On Tuesday, September 26, 2006 the 150th anniversary arrival of the first handcarts into the Valley will be celebrated and reenacted. The SugarHouse Chapter of the SUP is inviting all to come join in and honor those heroic handcart pioneers who pulled their meager belongings in handcarts to this Valley. We will retrace their arrival from This is the Place to Temple Square.
The handcart reenactment will include 100 handcarts, which will be the largest gathering since the 1800’s, five hundred pioneer walkers and horse drawn covered supply wagons. This is the actual number that arrived in 1856. Sign ups begin at 7:30am at This is the Place Heritage Park. There is no charge for this event. Pioneer Band “Firewood” will entertain during signup; pioneer Blacksmiths & Carpenters will be demonstrating their crafts too. Buglers will rally the participants, the Mormon Battalion will provide the flag ceremony and a Choir will sing the National Anthem. No pioneer heritage is necessary, although we would like descendants to take part. You can push your own handcart, help others push theirs or walk to the trails end. Pioneer attire, not authentic is requested.
The handcarts depart at 9:30am with a rest stop at the LDS Historic 10th Ward at 400 S. 800 E. in SLC (approx 11:00am). This is the second gathering point for those not wishing to walk the entire distance; it is only 2.3 miles from the 10th ward to the trails end. At the 10th ward a Children’s Choir will sing the National Anthem. Recording Artist Algie Powers will sing and Brother Brigham (Steve Sorenson) will exit the chapel to greet the new arrivals in the valley and offer his words of wisdom. We will introduce the last 2 living sons of Utah pioneers.
In a grand procession we will depart the 10th ward to the Temple Square Conference Center Plaza. Special Guest Robert Johnson, from St. George, Ut. will carry his American Flag he carried across the plains during the 97 Sesquicentennial wagontrain. Fifty SUP participants will carry American flags announcing our arrival, followed by the re-established “Nauvoo Brass Band” who will play throughout the final part of the trail. Authentic handcart participant Montel Seeley from Castledale, Ut. will lead the handcarters with his authentic replica 1856 handcart. The grand procession of handcarts and pioneer attired participants waving white handkerchiefs will follow to the trails end. Along the route church bells will ring from all churches along the trail announcing the arrival of the handcarters, including the Nauvoo Bell on Temple Square.
A final program on the Plaza area of the Conference Center will include General Authorities to be announced, Elder Marlin K. Jenson, Church Historian recounting events of the original handcarters. A proclamation by the Governor of Utah and Mayor of Salt Lake will be read. Then a final singing of Come, Come Ye Saints and the Handcart Cheer!
What an event this will be……please join us.
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