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Individual:
by Sarepta Prince Jennings
May 1973
Turn back the hands of time, roll back the sands of
time, bring back our dreams divine. Let's live it
all over again.
It was in the little town of Panguitch, Utah, March
25, 1938, the night of the annual Forty-Niners
ball that I was all dressed up in a pretty long
pink dress trimmed with black lace. My hair was
curled fancy on top of my head. My friend, Mae
Riggs was my beauty operator. She curled and
shampood my hair once a week for 35 cents (50
cents to most people). I had on my new black
slippers and was waiting in my parents living room
for my date to arrive.
When the knock came on the door and I answered there
was not only my date but another tall handsome
young man. His name was Val Jennings. I
whispered to my sister-in-law, Fay Ella, "I think
I would rather go with him." From then on a
romance developed.
I had heard about Val from Mr. Chidister and Mr.
Evans, Panguitch men Val worked with at the
Henrieville C.C.C. Camp. He was junior foreman
and office manager. At this time I was a
telephone operator for the Mt. States Tel. and
Tel. Co. at Panguitch.
Our first date was April 1. I was invited to a
dance and barbeque at the camp. The dance was
fun, the beef never did get done--as far as I
know.
After this we talked most every day on the telephone.
Val was a good dancer and I enjoyed being with
him. He was always full of fun.
We didn't have much time together before Val's work at
Henrieville ended and he returned to Salt Lake
City.
In June I got the scarlet fever and couldn't write to
Val. I coaxed Florence to write and tell him why
I didn't write. She didn't much want to so she
wrote a card in shorthand.
For a few weeks Val helped his Dad and looked for a
job.
He went to Park Valley in July to work at the C.C.C.
camp. The camp was just under construction and
there were "191 men and myself, that makes nearly
192". His pay was $4.00 per day. He was there
until the end of Sept. or the 1st of October.
October 8th, Val came to Panguitch and bought an
engagement ring. It was early in the morning and
I was still in bed. He asked Mom if he could go
upstairs and wake me. She gave permission and he
gave me the ring.
Mary Ella was sleeping with me. Later someone asked
me what Val said when he gave me the ring. I said
I didn't know. Mary Ella spoke up. "I know."
She probably got her first lesson in love that morning.
Val next worked in Garrison. I can't remember much
about this period of time.
1939 was a hard year. Val's employment was not very
good and our wedding date had to be postponed and
postponed again. Val worked with his dad on the
dairy some, worked without pay for Mr. Lamoreaux.
He didn't mind this as Mr. L. was a lawyer and it
was educational working with him. He worked for
Clem Toone, also for Fred Toone at his retail
dairy--many short jobs. He sold Remington
typewriters. No car. One day walked 80 blocks
for nothing. We spent most of what we made on 3
cent postage stamps.
Quote from a letter Sept. 2, 1939: "I got a kick out
of Johnny_____. He hasn't been in this country
long and has quite a strong Italian accent. He
says the Pope prays and prays, but what the hell,
they're having war anyway. (This was near the
beginning of WW II. Val said, "War isn't what it
used to be. Times were when the individual
soldier got some of the spoils of war. He could
pick out a couple of the enemies women, grab em by
the hair and take them home. Slaves, wine, women
and riches, cattle and horses, whatever he desired
and could lay his hands on. Now all the soldiers
lose. Oh, for the good old days."
Val's next several letters were mostly about the war
such as "Elinor came home today and is angry she
couldn't buy any sugar. The stock marked made the
largest gain in history yesterday and sugar and
flower and nearly all commodities came up but
mostly flour & sugar". In Sept. Val took out a
life insurance policy and named me beneficiary.
In October, Grace, our friend LaReta Lynn and I went
on a wonderful vacation to Carlsbad Caverns and to
El Paso, Texas, & Juarez, Mexico.
Life in Panguitch went on as usual. I kept working
and hoping. Part of the time I worked part time
at Daly's optical & jewelry and ladies ready to
wear. I had fun buying new clothes directly from
the salesman.
The middle of March 1940 Val got a job (Thanks to
Clarence Durrant) at the Prince Mine at Pioche,
Nevada. Salary $100.00. Val said it was the kind
of job he had waited for for 5 years. $1.10 per
day for meals. #3.50 per month for room. Val
planned to come to Panguitch on the 25th of May.
He asked me to get the weekend off & had made
arrangements for a couple he knew to bring him
over. On the 20th, I received a letter saying
that the mine was closing down and most of the men
had already left. The job was shorter than
expected but he got out of debt.
On June 22, he left for Walkermine and was to get a
$35.00 raise to $135.00 per month sounded like a
million. Board and room $1.00 more a month but "I
get clean sheets & towels twice a week, my room
cleaned daily, shower and washroom closer and also
more privacy.
