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WASHINGTON COUNTY HISTORICAL SOCIETY     (Washington County, Utah)

URBAN LEGENDS

Washington County, Utah

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An urban legend is an often lurid story or anecdote that is based on hearsay and widely circulated as true. It often has some item(s) of truth that gives it credence.

If you are aware of such urban legends that have circulated and are related to Washington County, please contact us at webmaster@wchsutah.org.


BRIGHAM YOUNG AND THE TEMPLE SPIRE

The St. George Temple was built with a stubby spire. When President Brigham Young saw it, he hated it, but it was too late to do anything about it. Shortly after Brigham's death, the temple spire was struck by lightning and destroyed. It was then rebuilt the way President Young had wanted itthe way President Young had wanted it. It seems Brother Brigham got his way!


THE GENETIC POOL IN DIXIE

In the late 1920s, Dixie was very isolated and the genetic pool was small enough that inbreeding was becoming a problem. Two major events occured in the late 1920s and early 1930s: (1) A lot of workers were brought in from the outside to build the Zion Tunnels, and (2) A lot of CCC boys were brought in to work on projects is the area. The gene pool was refreshed and the problem went away.


THE LYNCHING OF THOMAS FORREST

Thomas Forrest was a miner in Silver Reef in the late 1800's. He murdered his boss, a very popular manager. Sheriff Hardy was concerned that Forrest was going to be harmed before the justice system could run its course, so he brought Forrest down to the jail in St George for safe keeping. But during the night, a mob from Silver Reef came down to St. George, broke Forrest our of jail, and lynched him. The next morning, as the story goes, a man came out and saw Thomas hanging from the branch of a tree. The man is reported to have said, "That is the first time I have seen this tree bear fruit".


THE THREE NEPHITES

TBD