Swiss Days, Santa Clara, Utah, Sept. 28, 2013 | Photo by Jeremy Crawford, St. George News
SANTA CLARA – Since 1990, the people of Santa Clara have held Swiss Days annually in commemoration of the the city’s heritage. This year, the weeklong festival included dedications, dinners, walks, entertainment, exhibits and festivities all centered around the theme “Flood, Mud and Helping Hands.”
Santa Clara was settled by Swiss Pioneers in 1861 and many of those families extend today. Its history of coming together in the face of adversity added a chapter over the past year when areas of the city were flooded due to the dike breaching at Laub Pond Dam on September 11, 2012, damaging homes and businesses. People came together, neighbor helped neighbor, there was rebuilding and restoration. But neither last year’s flood nor the flood of 2005 before it in recent past were novel to Santa Clara. Water and drought and a long-suffering community are woven through the city’s history and retold from generation to generation.
Santa Clara resident Denise Laswell Webster said:
My ancestors settled the area, so we’ve been around here since 1861. My great grandmother, Barbara Staheli Graf, was the first baby born to the Swiss Settlers in Santa Clara on Dec. 25, 1861. She and her mother were rescued by Jacob Hamblin from the flood. We never could understand how a flood could wash away the fort until 2005 when we saw it firsthand. I felt I touched history that day.
For our family, this little valley means everything. It is a blossom in the desert carved from hard work, thrift, and a cheerful disposition. They struggled so much in those first days in the hot sweltering sun with crops dying. But it didn’t take long for them to create a beautiful little valley, free from debt and self-sustaining. The people here today still show that same faith, integrity and work ethic. It’s a blessing to be from Santa Clara!
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Swiss heritage, American citizens, flags. Swiss Days, Santa Clara, Utah, Sept. 28, 2013 | Photo by Jeremy Crawford, St. George News
Sign-bearers queuing for the parade, recognizing character in Santa Clara. Swiss Days Parade, Santa Clara, Utah, Sept. 28, 2013 | Photo by Jeremy Crawford, St. George News
Snow Canyon High School Marching Band, Swiss Days Parade, Santa Clara, Utah, Sept. 28, 2013 | Photo by Jeremy Crawford, St. George News
Swiss village on wheels. Swiss Days Parade, Santa Clara, Utah, Sept. 28, 2013 | Photo by Jeremy Crawford, St. George News
George Staheli Memorial Oompah Band, so named the band said, after George Staheli who settled in Santa Clara and was a great trumpet player. Swiss Days Parade, Santa Clara, Utah, Sept. 28, 2013 | Photo by Jeremy Crawford, St. George News
Royalty, Swiss Days Parade, Santa Clara, Utah, Sept. 28, 2013 | Photo by Jeremy Crawford, St. George News
"Loud booms" in the Swiss Days Parade. Swiss Days, Santa Clara, Utah, Sept. 28, 2013 | Photo by Jeremy Crawford, St. George News
Snow Canyon High School marching band, Swiss Days parade, Santa Clara, Utah, Sept. 28, 2013 | Photo by Jeremy Crawford, St. George News
Native American neighbors. Swiss Days, Santa Clara, Utah, Sept. 28, 2013 | Photo by Jeremy Crawford, St. George News
Cottonwood Kids at the Swiss Days Parade, Santa Clara, Utah, Sept. 28, 2013 | Photo by Jeremy Crawford, St. George News
Santa Clara's Finest. Swiss Days Parade, Santa Clara, Utah, Sept. 28, 2013 | Photo by Jeremy Crawford, St. George News
