Spirits from the Past Visit Blanding Castle House

There’s nothing like a ghost story to kick off the Halloween season and the Slavens’ Castle House was the perfect setting for an intriguing script written by Shauna Black, involving the youth of the Blanding Stake. 

The ghost of a young woman, was the focal point for the family history activity.  So . . . if there are ghosts about, “Who you ‘gonna call?”  Ghost Busters, of course, and Michelle Jones and Andrea Jeppesen, were the dynamic duo who issued the challenge to the youth to solve the mystery of Caroline.

High Councilman, Steve Francom, (also general contractor for the Castle building project) told the history of the house, and some of the experiences of Jens Nielson, Peter Jens Nielson, and the Slavens family in the home. 

During the story, a video and sound effects introduced the figure of a young woman in a wedding dress.  A date written in the sawdust was the focal point of the quest to discover who she was.  Youth, along with 50 adult leaders assembled in the second-floor game room of the newly renovated Castle house, prepared for the ghost buster challenge. (A smaller group had a trial run prior to the big event on Oct 15.)  

Altogether 280 youth participated.

They were divided into groups of 20 and they along with team leaders rotated through the Castle house while completing six “escape room” challenges which helped to piece together the story of the wandering girl.  

Each challenge took ten minutes and required solving puzzles and learning about research, or completing a family history skill.  

Kelly Jeppesen and his sons were primarily responsible for creating the clues.

Youth also learn about earlier research tools where family historians used Microfilm and Microfiche readers to read historic files, or newspapers, or records.  

 "There was a microfiche machine used in one room and a microfilm used in another, explained Kelly. "These are both older methods of transferring genealogy records.  Microfiche was a compact printout of records that were on older computers and files, microfilm is a series of photographs (useful for storing newspapers on a single reel).  They are not really used much today but we thought the kids might be interested to know how records were kept and shared prior to the internet, so kids had to find clues inside these records for one of their challenges."

In the process of figuring out puzzles everyone learned something new about finding information for those who were deceased. If they got stuck and couldn’t figure out the puzzle, there were “angels” to help, as is often the case in family research. 

Brittany Grover, one of the teens, explained that the organizers were successful in keeping the large group on a tight schedule because, “There was a warning bell, and final bell that rang when the 10 minutes was up, and then all the teams rotated to the next station. 

All the youth were asked to bring a hand held devise or laptop to use in the genealogy challenges.  She added, “If youth didn’t have a phone or device to use, others helped them.”  It was a team effort.

Sometimes the next station involved using secret passages, such as openings in a bookcase, or passing from a closet into a hallway, or the highly popular in-wall conduit connecting the downstairs kitchen to the upstairs master bedroom. 

Secret passageways: 

Having completed a puzzle in one of the upstairs bedrooms, youth were shown a secret passage from that bedroom closet into what is called the "clubhouse" Some got to exit via a slide to the outside.

Jacqueline Redd and Sidney Christensen were family history experts who helped 
the youth with specific tasks, once they passed through the secret passageway. 
This room sits atop of the original Nielson Cash store/ coal storage room. 

Exiting from the future kids playroom, participants

went down this slide.

This area includes a patio attached the house, and will

contain a large children's play area. 

The goal of this escape room was to unlock a deceased person's bike and take it for a ride.  
This particular puzzle involved three tasks:

1. Find how you are related to 5 people in the room using the Family Tree App on your device.  Finishing this task allowed youth to access to a black light.

2. Reassemble a letter board message from a photo, using an empty letter board, and the letters.  The photo was missing one word "Alma" that they could figure out because those letters were leftover.  
3. Finishing this task allowed youth to read a certain scripture in Alma that had some markings in invisible ink.  By using the black light, youth discovered the combination to unlock the bike.

SJHS student, Levi Ward said, “This whole activity was a very educational experience and I learned some actual things I could do simply by downloading and using the Family History App.”  There are often Sundays when kids need something productive and appropriate to do," he explained. “I had time to do family history, but I didn’t know how to do it.  They taught us how to find names, save them and preparing ordinance work for deceased relatives at the temple.  They also taught us how to compare duplicate records before merging them."  This was an activity  that Brittany found interesting as well.

