Beaver, Utah

"Beaver, our grand ol' Beaver, it is our home sweet home." If you know the rest of that song you are from there or have heard it from family.

Beaver, Utah is my home town. It has grown up some since I officially left in 1988. I am very proud of my town and the people there (98% of them, anyway). I love to go back on Memorial Day and the 24th of July and see people that I see once a year.

The 'B' mountain was pretty much right out my back yard and I love to see it when I go there or pass by. It is an extinct volcano. I remember being told that but still worried it would erupt and trying to think of how to get away if it ever did when I was about 4 or 5. It is a fun little hike up to it. The lower half of the 'B' is reserved for the graduating class to arrange the rock to their year. When I was in school the Jr. and Sr. boys would whitewash the B and set the oil cans to light on graduation night. They haven't done it for years and that is kind of sad. I am big on tradition (nostalgia) and really miss some things when they don't carry on or they change.

Speaking of change...I will just say this now. What the heck is that ugly mad squirrel-looking mascot? It's bad enough they tear down my beloved high school and build an ugly BHS in a new location, but OMG! I saw that mascot at my last class reunion and it looked like a rabid homeless chipmunk! Really, imagine a crazy wino homeless man with wild hair. Now transform that into a giant dark chocolate chipmunk in a blue vest. It looked NOTHING like a beaver! Honestly. The cheerleaders were seeking donations from the alumni. I should have made them swear to get the science teacher to show them a picture of a real beaver. Mr. Condie, where are you?! When I was the mascot, beaver actually looked like a beaver. (You know what? That Jazz Bear has nothing on me- well, okay he can rappel, and do backflips off a trampoline...but can he make a basket while falling off a unicycle? huh? huh? Probably. :D )

Beaver has a McDonald's now, a Wendy's, Arby's, Subway and a bunch of other eating establishments that have come along. People have come and gone...but the ONE thing that I miss so much is my huge yellow brick high school. I believe it was built in 1929 or thereabouts. My uncle Harley Fatheringham was the first student body president. It sat on main street till the late 1990's when it finally met the wrecking ball, which is still on site by the way. The ball broke from the cable, crashed down and ended up in the bottom of the old swimming pool. They filled it in and covered it up. I managed to get a few bricks as momentos. They will be going into my new planter in my front yard!

I found this photo online. They called it the 'old mill' in the photo. I only know it today as the Mansfield Hotel. When I was little, the managers of the Mansfield were Glenna and JD Osborn. They babysat me there. The hotel is the upper portion

The Paice Variety Store, otherwise known as "Alta's" is a Beaver wonder and quite famous. That would be in the North street level window of the mill. I actually heard someone say they came thru town just to visit it...they saw something on the 'Net about it. If you get a chance take the time to visit you should- you'll get a kick out of it. If you can't find it at Alta's, I seriously doubt they make it (or they did 20+ years ago). You may laugh, but that's only because you know just what I mean or you don't really believe me.

Every county boasts of beautiful scenery, but I guess I am biased. Every area is different, but just look at this picture of Mt. Delano. Breath taking in real life, too. That is a fun hike for a day and there is a mailbox w/ a notebook at the top to record your name, the date and anything else you want to put in it. I've been up there 2 or 3 times during my teens.

Famous people: Philo T. Farnsworth was born in Beaver! Don't let those Rigby, Idaho people fool you. He lived there, but he is a Beaverite and a distant cousin...but isn't everyone in a small town?

Entertainment: The movie "The Beaver Trilogy" was based on Dick Griffiths and his impersonation of Olivia Newton John. (I remember seeing him do that in some alumni program or something)

Infamous: Butch Cassidy was born in Beaver County. Charles Manson was arrested in Beaver before his big famous crime. It's a cop thing...had to throw those in there.

OK. Hope you all had a great 4th of July!