Cedar City celebrates 171 years of ‘traditions and memories’ with music, cobbler and history

Written by Alysha Lundgren
November 14, 2022

CEDAR CITY — Looking back on 171 years, locals celebrated Cedar City’s birthday by immersing themselves in the past, seeking tidbits and knowledge and tradition, and eating bowls of hot dutch oven cobbler.

Locals celebrate Cedar City’s 171st birthday at the “Traditions” concert by the Orchestra of Southern Utah, Cedar City, Utah, Nov. 10, 2022 | Photo by Jeff Richards, Cedar City News

On Tuesday, Nov. 11, 1851, Henry Lunt, traveling with a company of 36 men and 11 wagons, arrived in the area later dubbed Cedar City in a “blinding snowstorm,” according to a historical marker placed at Cedar City Hall, which can be seen in the photo gallery below. Lunt reportedly was the first named person to settle in the area.

On Thursday, almost 171 years later, the city kicked off celebrations with the “Traditions” concert by the Orchestra of Southern Utah at the Heritage Theatre. The event featured Celia Yu Liu, a pipe soloist, Ben Bradshaw, a bassoon soloist and Caylee Zwang as the conductor.

Councilmember R. Scott Phillips gave a speech, saying that traditions are “tied directly to memories” and that they can reinforce values like “freedom, faith, integrity and help define our roots and identity.”

“Tonight we commemorate 171 years of the past, the present, and the future of Cedar City through traditions and memories,” he said. “As we look on the past, we are humbled by the beginnings of a small group of brave pioneers who built a small fort they called home.

“Through the present, we continue to work on the challenges of our town and experience the joy of living here. And as we look to the future, we envision a city for all of us that will be bright, prosperous and embracing. Happy birthday, Cedar City.”

Later in the evening, attendees gathered in the lobby for chocolate birthday cake decorated with white and blue frosting. The centerpiece of the room was a large, ornamental cake adorned with LED lights and the words “happy birthday.”

Veteran’s Day Ceremony

Local veterans were honored and given quilts at the Rock Garden Dedication on Veteran’s Day, Cedar City, Utah, Nov. 11, 2022 | Photo by Jeff Richards, Cedar City News

Friday morning, in honor of Veteran’s Day, the Iron County Veterans Coalition organized the Rock Garden Dedication, a project completed by the Cedar City Rotary Club.

High school students involved in Rotary International embellished rocks in appreciation of veterans, according to a Facebook post by Cedar City – City Government. The rocks are also part of a fundraiser for Iron County veterans.

“Multiple veterans were in attendance today and were acknowledged for their heroic acts,” the post said. “Thank you, veterans, for your service.”

The rock garden is the latest rotary club project to beautify and enhance the Veteran’s Memorial Park, said Paul Monroe, who serves as vice president for the rotary.

Cedar City High and Middle school students performed several musical numbers, including the national anthem.

Historical scavenger hunt

Friday afternoon, city and county officials greeted attendees on the steps of Cedar City Hall to unveil one of six new historical markers and kick off the historical scavenger hunt.

Cedar City Mayor Garth Green and his wife, Wendy Green, unveil a new historic marker for Cedar City Hall, Cedar City, Utah, Nov. 11, 2022 | Photo by Alysha Lundgren, Cedar City News

Maria Twitchell, who serves as the executive director of Visit Cedar City – Brian Head and vice chair of the Cedar City Historic Preservation Commission said that the event was part of an effort the group had been working on for several years.

“Cedar City historic preservation commission welcomes smart, economic growth while being deliberate and dedicated guardians of Cedar City’s lifestyle, heritage and authentic character,” she said.

One of the commission’s goals is to educate the community about the importance of preserving historic buildings, Twitchell said.

Cedar City Mayor Garth Green shared stories of the town’s history and recognized the Cedar Band of Paiutes: “our neighbors who were here before us.”

“We love you and we honor you to this day,” he said. “And now to our new friends – those of you that may have come from somewhere else and haven’t been around here as long as I have – I don’t know where you came from, and I don’t know why you came, but you’re welcome. Come and enjoy with us. It’s a wonderful place to live.”

Green then invited the audience to join the scavenger hunt. Phillips, Twitchell and others passed along materials so those interested could partake in the historical tour of 12 different sites throughout Cedar City.

Participants used clues to find the correct historical site where they would find the answers to the questions. One question invited people to learn more about Lunt, while Another required scavenger hunters to pop into Bulloch’s Drug Store to discover the Fred Adams Chocolate Coke.

Birthday cobbler

Chocolate cherry dutch oven cobbler served at the Frontier Homestead State Park in celebration of Cedar City’s 171st birthday, Cedar City, Utah, Nov. 12, 2022 | Photo by Alysha Lundgren, Cedar City News

To end the festivities, Frontier Homestead State Park opened its doors on Saturday morning for the public to enjoy vendors, history and sweet treats served up by city and county officials.

Those who completed their scavenger hunt sheets turned them and received fidget spinners, stickers and cake.

Outside, surrounded by historic buildings and exhibits, attendees served themselves bowls of birthday cobbler, baked over gray charcoal and steaming in the cold air.

Visitors had three choices including blueberry or chocolate cherry cobbler, which many topped with a generous helping of whipped cream.

Cedar City News reporter Jeff Richards also contributed to this story.

Photo Gallery

Copyright St. George News, SaintGeorgeUtah.com LLC, 2022, all rights reserved.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Alysha Lundgren joined the St. George News team in 2022. She began her career as a freelancer, writing resource articles for families of children with disabilities. She's also covered topics such as astronomy, recreation and nature. Originally from Nevada, Alysha fell in love with Utah quickly after moving to Cedar City. In her free time, she enjoys wandering and photographing Utah's gorgeous landscapes or hunkering down in a blanket to play video games or read a good book.

Email: [email protected]
Twitter: @STGnews

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