“It was cool to also hear from leaders about their ancestors, and how their stories and lives had “spiritually impacted them,” Brittany explained. “One station was about saving memories and we learned how to upload a memory, on our own page.  Another station had a news clipping about Albert R. Lyman with a clue in it. So, we learned about using news articles to find information. That made it interesting.” 

Toni and Mike Lacy shared stories of their ancestors

After the high energy activity, there was a wrap up session where additional information about "Caroline was shared."  At the end of the video, the evening, the castle ghost expressed thankfulness that her work was finally done thanks to the Blanding “Ghost Busters.” 

Youth and leaders then headed downstairs to the large garage in the back of the Slavens’ home to enjoy donuts, hot chocolate, and other snacks. 

Michelle and Jay Jones and Kelly and Andrea Jeppesen were the backbone of the event and had been preparing for months. Jay made all the sound effects, and worked with his nephew up north to create the video showing the wandering spirit whose temple work hadn’t been done. 

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P.S.  From Michelle and the Family History Center staff:

Special thanks to Johnny Slavens and Glenna Slavens! The history behind the house and the spirit there were perfect! Their generosity and kindness has made a forever impression on my heart. Everything surrounding this activity was a miracle to me and strengthens my testimony of God's plan of Salvation and His love for ALL of His children on both sides of the veil!!!❤❤❤❤

Also a ginormous thanks to the 40+ volunteers who helped run everything!!! We live in the most amazing community!!!!🙌 Thanks to Kelly Jeppesen for creating all of the puzzles, Andrea Jeppesen for sticking by my side, doing so much and believing this was all possible! Thanks to Shauna Black for writing the script, Steve Francom for remodeling the house, envisioning it here and being the hero in our story. Thanks to my nephew Dallin Osborne for creating the amazing video and Suzette Osborne for being great-granny who needed to escape spirit prison! And ❤ Jay Jones for doing all of our audio/visual!!!😘 

Johnny Slavens took time to talk to many youth that evening. Kelly Jeppesen stated, "Johnny was a very gracious host.  He is very excited to host youth events because he wants to encourage any youth, member or non-member, to be active in the community and avoid drugs, alcohol, etc.  So he feels like activities of this nature are very important."

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Johnny and his parents, Jim and Karen, hosted not only this event at the Castle House, but two open houses for the general public (Oct 18 and 19). “We were thrilled with the quality of the Ghost Buster activity," Johnny said. “It was exceptional.”  The two open houses also “went really well” and there were likely over 1000 people who participated the combined three activities. “We were happy so many came and participated.“

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Photos from the Friday and Saturday Open Houses.

Painting of original Castle House now hanging in the upstairs suite. 

The two-story fireplace is the most prominent architectural feature in the home.

A good crowd attended Friday night.  Johnny Slavens and local missionaries told
of the history of the home and reasons which brought Jens Nielson to San Juan County.  Following the opening, everyone toured the house, including climbing the spiral staircase to the top, and discovering hidden passageways.

Other rooms in the home

A large efficient kitchen for downstairs meals and preparation

Downstairs utility/wash room



Coat/equipment room coming in from the garage on the north side.




The pass-through pantry door and storage, where you can unload groceries
right from the parking area in the garage.

Two More Cooking areas: The suite kitchen, upstairs

Outdoor grilling/ prep area and hot tub, on west side.

Glass flooring beneath the tower, allowing complete view from from top to bottom



You have to cross the glass to ascend the staircase leading to the top of the tower.

Bev and Dale Black, former Bluff Fort Directors, had the cushy job of hosting
in the theater room, where visitors watched Albert R. Lyman's 
 video of the Hole n the Rock trek.  Comfy recliners and soft carpet make this
a great family movie night location. (Copies of the film are available at Bluff Fort.)

The Bunk Room provides sleeping room for 11. 

