[Teachldsseminary] Request: Brigham Young and His Eagles

[Barb]

There are two different eagles being discussed. One is a live eagle that
guarded his garden..

 

 

Beyond were the blacksmith shop, the flour mill, the barns, corrals, the
gardens, and the schoolhouse. To the north was what we called the "upper
garden," a fine orchard of apple, peach, black walnut, and pear trees. The
garden and the schoolhouse were in such proximity, and the ripe autumn
fruits so tempting, that a high board fence had to be built in order to keep
the children outside and the fruit inside. Even this was not sufficient to
keep out the big boys, so an added protection was provided in the shape of a
big, bald, live eagle, who seemed to realize fully that it was his duty to
patrol the garden. The eagle, I must say, proved quite effective.

I seldom visited this garden without my father unless I was holding on to
Brother Staines's hand for old "Baldy" certainly made me nervous as he
looked at me coldly with his eagle eye. The beehives were also located in
this garden, and bees have never been any respecters of persons. However,
the gardener was always most kind to me, and if I didn't dare venture inside
he would bring a choice bit of fruit to me at the gate. 

(Brigham Young At Home, p. 49)

 

 

The second is the wooden eagle atop the Eagle Gate that guarded his
property.

 

The entire estate was surrounded by a cobblestone wall nine feet high, with
gates placed at convenient intervals. Father had a threefold purpose in
having this wall constructed. In the first place it was built as a
protection against floods. The stream from near-by City Creek Canyon at
times swept down the street and was capable of doing some real damage to the
garden and of flooding the basements of the houses. The second reason was
that employment might be furnished for the emigrants until permanent work
was found for them, and finally the wall was useful as a protection against
the Indians who were still troublesome during the fifties and sixties.

Each member of the family had his own key to the gates, for they were kept
locked after a certain hour in the evening. Just in front of the office was
a guardhouse where someone was always on duty to keep out intruders and
maintain a sharp lookout for Indians as long as that procedure was
necessary.

The main entrance to the estate was the "Eagle Gate," so named from the
large wooden eagle which stood guard on its pinnacle. The eagle was designed
by Truman Angell and carved by Ralph Ramsey from five blocks of wood: one
for the body, another for the neck, two for the wings, and the fifth for the
beehive upon which it was mounted. The whole was held firmly together by
pieces of iron. At that time there was no way to get through to City Creek
Canyon, except through Father's grounds, and so his permission had to be
obtained by the settlers when they wished to drive through the Eagle Gate
and on up to the canyon for firewood.

There was a legend in the old days that every time the eagle heard the noon
whistle blow, he would leave his perch, fly straight down State Street to
the old wooden watering trough, get a drink of water-or something, and fly
back again. I sat many a time with my feet in the carriage house stream,
waiting for the bird to fly, but apparently I was always called to dinner at
the wrong time, for I never had the pleasure of seeing him in action.

When the street under the eagle became city property, the old bird was left
in peace, but when the street had to be widened for the use of electric
cars, it seemed that he was about to be doomed, since there was not room for
the cars to pass under the arch. We were all most anxious to preserve our
old friend, and my brother Don Carlos, who was then church architect, drew
plans showing how the gate could be enlarged and still remain as a loved
landmark.

The eagle had grown somewhat dilapidated under the snows of thirty years, so
it was sent east to be rejuvenated with a beautiful copper covering. He was
reinstated with appropriate ceremonies in 1891 and was stuffed with numerous
papers and relics before resuming his position as guardian of the gate and
our loved home.

(Brigham Young At Home, p. 58)