I started the day at the St. George Temple. Both Hector McQuarrie and Ann Macfarlane served as temple workers for many years in the St. George Temple, so I was very excited to have a chance to actually go into the temple. I have been to the temple grounds many times, but never had a chance to go inside. It was very emotional for me, imagining seeing them there. I know they are not "in" St. George, but it made me feel good to be where they have been.
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| The entrance to the St. George Temple |
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| The St. George Temple |
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| I took this one because it is Flag Day today. |
I asked in the temple office if they kept records of when temple workers had been there. Their records didn't go back that far.
I next went to the DUP Museum in St. George. They have an impressive collection there, including many photos of the Macfarlane and McQuarrie families. I ordered a disk with histories and photos on it. It will be mailed to me. First example of not having a lot to show for today.
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| Yes, that is the same McQuarrie as we are related to. |
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| The McQuarrie Memorial Hall Pioneer Museum, cared for by the Daughters of Utah Pioneers |
One thing I did find, however, was a photo of several female temple workers from the early 1920s, including Ann Macfarlane!!! I was so thrilled! It said on the binder that the photos were available at a local photography studio that was a few blocks away. I went there and the photographer had the photo, but her printer was jammed, so I paid for the photo and gave her my address. So, yet another example of how I don't have anything to show for all the work I did today.
From the Museum, I went back to the St. George Cemetery. If you recall from my last St. George post, I did not take a photo of Robert Gray McQuarrie's headstone. I went back looking for it today, and all I found was a patch of dirt next to Charlotte Ann McQuarrie's headstone that is getting overrun with grass. I spent the next couple of hours trying to see if I could find out what happened to Robert's headstone.
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| Charlotte Ann McQuarrie's headstone with a bare patch next to it. I would imagine that Robert's headstone said FATHER at the top and looked very similar to this one. |
I called the Sexton who is over this cemetery and he said that they do not keep records of what happens to headstones. I have been told that there was significant vandalism to this cemetery a couple of times in the last several years. Also, the storms can knock over the headstones, and this type of limestone headstone will shatter if they get knocked over. Also, I was told at the library (I will get to that in a minute) that the water that the City of St. George has started using lately is straight out of the river and is very alkali and it is deteriorating the headstones. Lovely!
I wanted to see if there were some local history books that might have pictures from the cemetery, or something like that. Next I went to the Family History library next to the temple, and they didn't have any information. They suggested I try the City Library. So, I went there. They didn't have enough information on Robert McQuarrie to know if there originally was a headstone, but I did find something else out.
In my previous post I mentioned that I didn't know who the headstone next to Hector McQuarrie was. From the book, "Saint George, Utah Original Pioneers: December 1, 1861 - May 10, 1869: Histories and Pictures", by Roberta Blake Barnum and Paul Peine, it states: "[Hector's] wife Agnes Gray passed away 25 Oct 1900 in St Geoge. Hector then married his wife's niece, Elizabeth McKillop McMurtrie 24 Dec 1900. She passed away 15 May 1912. Hector died 16 Nov 1920. All are buried in the St George cemetery." (I found this book at the City Library.)
Is there any chance that anyone has a personal photo of Robert Gray McQuarrie's headstone? I would love to see it!
So, just ten copies today, but as soon as I get the photos......woohoo!!
Stay tuned. : )
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