"John Deere" tractors a train of kids. Swiss Days, Santa Clara, Utah, Sept. 28, 2013 | Photo by Jeremy Crawford, St. George News
Princesses at Swiss Days Parade, Santa Clara, Utah, Sept. 28, 2013 | Photo by Jeremy Crawford, St. George News
Trappers at Swiss Days Parade, Santa Clara, Utah, Sept. 28, 2013 | Photo by Jeremy Crawford, St. George News
Miss Rodeo Iron County joins the Swiss Days Parade, Santa Clara, Utah, Sept. 28, 2013 | Photo by Jeremy Crawford, St. George News
Snow Canyon High School Cheerleaders, Swiss Days Parade, Santa Clara, Utah, Sept. 28, 2013 | Photo by Jeremy Crawford, St. George News
Smokey the Bear, Swiss Days Parade, Santa Clara, Utah, Sept. 28, 2013 | Photo by Jeremy Crawford, St. George News
Oh baby! Swiss Days Parade, Santa Clara, Utah, Sept. 28, 2013 | Photo by Jeremy Crawford, St. George News
Animé put feet to the pavement for the Swiss Days Parade, Santa Clara, Utah, Sept. 28, 2013 | Photo by Jeremy Crawford, St. George News
Santa Clara Cougar Choir drumming through the Swiss Days Parade, Santa Clara, Utah, Sept. 28, 2013 | Photo by Jeremy Crawford, St. George News
Bikers rolled in for the Swiss Days Parade, Santa Clara, Utah, Sept. 28, 2013 | Photo by Jeremy Crawford, St. George News
E-spokes cycled the Swiss Days Parade, Santa Clara, Utah, Sept. 28, 2013 | Photo by Jeremy Crawford, St. George News
Star Wars Galactic Heroes paid a visit to Earth for the Swiss Days Parade, Santa Clara, Utah, Sept. 28, 2013 | Photo by Jeremy Crawford, St. George News
Washington County Royalty joins in the Swiss Days Parade, Santa Clara, Utah, Sept. 28, 2013 | Photo by Jeremy Crawford, St. George News
Tuacahn Amphitheatre's cast of Mary Poppins joins in the Swiss Days Parade. (The Mary Poppins stage musical is playing through October 25 at Tuacahn.) Swiss Days, Santa Clara, Utah, Sept. 28, 2013 | Photo by Jeremy Crawford, St. George News
The Staheli Family Farm's "Field of Screams" represented (open each Th., Fri., Sat. from Oct. 5-26 in Washington). Swiss Days Parade, Santa Clara, Utah, Sept. 28, 2013 | Photo by Jeremy Crawford, St. George News
Hurricane Valley's cast of Les Mis joins in the Swiss Days Parade. (The Les Mis musical will play every Mon., Fri., Sat., Nov. 1-16. See: http://www.stgeorgeutah.com/news/archive/2013/07/29/hurricane-valley-theatrical-company-les-miserables-auditions.) Swiss Days Parade, Santa Clara, Utah, Sept. 28, 2013 | Photo by Jeremy Crawford, St. George News
Classic camaro joined in the Swiss Days Car Show and Parade, Santa Clara, Utah, Sept. 28, 2013 | Photo by Jeremy Crawford, St. George News
1928 Chevrolet Touring car, the owner said it was the first make of car to have brakes on all four wheels. Swiss Days Car Show, Santa Clara, Utah, Sept. 28, 2013 | Photo by Jeremy Crawford, St. George News
1956 Chevy Bel Air, Swiss Days Car Show, Santa Clara, Utah, Sept. 28, 2013 | Photo by Jeremy Crawford, St. George News
Model T at the Swiss Days Car Show and Parade, Santa Clara, Utah, Sept. 28, 2013 | Photo by Jeremy Crawford, St. George News
Classic car show, Swiss Days, Santa Clara, Utah, Sept. 28, 2013 | Photo by Jeremy Crawford, St. George News
1956 F250 owned by Lee William, Swiss Days Car Show, Santa Clara, Utah, Sept. 28, 2013 | Photo by Jeremy Crawford, St. George News
1950 Chevy coupe owned by Jim and Lynnete Poulson, Swiss Days Car Show, Santa Clara, Utah, Sept. 28, 2013 | Photo by Jeremy Crawford, St. George News
George Staheli Memorial Oompah Band, so named the band said, after George Staheli who settled in Santa Clara and was a great trumpet player. Swiss Days, Santa Clara, Utah, Sept. 28, 2013 | Photo by Jeremy Crawford, St. George News
