PICTURE 1 - Winsor Castle If you remember your mormon history (yes?), northern Utah was settled in the early 1850's with southern Utah in the mid-1850s's. Northern Arizona came next, following the Civil War in the 1870's. At the time, the Peiute and Navajo were still a little rambunctious, and so the 'Castle' was built around the springs on the main travel route to Northern Arizona. The fact that the springs belonged to the Peiute was not considered significant!


PICTURE 2 - Winsor Castle (rear) It was called a 'castle' because from a distance, it looked like something similar to England (along with the proprietor!). The walls literally surrounded the springs, with the water flowing UNDER the wall to the left of this picture. Because the water was cold, the first floor of the castle was also cold! And from the nearby cattle herds, great cheese was made for the folks in St George (inside the door here).


PICTURE 3 - Relaxing Pond If you were an 1870's traveler, you would not have seen as nice a pond as this in MONTHS. So, Pipe Springs was a place you really 'thirsted' for on your long hot crossing from the Colorado River to St George. Of course, your horses loved it too, but drank below this pond (along with everyone else's cattle). Why 'Pipe' Springs? Because ... the water came out of a pipe!


PICTURE 4 - Light Surrey In the early days of Pipe Strings, this would have been an excessive luxury, since freight hauling was necessary. But Brother Brigham (Young) would have ridden one of these for his visits. His winter home was in St George and he literally specified where to place Winsor Castle's walls. True. There wasn't much the good brother didn't have something to say about. (Keep reading.)


PICTURE 5 - Freight Wagon Interior This is actually a 'chuck' wagon, similar to those used on the ranch surrounding Pipe Springs. But it's quite similar to YOUR wagon, as you traveled north from Snowflake Arizona to Utah with your spouse, to 'seal your marriage for all eternity'. If you made it to Pipe Springs, you ALREADY struggled across the Little Colorado and then a dangerous ferry over the Colorado River. Why, you're almost to St George! What a honeymoon!


PICTURE 6 - Ranching and Travelers' Quarters Mormons in southern Utah were poor by today's standards, but were still expected to tithe to the church. To meet their obligations, they would give cattle, crops and/or labor (how Pipe Strings was built). As a result, Pipe Springs had a large ranch around it, part of the 'Bishop's Store'. The Peiute, unsurprisingly, had a similar requirement, also wanting access to the Springs. It 'took a while' but today, the Peiute Indian Reservation now surrounds the national monument (assisted by the Mormon church).


PICTURE 7 - Old Plow And so, time returns full circle. The surrounding area now looks much as it did before the arrival of the Mormons. This plow marks time, as the sun moves slowly across the sky. The horses to pull it and the men who tried to farm the area are now long gone. But visitors climb down from their large buses and tour the Castle, trying to imagine a different day and time. It probably isn't possible.


PICTURE 8 - Mountain Meadows Massacre Among many unfortunate events in the 1800s, a sizable wagon train was attacked north of St George, with all killed except the youngest children. This happened in 1857. What's the connection with Pipe Springs? John D Lee (of Lee's Ferry further east) eventually 'paid the price'. But for almost twenty years, he moved between his ranch at the Colorado and his wives in the St George area, all the while claiming innocence. Eventually his time ran out. What's the connection to Brother Brigham? John was promised he wouldn't 'pay'. But the wagon train would not be forgotten.