Housing was nil and the waiting list was long but
during the next three months things began to shape
up. I had quite a trousseau of bedding, linens,
towels, silver & etc. I began boxing it and
getting it ready to send when Val told me to--To
Box 1182 Walkermine, California.
Sept. 13. 2:30 A. M. "Every two minutes I think of
something else we need. We have a 3 room house,
and old cook stove, new bed, mattress, springs,
single cot and a home made table. The large room,
kitchen living room combination is about the side
of your bedroom, and is the whole north end of the
house. The 2 rooms on the south are half that
size and the wood shed on the west is 10' x 16'.
There is a sink in the kitchen with just cold
water. The kitchen and bathroom are lined and
papered after a fashion. The floors are bare and
rough. But I'm not trying to discourage you.
You'd better come or I'll be after you, & you
might have to move to a worse place. I'll pick up
a couple of chairs, tub, a wash basin, and do a
man's job of house cleaning."
About this time I went to Salt Lake City to buy my
wedding clothes. My friend Mable shopped with
me. Wedding dress was blue with a hat to match.
Mable & Faires gave me a necklace and bracelet to
wear with it. I also got a pretty oxford grey
dress with black satin top and balero jacket. A
white coat with red lining & a rer wrap around
hat, etc. black patent purse with big gold "S".
Grace was working in Cedar, met me in Salt Lake & we
spent a few days and then went together to
Panguitch.
I had worked most of the time since I got out of High
school and had spent much of my money on myself or
for things I wanted so I had a very nice trousseau.
I had a trousseau tea and invited most everyone in
town to come. I asked that they not bring gifts.
The bridge club I belonged to gave me a sandwich
grill. (Maybe it was just Hilda & Mae) Mr.
Walton and the telephone operators gave me a
dainty little pink glass clock, LaReta a
tablecloth & napkins, Iletta Reid a pink glass
platter, Aunt Hilda a set of goblets which matched
the ones I had. My Daly a silver tray, Mildredd
silver cream and sugar bowl on tray. Mrs. Brown,
Grants mother gave a crystal teardrop dish filled
with iceburg candy. Alice $3.00 toward a bible.
I put $12.00 with it and bought the one we have
now. Toaster--Vals mother & dad. Tablecloth,
sister Elva.
Finally we got enough money and enough hours off to
get married. Val didn't have enough time off to
go to Panguitch so I met him in Reno. (Flew from
S.L to Reno) We got the license, had a night on
the town (whatever that means) and were married
the next day Sept. 29, 1940 by Branch President E.
Vaughn Abbott. John S. Wright was best man and
his girl friend, Helen Hock was my attendant. I
had a gardenia corsage and a beautiful bouquet of
red roses, and that is how it all began. We spent
our wedding night in the men's rooming house at
Walkermine.
The next 14 months were wonderful (If one doesn't
think of the morning, noon and night sickness,
which started all too soon.
The fall and winter at Walkermine were beautiful, and
the spring was even more so. June 18, 1941 our
tiny baby Val John came to live with us. He was
very precious and very welcome.
Not long after I got home from the hospital Val had to
take a trip to Reno. When he returned he came to
the house and asked me to go for a walk with him.
He had seen something he wanted me to see. He had
brought a gorgeous bouquet of sweet peas from
Reno. I loved them. Well, we walked for a couple
of blocks and there in the road was a beautiful
little tan chevrolet coupe. We looked it over and
Val suggested that we get in it. I hesitated. I
didn't dare. Val assured me that it would be OK.
We got in and Val started monkeying with the
starter and gears and the first thing I knew we
were going down the road. Val had bought the car
in Reno. He even took me to Portola and let me
get a Calif. drivers license.
In October we went on our first vacation. We came
home to Utah so John could meet his grandparents.
He was four months old and weighed five lbs. It
was just a month after we returned to Walkermine
that the mine closed and Val was sent back to
Pioche. We were some of the very last to lleave
and that trip was really something.
When we got to Pioche the house we were sent to was
wonderful after we got it cleaned and fixed up,
but a first, OH, dear. It was full of old tires,
lizards and cobwebs. But we were in love and love
is grand. And as usual Val did the best he could
to make a nice home for us.
It was there that we ordered our 2nd. baby. There
was no hospital in Pioche, and the closest one was
Caliente so we decided for me to go to Panguitch
to get our baby so my folks could take care of me
and Johnny. We went to Panguitch in Nov. and
stayed until January.
Val didn't think he could get over for Christmas
because of gas rationing & having used up
available stamps when he brought me over. He
wanted to come again right after the baby was
born.
Christmas eve Mom & Papa & I were sitting in the
living room when a knock came at the door. When I
opened the door there was s Santa Claus. He came
in, left some gifts and then went out. We all
looked at each other in surprise and wonder. Each
said, "Who was that". None of us knew.
