Leo's grandchildren were having a party for
him to celebrate his 90th birthday. The party
would be on Saturday, May 19, 2012. We
planned to go. When we told Rhonda about it,
she said she would love to go to Panaca and
would welcome the opportunity to wish her
Uncle Leo a Happy Birthday. She said she
would drive us.
Craig had been planning a trip here at that time.
When we told him we would be going to Panaca
for Leo's birthday and that Rhonda was going, he
said he would love to bring Tracy to Panaca. It
sounded like fun and we thought Paul should
know. He said he wanted to come but that since
it was graduation at the high school where she
is office manager, Joanne wouldn't be able to
come.. Planning and preparing for the graduation
exercises each year, is part of her job. He said he
would bring Ethan as his traveling companion.
Ethan loves to go on trips with his Grandpa,
especially if it involves the river or Cedar City,
Utah.
At that time, we were under the impression that
Leo's birthday party was for family and friends.
We found out at the last minute that it wasn't.
That would change our plans some but everyone
still wanted to come. Due to the size of Leo's
extended family, his family had decided the party
would be limited to Leo's children, grand
children, great grandchildren, siblings, first cousins,
neighbors, close friends, and some of Panaca's long
time residents. The party would be at Leo and
Kathy's home. It had been built in 1896 by my
grandfather, Nephi John Wadsworth for his wife,
Eliza Jane Terry Wadsworth. I have special
memories of it as my family lived there from the
time I was two years old until I entered 5th grade.
This stately old home is affectionately known as
"The Castle" to family and long time Panaca
residents.
We drove to Panaca on Friday, May 18th. Craig
and Tracy flew into Salt Lake City, rented a car
and also drove to Panaca on the 18th. Paul and
Ethan were at Justin's home in Cedar City and
the three of them planned to drive to Panaca early
Saturday morning. George, Muggles, and I were
staying at Pete and Delores' and Craig, Tracy,
and Rhonda, were staying at The Bed And Breakfast
which has recently opened in one of Panaca's older,
historic homes.
Saturday morning, we had a wonderful time showing
Tracy Craig's heritage and all things Panaca. We took
her on a tour of the town and showed her all of the
sites and landmarks my father grew up with, then
my siblings and I, then our children's generation
and on to our grandchildren and great grandchildren's
generation. That is what is so wonderful about this
beautiful little town, the continuity and all of the
amazing things children have enjoyed since Panaca
was first settled.
We showed her the little house where I grew up,
empty for years and falling into disrepair, but we
will never forget the love and laughter that filled
that humble little home. We went to the cemetery
to introduce Tracy to Craig's ancestors; my parents,
James Allen and Lois Stewart Wadsworth who are
his beloved Granny and Granddad, his great
grandparents, Nephi John and Eliza Jane Terry
Wadsworth, and his great great grandfather,
George A. Wadsworth, who was one of the town's
founding fathers, and many others. We showed her
where George and I will someday be buried next to
my parents.
We showed her the Court Rock and as we looked at
it, lamented that it sure is "a lot smaller than it was"
when we were children climbing it.
We went to The Spring. It was beautiful. It had just
been drained and cleaned. Rhonda commented that
it looked more pristine than she had seen it look for
years. From there, we went to Cathedral Gorge, one
of Nevada's State Parks. We were there for at least
two hours. Tracy was impressed by it. And why
wouldn't she be, it is an amazing place. They
improve it each year. It now has camping sites available,
graphics and marked trails, two lovely covered Ramadas
with tables, fire pits and grills. They have updated the
restroom facilities. We explored the caves, climbed,
and hiked some of the trails. Many pictures were taken.
Paul, Justin, and Ethan had brought their remote controlled
NASCAR replica cars and they all had a blast racing them
around the parking lot, over bumps and little hills, and into
crevices. At age four, Ethan is a master at racing his car
and can give Paul and Justin a run for their money. I loved
watching him and his Uncle Justin who were dressed
in matching shirts and hats, standing together with controls
in their hands. Tracy was addicted and laughed every
minute she was racing. Rhonda became quite the daring
driver.
The best part of the morning was being able to spend
some time in The Panaca Heritage Center. It was not
open but Pete had a key and we were privileged to have
time alone in this wonderful little building. I have
written a lot in my history, and on by blog, about the
N. J. Wadsworth and Son's General Mercantile Store.
This little store was established around 1864 by my
father's uncle and namesake, James Allen Wadsworth.
He owned and operated it until he died at age 38.
At that time, ownership and operating was passed to his
brother, who is my grandfather, Nephi John Wadsworth.
As a young man, husband, and father, the responsibility
for operating it eventually became my father's. He and
my mother did this for over 20 years, until it was closed
forever.
This was in addition to my father's other life's work;
ranching, farming, teaching school, politics, serving
two terms as a Nevada State Senator, and many other
positions of note in the county and state.
In addition to Leo's birthday, this trip was serving another
purpose. Several years ago, the store was listed as a
historical building by the Nevada Historical Society.
It became the Panaca Heritage Center and was opened
as a tribute to honor the Mormon Pioneers who settled
Panaca, and Panaca's other long time residents. It housed
pictures of early Panaca, the pioneers, and their progeny.
It also housed artifacts from their homes and businesses.
