ST. GEORGE – Civic leaders and members of the Seegmiller family gathered in Little Valley Friday for a ribbon-cutting marking the official opening of the Hela Seegmiller Historic Farm.
“It’s exciting,” St. George Mayor Jon Pike said. “Today, after many years of waiting and planning, saving and developing the vision … It finally comes together in this historic farm.”
The vision of the farm is to show how life was in Washington County over a century ago and what is was like to farm here as well, the mayor said.
To this end, recreations of period farm buildings have been built along with a barn-like complex that will serve as a central gathering area at the farm. Period farming implements have also been donated to the site by original pioneer families like the Seegmillers, Jennings, Gardners and others to aid in the historic look of the place.
A mix of farm animals like goats and chickens also roam the farm while being tended to by folks in pioneer dress.
“It’s to give people a glimpse of what things were like, and still are like in parts of our city and the county,” Pike said. “It’s really nice to see it finished. I think it’s great. This is our history. This is where we came from.”
The 30-plus acres were donated to the city by the Seegmillers in 1999. The project has taken a long time to reach completion, and even then, it may not be wholly completed, Pike said. There may still be bits and pieces added to the historic farm here and there as time passes.
According to historic documents, Hela Seegmiller was born in St. Joseph, Nevada, on Jan. 7, 1871, and then moved to St. George, where he raised his family and farmed until he passed away on Nov. 29, 1939.
“This is a great occasion for us,” said Donalyn Sessions, a granddaughter of Hela Seegmiller. “We’ve been watching this come to fruition and it’s been so rewarding for us to stop by and bring our grandkids and say, ‘This is grandpa’s farm!’”
While the official opening happened Friday, the farm has been open to the public since 2015. Weddings, along with other gatherings, have already been held at the historic farm.
The Hela Seegmiller Historic Farm is located at 2450 S. 3000 East in the Little Valley area of St. George.
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City officials and members of the Seegmiller family about to cut the ribbon signifying the completion and official opening of the Hela Seegmiller Historic Farm in Little Valley, St. George, Utah, Nov. 18, 2016 | Photo by Sheldon Demke, St. George News
Period-dressed staff at the Hela Seegmiller Historic Farm in Little Valley. St. George, Utah, Nov. 18, 2016 | Photo by Sheldon Demke, St. George News
At the ribbon cutting for the Hela Seegmiller Historic Farm in Little Valley. St. George, Utah, Nov. 18, 2016 | Photo by Sheldon Demke, St. George News
At the ribbon cutting for the Hela Seegmiller Historic Farm in Little Valley. St. George, Utah, Nov. 18, 2016 | Photo by Sheldon Demke, St. George News
L-R: Corri Theobald, Sally Brown, Donalyn Sessions, Mary Ann Batt, at the official opening of the Hela Seegmiller Historic Farm. Each are related to the farm’s namesake and participated in the ribbon cutting that signified the historic farm’s opening, St. George, Utah, Nov. 18, 2016 | Photo by Sheldon Demke, St. George News
At the Hela Seegmiller Historic Farm in Little Valley. St. George, Utah, Nov. 18, 2016 | Photo by Sheldon Demke, St. George News
Members of the Seegmiller family who attending the official opening of the Hela Seegmiller Historic Farm. Each are related to the farm’s namesake and participated in the ribbon cutting that signified the historic farm’s opening, St. George, Utah, Nov. 18, 2016 | Photo by Sheldon Demke, St. George News
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I’m glad to see this project completed and I think it’s another positive project for the city and the citizens of the community. but as in all good things go I’m sure the hate mongers will have something negative to say as usual
Looks like Dumpster is stuck on the words “hate mongers”. Silly little simpleton, he is such a creature of habit.