One Step Forward, Two Steps Back

While the grand plan is to move forward, to the tune of 18,000 miles, we moved back to the rear of the RV Park yesterday. We will spend April and May here, surrounded by the beautiful Utah mountains and next to the Weber River. Some days I actually wonder what I did to deserve this amazing life. We have all kinds of wildlife...bald eagles, deer, muskrat, feral cats, partying cows. Kidding about the cows, but they are right next door and they are gorgeous!! I love cows. Love them. In fact, I screamed for Beau to stop the truck yesterday on our way to Salt Lake so I could jump out and go see the babies. Tons of them. When I have a cow, I will "kiss him and love him and squeeze him and hug him and call him George. I digress. Was talking about the park we are in. This is the view from the RV...

The RV Park is located in one of my favorite places on Earth, founded in 1859, Coalville, Utah. Population 1,400. Elevation 5,577 feet. Coalville was founded by a Mormon Freighter named William Henderson Smith. Originally called Chalk Creek, Coalville was aptly named because of the coal mining that began in 1858. Really interesting history, to be honest, but I won't bore you with the details. Okay, yes I will. Haha.

In 1854, the territorial government in Utah offered a $1000 reward to anyone who could find coal within 40 miles of Salt Lake City. Four years later, Thomas Rhodes found a coal vein in the Chalk Creek area, and coal mining began in earnest. Hundreds of tons of coal were shipped to Salt Lake City, and soon a narrow gauge railroad was built. The settlement was then renamed Coalville as a result of this early success. By 1880, success in the coal industry led to the extension of the railroad into Park City. Then known as the Summit County Railway, the railroad continued to transport coal, and was also used for Park City's silver mines.

Unlike most Mormon settlements in Utah and the intermountain west, Coalville city streets are not aligned to true north. Main Street in Coalville is offset such that it runs slightly north-northwest, and Center street runs slightly east-northeast. Why, I wonder?? I actually owned a house on Chalk Creek Rd., which was at one time one of the main routes from Coalville to Evanston Wyoming. I'm guessing that when Main St. was constructed, it was important for Main St. to intersect with Chalk Creek. Hmmm. Wonder how I could find the answer? Okay, so there's more than you ever wanted to know about Coalville, Utah.

Oh, one more interesting fact. I am currently obsessed with the work of a couple named Esther and Jerry Hicks, who are also associated with the entity Abraham-Hicks. Incredible woman, Esther...she is an author, a public speaker, a life coach of sorts, just an all around good egg. Guess where Esther was born? Yep, Coalville, Utah. Weird, huh? I think so, and at the same time I don't. I probably won't veer right from here to discuss things like fate/destiny, because I need to wrap up my Coalville post, but let's pick up here where we left off with Esther next time.