In a few minutes the back door opened and in came
Santa this time without a mask. Yes, it was Val.
This was one of the many very special events in my
life.
Douglas was born Jan. 6, 1943 in his Prince
grandparents living room. The same room & the
same corner of the room that his mother was born
in. His Dr. was Dr. Hamen and his nurse Mrs. Phyllis Evans.
Doug had the chicken pox almost as soon as he was
born. He was blessed in Pioche, Nev. by Bishop
John M. Ridges. He was named Douglas because he
was born on his uncle Douglas's birthday & Rulon
because Rulon is my oldest brother. (Douglas was
born Jan. 6, 1909)
WAR, War, War 1944. There was much worry and sorrow
due to WW II, Val decided he would enlist so his
sons would be proud of him. About this time we
found out that # 3 was on his way. Val said "It's
OK. It just better be a girl". He loved his
niece Delene so much that he wanted a little girl
just like her.
My friend, Edna Mae Hartley, in Pioche had a baby
shower for me and mist of them gave things for a
baby girl.
Val could have been deferred from the service but he
decided not to so he took me and my two little
boys to Panguitch to live. We lived in a 2 room
apartment in Mrs. Ann Coopers home.
Val was in the service from June to Dec. 28, 1945. He
was first at Camp Hood, Texas, and then at Ft.
Bragg, N.C. He sold our car and I kept the money
for him while he was gone. Joe was born August
16, 1945 at the home of Mary Ipson, the nurse.
Douglas had his tonsils out the same morning.
Grandpa Prince (my father) was the first of my folks
to see Joe.
After Val returned from the service he was restless
and spent much time looking gor work in Salt
Lake. He was about lined up for selling insurance
when he got a job with the Utah State Employment
Service with headquarters in Richfield, then in
Manti. He got home week ends unless he decided to
stay in Gunnison. He was transferred to Price and
we moved to Dragerton in November 1946 because we
couldn't find housing in Price. Val drove to
Price & back each day. He had an old Pontiac he
had bought from Hank.
Floyd joined our family Jan. 12, 1947 at the hospital
in Dragerton. Dr. Colombo was there to usher him
into the world.
We just lived in Dragerton from Nov. to March. We
moved to Price 160 East Main St. It was a
beautiful brick house between Seppi Motel and Home
Lumber Co. While living here Howard Wayne was
born August 22, 19448. Dr. Fennemore was our Dr.
Val John started to school. Douglas & John took
dancing lessors for awhile. (Tap dancing) I
guess that is why neither of them like to dance
now. We lived in the 1st Ward, James W. Fausett
was our bishop. I taught primary. Jane Smith was
the President. Jane and I have been good friends
ever since. In church we met Brother & Sister
Ervin and Anna Mae Branch who became very good
friends. We visited them at their farm many
times. In 1949 we moved to Carbonville on Gordon
Creek and here we are now. The boys could tell
the story from here on but I'll add a bit more.
We had our share of fun and mishaps. The boys all
learned to work and also to play. Val was
always good to play with them. We usually had a
ball game going on in the pasture in the evening.
All the boys were newspaper boys for the Sun
Advocate and all but Val John for the Deseret
News. All but John workled for Rudy Felice at the
Metro Service Station.
Edwin M. Wycherly was the Bishop of Carbonville when
we moved here. He is still a very dear friend of
ours.
Although we were two miles from church the boys got to
S.S., Sacrament primary and MIA.
John was the 4th. missionary from our ward to be
called on a mission. He was the first to receive
a Duty to God award and he and Don Stagg were the
first Eagle Scouts. We were sealed in the Manti
temple 21 August 1965.
We have had 6 Bishops and all are living (1973)
Wycherly, Henrie, Oviatt, Adair, Keller, and Winter.
Val was ward financial clerk for many many years,
Bishops Counselor & Sunday School Superintendent.
I have been S.S. Teacher, Sec. Genealogy,
counselor and class leader and President of R.S.
Counselor to 4 presidents, Gertrude Law, Eva
Oviatt, Jean Laws, Chloe Jensen.
Each of the boys have served as a missionary. Val
John to the North Central States, Douglas to
England, Joe to Hawaii, Floyd to South Brazil and
Howard to Sweden. Dad provided the money
(supplemental) & mom the prayers and the funny
letters.
Doug, Joe and Floyd joined the National Guard and had
some good and bad experiences.
Not having sisters girls have always been a facination
to our boys and naturally they all married the
nicest girl in the world. Val and I think they
are extra special also.
They have provided us with 10 beautiful grandchildren
who we love very dearly. Helen, Karl & Kathy;
Jim, Kari & Brenda; Teri & Robert; Taja and Michael.
Val has always been a good father and a good
provider. We are now living in our beautiful new
home. Thank you Val for what you have done for
all of us. We love you.
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