Dickson, Bert

Oral History Program

Bert Dickson reminisces about conditions around the turn of the century in Devil’s Slide and Richville in Morgan County, including public schooling, the tithing lot, the coming of the telephone, family and community life, agriculture, death customs, food, plumbing and the water supply. He describes the building and remodeling of the East Canyon Dam, experiences with Indians, bootlegging, transportation, and various industries. He also describes the Japanese community. As both a plumber and as an LDS bishop, he had extensive experience with members of this community. He describes company-built apartments, complete with bath houses, and tells how, overnight, the entire community was shipped off to Topaz, following the bombing of Pearl Harbor and the United States’ entry into World War II. He also describes negotiations between the cement company and the LDS Church for property. The interview took place on July 15, 1976.

Interviewee