-Examiner correspondent
OGDEN – Those wanting a glimpse into the past of pioneer life and early days in Ogden need look no further than their own backyard with the Daughters of the Utah Pioneers Museum in downtown Ogden on the corner of 21st and Lincoln. People can get a look at a pair of Brigham Young’s old boots and cane, plates from the Nauvoo temple dedication, hand-sewn pioneer clothes and even an old, petrified biscuit that came across the plains.
It’s been just under a year since their new site and completely renovated building was re-opened and the museum curator and the many docents, all members of the Daughters of the Utah Pioneers, are gearing up for what they hope with be a busy couple of months with the Ogden Temple rededication.
Kay Schooler, museum board president walked around the museum with a pointer stick on a recent day, showing the many artifacts the museum has collected over the years. The building itself was dedicated for the LDS Church Relief Society in 1902. Schooler thinks that sometime in the 1930s the building changed hands and became property of the Daughters of the Utah Pioneers. During World War II the Red Cross took over the property and used it as a daycare because so many women went to work. After the war, the property was turned back over to the DUP and it has remained in its hands since that time.
Schooler said that years ago the LDS Church wanted to buy the deed for the property – the building was then located on the temple block at 22nd and Lincoln – but the DUP told them no. Then, the building started falling apart. “We didn’t have the funds to update it and the church offered to move it and update it because they wanted that space for the parking,” Schooler said.
“We took them up on it,” Schooler said with a big smile. The church moved the building the block and half away and it went very slowly, Schooler said – about 2 miles per hour.
The church also paid for all the items to be in storage for a year. Schooler said it was a rewarding process to watch the renovation. The museum board met with the contractors and LDS Church about every three weeks during that time to make sure everything was just how it should be – and it has turned out that way, right down to restored Amish windows.
Schooler said that patrons can have a close look at what pioneer life was like at the museum with a large section dedicated specifically to the pioneer journey with a genuine handcart that came across the plains as well as a replica of a wagon box with Martin Harris’ oxen yoke attached.
There is also a replica of a kitchen, bedroom, and a parlor. The main floor of the museum only has items from 1869 and older, but the basement has newer items, said museum curator Trudy Iverson. There are also many items of some of Weber County’s first settlers, along with pictures and many stories. People can see an abundance of items from the Farr family and the Bingham families – some of the original settlers of the area.
Iverson said she gets many calls from area residents with items to donate to the museum. She loves seeing all the artifacts that people have and have donated over the years. To be a member of the DUP, women must have ancestors who traveled across the plains before 1869. Iverson said they can apply but must give a brief history and show their family history line. She said there are about 800 DUP members in the Weber County area.
Schooler said the women are organized into companies and camps, just like the pioneers were when they made their trek. All the women have stories to tell of their ancestors and why they have a personal connection to the Ogden museum. For Schooler, it is about her ancestors who came across on the fated Martin/Willey handcart trek where so many died from the elements because of poor timing of their trek. “I want to honor them for all they did. Plus I love to quilt and we have so many beautiful quilts here,” Schooler said as she motioned to the large quilts showcased under glass.
There are also pioneer bonnets, aprons, and some children’s pioneer games for sale that members of the DUP have made and donated. “We get all our funds through grants and the sale of these things,” Schooler said.
“For a long time we have felt like we are the best-kept secret around,” Iverson said of the museum and the thousands of artifacts contained within its walls. The museum is open Monday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. all summer, but the ladies plan to keep the museum open through the temple open house dates, rather than close at the end of summer. “It is an exciting time to come and visit,” Iverson said. For more information on the museum check the museum’s Facebook page at Weber County Pioneer Museum.
related photo gallery (online)
Daisha Boyett looks at a sewing machine at the Daughters of Utah Pioneers Museum in Ogden on Thursday, July 17, 2014. (BENJAMIN ZACK/Standard-Examiner)
Early sacraments sets on display at the Daughters of Utah Pioneers Museum in Ogden on Thursday, July 17, 2014. (BENJAMIN ZACK/Standard-Examiner)
Artifacts from Ogden's tabernacle on display at the Daughters of Utah Pioneers Museum in Ogden on Thursday, July 17, 2014. (BENJAMIN ZACK/Standard-Examiner)
An early missionary suit on display at the Daughters of Utah Pioneers Museum in Ogden on Thursday, July 17, 2014. (BENJAMIN ZACK/Standard-Examiner)
Brigham Young's boots on display at the Daughters of Utah Pioneers Museum in Ogden on Thursday, July 17, 2014. (BENJAMIN ZACK/Standard-Examiner)
The Daughters of Utah Pioneers Museum in Ogden. (BENJAMIN ZACK/Standard-Examiner)
Historic photos on display at the Daughters of Utah Pioneers Museum in Ogden on Thursday, July 17, 2014. (BENJAMIN ZACK/Standard-Examiner)
Ruth Rees, right, a volunteer at the Daughters of Utah Pioneers Museum in Ogden, shows Daisha Boyett the pottery display at the museum on Thursday, July 17, 2014. (BENJAMIN ZACK/Standard-Examiner)
A 164-year-old biscuit on display at the Daughters of Utah Pioneers Museum in Ogden on Thursday, July 17, 2014. (BENJAMIN ZACK/Standard-Examiner)
Belongings from Ogden's first police on display at the Daughters of Utah Pioneers Museum in Ogden on Thursday, July 17, 2014. (BENJAMIN ZACK/Standard-Examiner)
Taxidermy display at the Daughters of Utah Pioneers Museum in Ogden on Thursday, July 17, 2014. (BENJAMIN ZACK/Standard-Examiner)
Historic photos on display at the Daughters of Utah Pioneers Museum in Ogden on Thursday, July 17, 2014. (BENJAMIN ZACK/Standard-Examiner)
A historic handcart on display at the Daughters of Utah Pioneers Museum in Ogden on Thursday, July 17, 2014. (BENJAMIN ZACK/Standard-Examiner)
The main floor of the Daughters of Utah Pioneers Museum in Ogden on Thursday, July 17, 2014. (BENJAMIN ZACK/Standard-Examiner)
Artificial flowers made from feathers on display at the Daughters of Utah Pioneers Museum in Ogden on Thursday, July 17, 2014. (BENJAMIN ZACK/Standard-Examiner)
Ruth Rees, right, a volunteer at the Daughters of Utah Pioneers Museum in Ogden, shows Daisha Boyett a 164 year old biscuit at the museum on Thursday, July 17, 2014. (BENJAMIN ZACK/Standard-Examiner)
A pioneer dress on display at the Daughters of Utah Pioneers Museum in Ogden on Thursday, July 17, 2014. (BENJAMIN ZACK/Standard-Examiner)
Ruth Rees, right, a volunteer at the Daughters of Utah Pioneers Museum in Ogden, shows Daisha Boyett how to use an antique rolling pin at the museum on Thursday, July 17, 2014. (BENJAMIN ZACK/Standard-Examiner)
Note: I was the first to comment online. I wrote:
Interesting article and great photos. I think it is an upgrade from how the museum was before. People will be pleasantly surprised when they visit.
