HISTORICAL SITES IMPORTANT TO THE MORMON HANDCART COMPANIES: 1. At the very South end of Johnson St. was the Missouri and Mississippi Railroad Depot where the handcart pioneers arrived. It was razed and replaced by one on Clinton St. (later replaced in 1889 by present depot station.) 2. The Old Stone Capitol. (1842) with its bright copper roof was one of the first sites the pioneers saw as they disembarked off the train and walked towards the pioneer camp. 3. As the pioneers left the train station they probably walked by The Gordon, Love & Co. a plow company where about 100 handcarts were made. It was located next to the present day Close Mansion on 5 Gilbert St across from what was the Stone Steam Mill located on Ralston Creek where the Antique Mall is today. 4. The toll bridge from Harrison St to Myrtle Ave was too expensive for most of the pioneers to use and they had to use one of the four ferries to cross the Iowa River. 5. Coralville did not exist—the area was referred to as Clark's Mill, but the dam was built 1843 (at present Iowa River Power Co) the Hour and grist mills were located there. (Probably provided food for pioneers.) 6. Sawmill located on E side of Iowa River at Clark's Mill (E across from restaurant). This is where many got wood to make their handcarts. 7. The Isaac V and Elizabeth F Dennis farm where the handcart companies camped had a farmhouse located on the present site of UI Credit Union and Pioneer Coop on Hwy 6 in Coralville. 8. The Coralville Monument (located at present day Morrison Park on the south west edge of park.) It is a several ton boulder donated by David E Dennison, the only son of Joseph Dennison, a blacksmith that helped the Mormons build their handcarts. This marks the trail of the handcart pioneers along the old Hwy 6 or 5th St in Coralville. |