Deseret Iron Works

The Deseret Iron Works is located at 400 North 100 East in Cedar City, Utah. This site hosts a Pokemon Gym, which is located at the marker, and stands on a grassy area set aside as a Utah Historic Site.










The marker is a large piece of an iron ore body, and bears two plaques. The largest plaque describes the Deseret Iron Works, while the smaller of the two tells about the blast furnace that was located here.











The large plaque reads:
"DESERET IRON WORKS
This monument marks the spot where on September 30, 1852 the first iron was manufactured west of the Mississippi River by the Mormon Iron Missionaries sent here by Brigham Young.
This 5 1/2 ton ore body was obtained from the Iron deposits about seven miles west of Cedar City in the Three Peaks area; it is about 61% Fe. The smaller specimens are some that were actually hauled by horse-drawn vehicles to this site and were found during excavations. The Blast Furnace, Foundry, Pattern Shop, Coke and Charcoal Ovens, Waterwheel and Offices of the early Pioneer Iron Works were located North, South and East of this monument.
The technology of using coke was brought by these early iron workers directly from England where the use of charcoal had been out-lawed and which was a relatively new idea, especially in American iron manufacturing. In spite of floods, which inundated the Iron Works, the undependable water source, and other natural and man-made difficulties, considerable iron was produced here until 1858, making the iron industry one of the leading factors in the economy of the Utah territory.

Dedicated November 11, 1978 (Cedar City's 127th Birthday)"

The smaller plaque declares the site a Utah Historic Site. It reads:
"PIONEER IRON WORKS BLAST FURNACE
To satisfy an urgent need for manufactured iron products, a small group of English, Welsh, Scotch, Irish and American pioneers answered a call from Brigham Young to become 'Iron Missionaries' to settle Iron County and make iron. They arrived in Parowan on January 13, 1851 and produced the first iron west of the Mississippi on September 30, 1852 on this site. Due to economic, social, environmental and technical problems, the Iron Works was closed down in October 1858."

According to the history of the Deseret Iron Works, during the years of 1851 and 1852 survey work began, to be sure that the necessary components were present in the region to begin the iron making process. In 1852, after successfully creating iron in the area, work began on the blast furnace. Their Iron Mission was put on hold, however, after one of many of Utah's Indian Wars broke out. Their efforts were focused on fort building during The Walker War, rather than producing iron. Once a peace treaty was struck with Chief Walkara, iron production resumed. Their success was to be short-lived, as by 1858 the fickle nature of Coal Creek, the main source of power for the iron works, finally drove the operation to shut down.

Here is a sketch of the iron works, which is depicted on the larger plaque.

Here is a map of the iron works.

Chief Walkara

This Pokestop was found in the most unlikely of places. I had pulled off the interstate to take a "pitstop" at the Meadow, Utah exit. (Utah I-15, exit 185) and had to decide between two gas stations. Since I was off the freeway I brought up my Pokemon Go to see if I could rack up some distance while I explored the area. One gas station was the clear winner for restrooms, snacks, and other amenities, but at the other gas station I found this little gem!

The marker reads:
"Chief Walkara
(Chief Walker, Wakarum)
1810 ca. --January 29, 1855
Walkara, Ute Indian chieftain, was one of the principal Indian chiefs when the Mormons first entered this area in 1848. Feared from California to New Mexico, he was a remarkably sly chief, daring horse thief, savage slave trader, furious enemy, admirable friend, and unprincipled lover. He became a war chief unrivaled in his ability to lead his band with cunning, power, and fierceness.
His name refers to yellow buckskin. Nicknamed the "Hawk of the Mountains" and "Napoleon of the Desert" he was an opportunist in the changing of the west. He was more notorious than great, more bandit than chief. Without question, white and Indian alike, he was the West's greatest horse thief, stealing over 1000 horses on one raid alone. His horse stealing adventures are legendary.
The ill-fated "Walker War" began in July 1853 and lasted until May 1854. Every Mormon settlement was transformed into an armed fort. The final cost was upwards of $200,000 and many lives. Peace was concluded after a mile-long peace train under Brigham Young met the aging warrior on Chicken Creek (Levan).
Born on the banks of the Pequinarynoquint (stinking) River in Utah County, Walkara was buried in a seplechre of stone on the rugged eastern hillside above  this little community of Meadow. His grave was located up Dry Canyon, the first canyon north of Corn Creek. On the day of burial two of his squaws and some Piute  children were offered up as sacrifice. Besides his weapons, trinkets, presents, the tow squaws and two girls, a young boy was fastened alive to the pedestal beside Walkara's body. It is presumed the grave was robbed by whites in 1909. It is interesting that another famous chief and brother, Kanosh was buried just a short distance from here.

