![]() ![]() ![]() While many saw the dismantling of the old line a necessary to support the war, others saw it as a disrespectfully destroyed by the "vandal of practicality" according to the Utah Historical Society's 1995 History Blazer.Īnniversary celebrations continued through the decades leading up to the centennial in 1969. Over 200 people gathered for this event and it is well documented in the Utah Historical Society's Department of Heritage and Arts Classified Photographs and the Salt Lake Tribune Negatives digital collections. Opposite of the standard anniversary reenactments, instead of hammering the final spike, the last spike was removed in September, 1942. By September, nearly all of the track had been removed, leaving enough for two engines and the "undriving" of the last spike. Removing the track was an arduous task for the crews with summer heat, brush fires, and rattlesnakes plaguing the effort. Work began in the summer of 1942 to remove the old Promontory line, consisting of 123 miles of track. By the time WWII began, in 1942, this track was targeted for metal donation to the war effort. Built by the Southern Pacific Railway Company (successor to the Central Pacific Railway Company) between 1902-1904, the cutoff included 12 miles of wooden trestles across the Great Salt Lake. With the creation of the Lucin Cutoff, a stretch of 102 miles of railway from Ogden to Lucin, Utah, which shortened the route by 44 miles with reduced curves and grades. Trestle and pole drivers, Lucin Cutoff, Great Salt LakeĪfter the turn of the 20th century, the section of transcontinental railway line through Promontory, Utah was barely in use. A collection of photographs of Promontory Summit, including Golden Spike anniversary events, taken or donated by Bernice Gibbs Anderson, can be viewed in the Utah Department of Heritage and Arts collections. "They bulldozed it down and I can't understand why." From the Utah Department of Heritage and Arts, a photograph of Bernice Gibbs Anderson in front of this windmill, taken in 1936, can be seen. By 1974 the National Park Service had changed their stance about protecting the Golden Spike site, and Gibbs Anderson applauded their efforts, except for the destruction of a large windmill that used to be on the grounds that she claims was built with pegs instead of nails. Since she was a child, starting in 1905, Gibbs Anderson was captivated by cowboy stories about the Chinese and Irish railway laborers, often in deadly clashes with each other, and the completion of the first Transcontinental Railroad with a golden spike. ![]() Truman in 1949, Gibbs Anderson states "since I have worked for the past twenty years trying to publicize this spot, I shall work for the next twenty, if necessary, until something is done about it." In a letter from the National Park Service that same year, NPS Assistant Director Tolson deemed Promontory Summit better suited for the state of Utah to preserve, but Gibbs Anderson persisted her national monument campaign for many years with successful results.įrom Bernice Gibbs Anderson's 1974 oral history, her lifelong interest in the site where the wedding of the rails took place is discussed at length. From reviewing a collection of her letters to public officials, including the President of the United States, various Utah representatives, the Salt Lake City Chamber of Commerce, National Park Service Director, and the President of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, Gibbs Anderson pleads the importance of the site to be preserved by national monument status. Bernice Gibbs Anderson, Honorary Chairman of the Golden Spike Committee, worked tirelessly to establish the Golden Spike National Monument. A script of dialogue for reenactors to speak while recreating the event was written by Marie Thorne Jepson of Daughters of the Pioneers from Brigham City. ![]() It was in the early 1930s, according to Bernice Gibbs Anderson, who was interviewed in 1974 for the Golden Spike Oral History collection, when the Sons and Daughters of the Pioneers led an effort to commemorate the Golden Spike anniversaries on May 10th at Promontory Summit. Bernice Gibbs Anderson, windmill in background, 1963 ![]()
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