James and Lois's children had not yet furnished a tribute to
our parents. The only picture of them on display was their
original wedding picture which came via my deceased
sister Martha's son, Kirk, assisted by Lisa Horlacher,
Delores' daughter. This was a a terrible breach
considering they had been the sole proprietors of the
store for so many years. There was only Leo,
Delores and I left to do this and I was afraid we
would die without it being done. Rhonda and I had
been planning a collage to be made from pictures I
had, with a short synopsis of some important mile-
stones in their lives. Rhonda bought a frame which
fit the decor, George copied and sized pictures, and
I wrote the little histories and Rhonda and I arranged
them and the pictures in the frame. It looked
wonderful when it was finished. My cousin, Linda
O'Connor Lee, who is the curator in charge of
submissions, promised us it would be on display for
Panaca's famous Pioneer Day 24th of July celebration.
We didn't get to see it hung, but I have heard that it
looks great. I am so thankful we were able to do this
for my wonderful parents who were so much a part
of Panaca, Lincoln County, the state of Nevada and
this little store we all love so much.
There are so many wonderful artifacts on exhibit,
including two of Leo's saddles, one a child's saddle
from when he was just a little tyke, and the other
from his cowboy, mustang, and range riding days.
Paul, Rhonda, and Craig, were especially touched
to see one of Mother's kitchen cabinets on display
along with artifacts from her kitchen and home.
I think Tracy was impressed with this part of Craig's
heritage.
Before Paul, Justin, and Ethan returned to Cedar City,
we spent time in Pete and Delores's beautiful backyard
which is a child's dream playground. Ethan loved
riding the zip line, swinging in the tire swing, and
climbing on the jungle gym. The adults enjoyed the
shade and we all enjoyed Pete's antique tractor
collection. What little boy does not love sitting on
a tractor.
Leo's party was very nice. I had first cousins there
from the St. George area whom I had not seen for
most of my adult life. It was as if we had always
been in touch. These three men are the children of my
father's youngest brother, Gene. They are so nice and
quite entertaining. My oldest living cousin, Helen
Wadsworth O'Connor, the daughter of my father's
brother Lafe, was there. It was fun to see a few of
Panaca's older residents who I had been so close to
when I was growing up. Several of Leo's neighbors
were children I baby sat all of those years ago.
Leo's daughter Felicia, son Vick, and his grandchildren,
did a wonderful job planning and hosting his party. It
was a special time.
On his way back to Cedar City, Paul stopped by to wish
Leo a Happy Birthday. While we were at the party,
Rhonda, Craig, and Tracy, went to Pioche to tour the
town and explore the surrounding hills and old mines.
They took some fascinating pictures.
Later that evening, we went to Leo and Kathy's so they
could wish him a Happy Birthday. We enjoyed some
fun time listening to Leo tell many of his famous stories.
I need to mention that George made Leo a hand tooled
leather clock with chimes, using a picture from the
cover of the first edition published of Zane Grey's novel,
Nevada, a favorite of both Leo and I. It is truly a work
of art. They love it.
Sunday, we hung out at Pete and Delores' until Craig and
Tracy left. On the way back to Salt Lake City, they stopped
at Justin's for awhile, played with the cars and ate. Craig
also showed Tracy the surrounding areas and they toured
Bryce Canyon State Park.
Rhonda Pete, Delores, George and I ate dinner and then sat
outside to watch the Turkey Vultures come in. We had been
doing this each evening. This was one of George's favorite
things about the trip. He was besotted with them. I guess all
of the vulture facts I have learned from my 21 years as a
Phoenix Zoo Volunteer and have been telling them, have
made an impression. I love to talk to the people, young
and old, who visit the zoo about this beautiful world our
Father In Heaven has created for us and the amazing
animals who share it with us. One of my favorite animals
to talk about is the vultures. People seem to be fascinated
with them. The Phoenix zoo is home to both Old World and
New World Vultures, 6 species in all. The vulture in this
story is a New World Vulture, the Turkey Vulture, also
known as the Turkey Buzzard. This is the vulture featured
at Halloween and the one featured in cartoons and horror
movies. I think they have given him a bum rap. He is
actually a very good guy.
Across the street from Pete and Delores' home there is a
grove of old and large Elm trees. For several years the
Turkey Vultures have been coming to Panaca in the Spring.
They roost in that grove of trees and remain in Panaca until
late summer.
Every morning, as the sun rises, you can hear them
calling to each other as they wake up and then one by one,
they soar into the sky to start their day's work of cleaning up
the environment to keep it pristine and free from disease.
They work the areas around Panaca, Pioche, and Caliente
and venture as far as Alamo in one direction and almost to
Cedar City, Utah, in another direction.
In the evening they begin to come in. They arrive alone
most often but some times in twos and threes. In flight,
this homely bird is beautiful. They will soar for long
periods of time without one flap of their wings. As
they come in, they circle lower and lower until they
finally, gracefully and without making a sound,
drop into the trees. As the sun sinks lower and they find
themselves flying into it, they fly in lower and make just
one or two circles before landing. It is a remarkable
experience to watch them. One evening as we sat and
watched them come in, we counted 128 of them. They
are amazing. They are nature's "Cleaner Uppers" and
we owe them a great debt.
We were also able to view the eclipse while in Panaca.
Pete had several miner's helmets which made watching it
very exciting. Wayne and Mary and their youngest son
(why can't I remember his name) drove to Panaca to
watch the eclipse with their parents and grandparents.
It was good to see them.
We left early Monday morning to come home. It was
a wonderful trip.
The little histories I wrote about Mom and Dad for their
tribute picture collage, and pictures from the trip, follow
in the next two posts.