Plaque presented by Millard Jr. and Sr. High School 1973"

The Walker War was one of a series of "Indian wars" fought in Utah between 1849 and the late 1860's. These wars came about when Mormon settlers began disrupting the hunting and trading of Utah's native peoples. Several uneasy peace treaties were made during this time, but these peace-times were eventually broken by one side or another, resulting in another war. Chief Walkara was the leader of the Timpanogos Utes during the Walker War, and resented the fact that the Mormons were encroaching upon their hunting grounds, and limiting their trade, most notably the slave trade between the Timpanogos and Mexico. There was not one single event that led to the war, but rather a series of events, and each side had their own ideas as to what sparked the fighting. After the war had wound down, and a peace treaty was struck,
Chief Walkara converted to the Mormon faith and took up the name Joseph Walker. This being said, it was reported that his funeral was drastically different from those typical of church members. Walkara was entombed rather than buried, and had several sacrifices made on the day of his entombment. It is recorded that he had women, children and horses killed and entombed with him, as well as a live boy (or two.) Body counts may differ, but all accounts point to sacrificial offerings.
The peace achieved during Walkara's lifetime was short-lived, as more skirmishes broke out in years to come, eventually leading to the Blackhawk War.

For more info on the Walker War click here.
A newspaper article about Walkara can be found here.
Information on his burial is here.
Click here for info on the Black Hawk War.

Cedar City's Old Brickyards

View of Monument from Sidewalk

This Pokestop/historical marker is located in the corner of the CAL Ranch Stores parking lot in Cedar City, Utah. It is on the edge of the lot, nearest the intersection of 800 South and Main Street. The marker was erected in 1990 by the Iron County Historical Society, along with Cedar City Corporation, Melling Masonry, Big D Construction Corporation, and Walmart Stores, Inc. The last contributor is significant because before it was a CAL Ranch, the building housed Walmart.

The monument reads as follows:


"It is believed that the first fired brick in Utah were made in Cedar City in connection with the attempt of the Deseret Iron Company to manufacture Iron in 1852. The blast furnace was located in the vicinity of 400 North and 100 East. Fired brick was made near there for use in the lining of the blast furnace and construction of some brick homes and public buildings.

By the turn of the century, most of the brickmaking operations had been moved to the southern outskirts of the city. These were located here, immediately north, northeast, east and southeast of this monument. They supplied the bricks for homes, commercial and public buildings for Cedar City and some surrounding areas, until well into the 1930's. The Old Administration Building and the Old Main Building on the Southern Utah University campus, several blocks north of here, were constructed from brick made here. It is a memorial to the various brick makers including Bryant, Fretwell, Dutton, Rollo, Jakeman Palmer, and others unrecorded and those who worked for them."

Unfortunately I haven't been able to find any more information available online regarding the Brickyards in Cedar City.

I did, however, find some of the photos used for the monument. They can be accessed through Southern Utah University's Sherratt Library. Below are the links to two of the photos which are hosted on the library's digital archive.

Mud Mill

Brick Kiln

Welcome to My Blog!

Thanks for checking out my blog! The way I figure it, there are lessons to be learned while you are out exploring and hunting for Pokemon. Many of the Pokestops and Pokegyms that you encounter can yield interesting information about your home state, home town, or neighborhood. My blog will explore the information I glean from playing in my area, and I hope that you will make a concerted effort to learn about your neck of the woods as well!