Vintage Vacation...Come to Steel Days!
Steel Days!
"In the summertime when the weather is high
You can stretch right up and touch the sky
When the weather's fine
You got women, you got women on your mind
Have a drink, have a drive
Go out and see what you can find."
Mungo Jerry
In your youth was there a summer song...a special anthem that so
typifies summer that all you have to do is hear the first line and you
flash back to the sound of kids splashing in the neighborhood pool, the
scent of coconut suntan lotion and the feel of hot concrete on your bare
feet? For me that song is "In the Summertime" by Mungo Jerry.
City of Fun Carnival...2010
Is there a small town in America that doesn't celebrate itself every
summer with parades, rodeos and a carnival? Usually the celebration
focuses on an industry or crop or something historical. Here in Utah
County we have, for example, Strawberry Days, Lehi Round-Up, Onion Days,
Pony Express Days, and the Ute Stampede, Alpine Days, and
the Highland Fling. But...the best of the best is
Steel Days 2014 is going on now!
American Fork's celebration has evolved over the years. In pioneer
times it was Timber Day, an all-day picnic held in a grove of trees near
town, known as "The Timbers." Eating and horseshoes competition,
along with ball games and foot races were the main activities. This
tradition continued from 1865 until about 1904.
Liberty Day...
Parade entry for Tennessee.
Liberty Day was a patriotic July celebration held either July 4 or July
24, which is Pioneer Day...or Days of '47... in Utah. The dates
alternated to please both the patriots and the pioneers. This began in
1905. The biggest addition to the celebration was the grand parade.
Whether in horse-drawn wagons or decorated automobiles, parade
participants moved very slowly over American Fork's gravel paved Main
Street. The parade of 1925 honored the various states of the Union. A
Goddess of Liberty was crowned to reign over the festivities.
Poultry Day
Poultry Day Parade...
Poultry Day began July 1927. American Fork raised a lot of chickens in
those days. The day began with a Sunrise Salute of cannon fire. A free
lunch of over 10,000 chicken sandwiches were passed out...our trademark
product. Pleasant Grove served strawberries and cream to their
townspeople. The first Poultry Day Queen was Miss Mary Pulley...one of
American Fork's most beloved citizens. The last Poultry Day was July
1941; then Pearl Harbor was attacked. There would be no more city
celebrations until 1945.
Steel Days...at last!
A Nicely Dressed Family at Steel Days!
By 1945, the mayor of American Fork decided that Poultry Day no longer
reflected the economy of our town. World War II brought a lot of change
to the area with the construction of the Columbia Steel mill...the
largest employer in Utah Valley. So Steel Days it would be!
I have many fond memories of Steel Days. The carnival was top notch! Tickets were 10 for $1. As a local business, Dad was able to buy them even cheaper! We spent a lot of time with friends when I was growing up...and later with nieces and nephews.
The parade was held two times on Saturday. At 10:00 a.m., it started at "The Latona" dance hall on West Main Street. The parade traveled east to Allen's Food Fair. At 6:00 p.m., it went in reverse order. However, the 6:00 parade always had President David O. McKay riding in it!!!
I was in the parade 3 times with Mrs. Earl's Dance...twirling my baton...4 times with the AFHS band...and 3 times with the AF Alumni Band!
The parade was soooo great when I was growing up!!! There were a dozen marching bands, and sooo many floats. If you "ran" for Miss American Fork, and did not win...you were able to ride on one of the floats that was sponsored by a local business. Find a spot for your folding chair and wait for the parade to begin.
The parade was held two times on Saturday. At 10:00 a.m., it started at "The Latona" dance hall on West Main Street. The parade traveled east to Allen's Food Fair. At 6:00 p.m., it went in reverse order. However, the 6:00 parade always had President David O. McKay riding in it!!!
I was in the parade 3 times with Mrs. Earl's Dance...twirling my baton...4 times with the AFHS band...and 3 times with the AF Alumni Band!
The parade was soooo great when I was growing up!!! There were a dozen marching bands, and sooo many floats. If you "ran" for Miss American Fork, and did not win...you were able to ride on one of the floats that was sponsored by a local business. Find a spot for your folding chair and wait for the parade to begin.
Note: Photos are courtesy of Don Hansen from his grandfather Joe Hoglund. These pictures are a mix from 1955, 1958 and 1959.
Steel Days Parade and Carnival 1959...
Blurry...but every parade has to start with the Color Guard
The background looks like a 50's classic car show.
American Fork High School Marching Band
I was in this band from 1973-1976.
Miss American Fork
What little girl wouldn't want to be Miss American Fork...just to ride on the float in a pretty dress and wave a princess wave.
Many floats were religious in theme.
Still 10 years from walking on the moon.
A Cornucopia of Blessings...or Prosperity I guess.
Devey's Float.
Devey's was an upscale shop owned by a distant relative.
My second choice float to ride on in a pretty dress.
Ship of Dreams.
The Cold War...or How Citizens Stopped Worrying and Learned to Love the Bomb.
Carnival Time
LDS Wards had food stand fund-raisers.
The Giant Ferris Wheel!
Merry-Go-Round
Scary Clown Ride...yikes!
The Big Show!
The climax of Steel Days is the Big Show and Fireworks. These days
American Fork is able to attract major country and pop stars. I don't
know exactly when the Big Show started, but in 1962, Dick Devey, who owned "Devey's"...was the Steel Days chairman. The
head of the entertainment committee approached him and asked if he could
have $60 from the fund to hire a group of young kids from Ogden to
perform for the evening. The group was....
Osmonds in 1962...Andy Williams show.
...the Osmonds, with cute little Donny as well. This was before their
appearance on the Andy Williams Show in December. I saw them perform
at the Las Vegas Hilton in 1978. Karen & I
were sophomores at Dixie, and took our Branch President's daughter, Sharla...and their car. I also say them at the Mariott Center at BYU in 1980 with Laurel.
One Last Parade Picture....
American Fork High School Marching Band 1971.
We played in every local parade all summer...it was a blast!
Happy Steel Days!
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