Santa Clara Flood 2012 History Perspective

Flooding is not new to Santa Clara. We’ve had them as a part of our history dating back to the first settlers. I’d like to give you a little perspective so you can see and understand the people, the spirit, the courage that exists here in this little town.

 

The first settlers to Santa Clara were missionaries that were called to teach the Native American people of this area. Jacob Hamblin and several other men were called and came here in 1854. They built a fort along the Santa Clara Creek where they stayed in.

 

In November 1861, Brigham Young called several Swiss families to settle in the valley of Santa Clara. They came with mostly nothing. They didn’t even have their own wagons. They were taken to one town. Then the people of that town would take them to the next, until they arrived in Santa Clara from Salt Lake City. They built dugouts in the sides of the hills so they would have somewhere to live. Sophie Staheli was 8 months pregnant and so the Staheli family was one of the only ones that got to live in the fort. On Christmas Day, Sophie delivered a baby girl they named Barbara. She was my great great grandmother.

 

Two weeks after her birth, the Santa Clara creek flooded. It washed out the corners of the fort. Sophie and baby Barbara were rescued from the flood waters before the fort went crashing into the torrent. This poor group of immigrants lost their fort and some food. In the middle of a cold wet winter, they stayed and carried on.

 

They planted crops the following spring. Yet it took years before they really had enough food to live on. Between the insects eating their crops and the lack of water, things were difficult in Santa Clara. They were starving. Several left because of the difficulty and lack of food. Some died because of the lack of food. Many a journal tells of the only food available to eat being “pigweed.”

 

But somehow, someway, those stubborn, hearty pioneers made it and turned this valley into a beautiful, fruitful and plentiful place.

 

I’ve grown up hearing those stories and wondered how in the world that little trickle of water in the creek bed could ever amount to anything that could take out a fort.

 

In 2005, I had my answer. With snow pack and rains pouring heavily on Pine Valley and here in Santa Clara, the waters came crashing through and we saw first hand exactly what the pioneers must have went through. I stood on the hill overlooking the old fort site with my Grandmother. She was 89 at the time. I felt as if I was touching history in both directions. She and I stood there and could finally understand what HER grandmother was in. It was a moment I’ll never forget. Over 27 homes were lost in that flood. I marveled then at the destruction and the resilience of the people in this valley– in Southern Utah. The stories were amazing.

 

Last year (2011), I wrote a song for Swiss Days as a tribute to my pioneer family that was in that first big flood and to those neighbors whose home I watched fall into the rushing waters. I marveled at their strength and faith.

 

As I sat here in the evening of 9/11/12 and pondered another moment in history, I remembered this song that I wrote last year. I’m posting it now as I think it is appropriate to share the message. The people of this valley are strong. They just go to work. No time to sit and mope. Things can only be fixed by getting up and doing. It’s one of the many reasons I love this little valley so much.

 

To all my friends and loved ones who have been hit by the latest destruction:

There is one thing I new as I watched those waters batter Dutchman’s market and head straight for the homes of the families that I knew:  This would not defeat them!  I knew they would roll up their sleeves and go to work.  I knew hundreds would join them.  I knew that with the mess and the discouragement and the sadness, there would be help, hope, and happiness.  I knew there would be laughter amid the strife, humor amongst the piles of rubble.

I have not been disappointed.  People have arrived.  Help and Love have been shown.  Tender mercies and joys among the mud and the muck.  The spirit of Santa Clara is alive and well.  The spirit of Southern Utah is overwhelming and powerful.  There is no greater place to live than right here.