Y students re-create ‘Pioneer Utah’ at state par

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    By MARGA SCHMIE

    BYU students are among the thousands of volunteers whose efforts have helped bring Pioneer Utah to life this summer at This is the Place State Park’s Old Deseret Village.

    Without the help of volunteers, Old Deseret Village — the largest living historic village west of the Mississippi — would not exist, said Kathy Quinton, curator of education for the state park.

    “We have had many huge donations, but without the smaller ones those would be just empty shells,” she said.

    The park features 28 restored or re-created pioneer buildings that are planned to be expanded. In each building, activities such as storytelling, bread making, tatting (lace-making), farming, quilting, gardening and cabinetmaking are displayed and carried out by the pioneers.

    “We are looking for artisans who can help with special events such as fiddlers, craftspeople, dramatic performers and storytellers,” said Annette Tanner, docent volunteer coordinator for the park.

    Docents, or pioneers as they are called, are also needed to volunteer as greeters and tour guides one day a week in the new Visitor Center and the newly refurbished This Is The Place Monument.

    David Gerlach, a junior majoring in mechanical engineering, is one of 17 paid staff at the park who coordinate volunteers. He plans demonstrations and teaches volunteers historical information.

    Gerlach works in the drug store and makes antiseptic out of herbs, turpentine and pine tar.

    “Anything that the pioneers did we do, whether it’s Dutch oven cooking, wood carving, adobe brick making or working in the print shop,” Gerlach said.

    Margaret Robertson, a sophomore from Provo, majoring in history, said she “fell in love with the pioneer heritage after spending a semester studying in Nauvoo, Ill.” By volunteering as a docent she is experiencing history through living the pioneer life, not just learning about it.

    “We live how they lived and learn skills that have been lost today,” Robertson said.

    Eight million dollars were raised from corporations, foundations and family organizations for the 10 buildings that were completed before the reopening of the park. Steve Young was one of the contributors.

    A new Visitor’s Center, which is an authentic replica of the old Sugarhouse factory in Salt Lake City, boasts a mural depicting the pioneers’ trek to the Salt Lake Valley, a small theater and a museum store.

    “The bookstore will appeal to Utah History teachers,” said Paul Smith, executive producer of Desert Vision, an 18-minute movie produced for the Visitor Center. “This will be a greatly expanded opportunity for teachers to come and teach on site. It’s a fabulous resource for teachers.

    “This is not a typical pioneer village; rather, it’s a living museum of important history,” he said. “A social hall, barber shop, bank and dug-out are not typical in a pioneer village.”

    The village even teaches those who work there.

    “I’m appreciating history in a different way and meeting a lot of interesting people,” said Erika Wildy, a team captain who supervises more than 40 volunteers.

    “It’s been quite exciting,” Tanner said, referring to her work with the volunteer project. “It wouldn’t have been put together if it were not for the volunteer efforts.”

    An orientation meeting for those interested in becoming pioneer-docents will be held Wednesday from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. at Old Deseret Village.

    For more information about the orientation meeting or other volunteer opportunities, call Annette Tanner at (801) 584-8391 or (801) 584-8390.

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