Princess party, Swiss Days, Santa Clara, Utah, Sept. 28, 2013 | Photo by Jeremy Crawford, St. George News
Nicole Powell, songstress and actress. Powell plays the "Bird Lady" in Tuacahn's presentation of Mary Poppins, and "Muzzy" in its presentation of Thoroughly Modern Millie. Entertaining at Swiss Days, Santa Clara, Utah, Sept. 28, 2013 | Photo by Jeremy Crawford, St. George News
Rx Cow at Swiss Days Parade. The cows are a Santa Clara tradition; businesses and individuals decorate them and put them out for popular vote. Santa Clara, Utah, Sept. 28, 2013 | Photo by Jeremy Crawford, St. George News
Santa Clara resident Ron Chandler with his grandkids – grandson Jaycee Chandler front and center – at the ring toss. Swiss Days, Santa Clara, Utah, Sept. 28, 2013 | Photo by Jeremy Crawford, St. George News
The Chicken Dance was performed by finanalists in the "moo-off" which was judged by Caroline Wukelich who won the Washington County Fair "moo-off." Swiss Days, Santa Clara, Utah, Sept. 28, 2013 | Photo by Jeremy Crawford, St. George News
It's the Tater Derby. Tater Derby kids decorated spuds then raced them on pinewood cars down the tracks. Swiss Days, Santa Clara, Utah, Sept. 28, 2013 | Photo by Jeremy Crawford, St. George News
Utah State Fire Marshal brought its trailer to Swiss Days. It demonstrates what can happen in a fire, there is a kitchen area where kids learn about the dangers of the kitchen. They have a bathroom area with a sink and plug in fireman can give demonstrations on why not to plug things next to the sink. It also has a fireplace that allows them to demonstrate safety around them. After the tour it fills with smoke and the kids get to crawl below the smoke and out the back door to safety. Swiss Days, Santa Clara, Utah, Sept. 28, 2013 | Photo by Jeremy Crawford, St. George News
Learning fire safety at the State Fire Marshal trailer. Swiss Days, Santa Clara, Utah, Sept. 28, 2013 | Photo by Jeremy Crawford, St. George News
Kids crawl out of the smoke-filled trailer the Utah State Fire Marshal provides to teach fire safety at Swiss Days, Santa Clara, Utah, Sept. 28, 2013 | Photo by Jeremy Crawford, St. George News
Sparky the Safety Dog accompanies the Utah State Fire Marshal's demonstration trailer. Swiss Days Parade, Santa Clara, Utah, Sept. 28, 2013 | Photo by Jeremy Crawford, St. George News
Jaxton Aallen builds a toolbox at The Home Depot workshop for kids at Swiss Days, Santa Clara, Utah, Sept. 28, 2013 | Photo by Jeremy Crawford, St. George News
Pumpkin painting sponsored by Santa Clara's Frei's Fruit Market, Swiss Days, Santa Clara, Utah, Sept. 28, 2013 | Photo by Jeremy Crawford, St. George News
Frei's Fruit Market rebuilt after the flood - cows are big in Santa Clara thematics. Swiss Days, Santa Clara, Utah, Sept. 28, 2013 | Photo by Jeremy Crawford, St. George News
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ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Jeremy Crawford is originally from Dillon, Montana, where he met his “amazing wife Nadia.” The Crawfords have two wonderful kids and a “Cupcake” (their English Bulldog). Jeremy is pursuing his education at Dixie State University for a degree in criminal justice-digital forensics. Photography is one of Jeremy’s passions, complementing his other passion for investigating and dissecting anything digital to find the truth in a case. In his free time Jeremy loves to spend time with his family exploring the outdoors and attractions around the St George area.