Taken Nov. 11, 2019   West side of the Slavens home

The 100 year Metamorphosis of a Home

By Janet Wilcox

This year marks 100 years that the Wilcox home has been in existence.  Our curiosity about the history of our house was first piqued when we remodeled the kitchen in 1977 and found copies of the Deseret Evening News dated 1912, in the walls.  They had evidently been used for insulation.  We saved some of the newspapers and these became the starting point for a research project that three of our sons (Aaron, Robert, and Nathan) did for a Regional History Fair in 1984.

The boys interviewed several people who had either owned or lived near our home in the past.  Primary informant was Alma Palmer who had kept a detailed journal of every improvement he made on the property when they owned it, as well as its cost. Verde Washburn Hughes who also lived in our home, also provided information via letters and sketches March 18, 1984.  Ervin Guymon also remembered much about the history of the early owners, as he lived just up the block.

The original structure at 112 S. 300 W. was at first a small granary, but was later turned into a two-room home by Benjamin Grant Black, the year he married Jennie Melinda Brown in 1912.  Four the Black’s children were born in this little wood home.  They lived there for seven years, and the sold it to LaVell and Wasel Washburn.

It was during 1912 that the first elementary school was also built in Blanding, and in 1914 the South chapel was begun.  In 1915 the Grayson post office was changed Blanding, and the next year the town built its first reservoir (1916) and the stone bank and Blacks grist mill were also built. 

 

LaVell traded the corner lot west of Morley Guymon’s (where Deb and Charles Orvin now live) to Benjamin Black in 1919 for the little home and lot.  Originally the kitchen door was on the north, with a small porch. 

Verde recalled, “Oh, the cave of that vine covered porch, the play house, the bed in summer, and reaching through those vines in winter for a bite of clean snow.” 

This shows the corral and granary build by
LaVell Washburn

LaVell expanded the kitchen and added a lean-to bedroom and moved the kitchen door to the south. There was no inside water, but there was a stand tap on the north side.  The Washburns had six children and had two big beds in the bedroom, “There was with no room to move or mop,” said daughter Verde Hughes.  Vela and J.B. Washburn were both born in the living room of the little three-room home. The walls were adobe and the roof was tar papered by her mother Wasel.  The wall boards were calcimined. 

The corrals and barn were built by the Washburns.  An irrigation ditch ran past the north side of the house. The granary and livestock pens were located on the east side of the barn.  Like most Blanding families, the Washburns, kept a milk cow.  “LaVell could whirl a full bucket of milk around his head and not spill a drop,” remembered his daughter Verde. “And Wasel made the best bread in the world, divinity candy, mashed potatoes and gravy, pies and delicious beans.”

In 1931 LaVell Washburn sold his Alkali Ranch and bought Zeke Johnson’s brick house across the street (where Maureen Beeson lives).  Wasel had helped her father David Patten Black build that house in 1915.  The Blacks lived there until 1929 when David Patten traded it to Zeke Johnson for the Charley Sipe home. 

Ilene Palmer as toddler

Margaret Palmer Redd getting ready to ride horse.
Shows the west side of the house. and edge of the chicken coop.

The Washburns sold their little home to Alma and Lila Palmer in 1931.  All of the Palmer children were raised there.  They had three milk cows and 44 pigs at one time, and Lila usually did the milking, gardening, & watering because Alma was away doing road construction and other projects.  Alma did, however, keep a very detailed diary of all his business dealings and the following data came from his diary:

1946—Built a second level addition, also added a porch, and front room.  Robert Dodge and Frank Wright did the work. A garage was built, cost $370; a picket fence was also added.

1949—Cement walks were poured around the home, cost $117; brick planters were put in which cost $190.  The Chicken coop was built for $485.  (All are still intact.)

Play house and swings on the north west corner of lot.

1950—Planted the maple tree on the north lawn. (Now 62 years old.)

1952--Planted the Ash tree on the north lawn. (60 years old).  Neighborhood girls who grew up with Margaret, Ilene, and Shirley also remember the play house Alma built for his kids, and how much fun it was to play there.

Shirley Palmer by front gate.

