Jared Pratt Family Reunion and Dedication of the Orson Pratt Observatory
9:30 a.m., July 21, 2001
This Is the Place Heritage Park
Salt Lake City, Utah
Dear Pratt Cousins,
The Jared Pratt Family Reunion will be July 21, 2001, at This Is the Place Heritage Park. This beautiful park is across the street from Hogle Zoo near the mouth of Emigration Canyon in Salt Lake City. July 21, 2001, will mark the 154th Anniversary of Orson Pratt’s entrance into the Salt Lake Valley near this very spot. To gain free admission to the park, please just let the ticket takers know you are part of the Jared Pratt Family Association.
The events of our family reunion will begin on Friday, July 20, with a temple session for family members. Please meet in the chapel of the Salt Lake Temple dressed for the session at 6:30 p.m. for a short program before participating together in the 7:15 p.m. session. Cousin Rebecca Pratt Tollefson is in charge of this event. Her number is 1-816-364-6644.
On Saturday, July 21, starting at 9:30 a.m. there will be exhibits and displays in the lower level of the Pine Valley Chapel near the entrance to Heritage Park. Any family members who have items of interest related to the Pratt Family are urged to bring and share them. Also in the lower level of the Pine Valley Chapel there will be an opportunity to check your records and make sure the Pratt Family Descenancy Files are current. Please bring with you the names, addresses, and birthdays of all new members of the family and any other information needed to update the records.
At 10:00 a.m., we will have an open-air family meeting under the willows in the Bowery. This is right next to the Pine Valley Chapel and the Heritage Park entrance. Cousin Benson Parkinson will report on the exciting Pratt Family Photo Project–please see the enclosed flyer. Cousins Steve Pratt and Matt Grow will report on their continuing work with the Joseph Fielding Smith Institute for LDS History at BYU to prepare the letters and journals of Parley Pratt for publication. If you have any information regarding letters to or from Parley, or other information, such as family heirlooms, which you would like to see included in the project, please contact Matt at 1-801-377-1982.We will also hear a report of Cousins Norma Parry’s and Sharol Terry’s recent successful efforts in finding and placing markers at the graves of some of our ancestors. Of course, we will enjoy singing together and being entertained by the musical talents of some of our more gifted cousins.
At about 11:00 a.m., the family meeting will adjourn, and we will start a special service to dedicate the replica of the Orson Pratt Observatory which is located across the street east of the Bowery. We are honored to have our friend and cousin-in-law, Elder Richard B. Wirthlin, join with us to speak and offer the dedicatory prayer. Other special speakers at theh dedicatory service will include Breck England, biographer of Orson Pratt; Wilson Martin, State Historical Preservation Officer; and Heidi Swinton, Vice Chair, This Is the Place Foundation.
After the dedication, we will enjoy lunch together in the Bowery. Bring your own picnic lunch. After lunch, family members will be welcome to linger and enjoy the Days of ’47 festivities at Heritage Park. These activities will start about the time our reunion ends. It might be fun to come dressed in pioneer garb.
Please share this information with our Prat cousins, and let us know of changes and additions to our mailing lists.
The address of the Jared Pratt Family Association is:
Jared Pratt Family Association
c/o Brent Beesley
1492 Kristianna Circle
Salt Lake City, Utah 84103
1-801-359-0297
bbeesley@xmission.com