Patio doors on south side

1955—A fireplace and large patio doors were added on the south by Ernest Sondregger.

As busy as Alma and Lila were, they probably didn't much
chance to enjoy these lounge chairs.  The big propane tank
 was still there when we moved in.

1959—The bedroom walls downstairs were lined with knotty pine; cost $225; more picket fence built by Alma.

1974 shows wagon wheel fence, barn, and chicken coop

1960—Installed the wagon wheel fence.  

This shows the paneling in 1974 when we moved in.

1962—Home was remodeled again; paneling installed in the front rooms for $300.  Doug Harvey and Don Pendleton, Glen Johnson did most of the carpentry.  This was beautiful dark walnut paneling made from scratch.

1973—Pete and Charlotte Black bought home from the Palmers; insulation was blown in to the attic.

1974—The Blacks sold the home to the Wilcox family.  We had four children at the time: Aaron 4, Rob 3, Nathan 2, and Chris 1 year old.  After living in a trailer for six years, we thought we had moved into a castle!!

The house as it looked when we moved in.

Debarking the Elm tree to kill it

1975—We reshingled the house, remodeled and insulated the middle upstairs bedroom.  Planted lawn on the west side of the house.  Debarked the elm trees on the north and south to kill them, as they were over powering the Maple trees.  We loved the large garden and orchard area as both of us were raised on Idaho farms. Two of the original grapes vines are still growing.

1976-- Feb. 2, Quentin born; large garden planted (and each year afterward).

1977—Drilled a well near the barn.  Cost $1221, Anthony born Sept. 27

1978-79—Dick Einerson remodeled our kitchen, added new cabinets.  Cost $4000.  Autumn born Oct. 31   Built a grape arbor, and planted more trees and grapes.

1981—Andrew born April 6. 

1982—Installed chain link fence around three sides of the acreage. 

1987—Added on 12 feet to west end of home, and brought the walls straight up on the 2^nd story.  This added four more rooms upstairs. Hoyt Hoagland did the work and remodeling for $17,000.   Our family did the sheet rocking, perfa taping and painting and finishing work.  It was a long winter!

Jan. 4 , 1990—A house fire destroyed the interior walls downstairs, and smoke damaged the rest of the home. We were devastated to lose all the hard work we had just completed. The basic structure, however, was still solid.  Everything was cleared out down to the studds and ozoned to get rid of the smoke smell.  Bishop and Sister Webb generously invited us to stay with them, until we could find another place to stay.
Nine people for company—just imagine!

Our neighbors and friends helped clear out the insulation, and burnt sections as well as wash our clothes, dishes, and anything salvageable.  What a labor of love they provided. We were soon able to rent Dr. VanDyke’s home, where the Giddings now live on the dump road.  Scott Hurst and his crew rebuilt our home  and we moved back in 6 months later.  They did amazing work, and made the home better than ever. 

July 1990  Hurst Building added new wiring, insulation, plumbing, bay window on south, termite prevention, storm windows, new furnace, porch in front, vinyl siding and cement work.  They took down walls in the kitchen/family room area, added a big support beam, to open up the back of the home.  Taylor Palmer did the cabinets for the kitchen and office.  They did wonderful work, and we were so thankful to be back in our home.

1992—City installed curb and gutter on 3^rd west and 1^st south.

2006—Tired of hauling around water hoses for 30 years, we installed a sprinkler system, in preparation for leaving on the mission in 2007.

Most recently we leveled off the patio area with new cement and added a deck with an escape route in case of fire.  It has only taken us 20 years to do that!

We love our home, and appreciate changes and improvements made over the past 100 years.  It has served its occupants well and been a wonderful refuge to all the families who lived there and hopefully a friendly respite for those who come to visit.  Often we are quick to tear things down and start over, instead of valuing the stability and soundness of our foundations.  We truly have learned to value those who came before us, each one adding significant and beneficial contributions. Each one adding a new level of enjoyment to the structure and property. So Happy Birthday to our Black, Washburn, Palmer, Black, Wilcox home.