The roots of Snowflake Pioneer Days extend back more than a century.
In January 1876, Mormon Church authorities sent several families totaling more than 200 people to settle along the Little Colorado River, establishing the United Order. This was an experiment in a communal system whereby the community held property and work was done according to the ability of the individuals. The fruits of their labor were turned over to the order and shared by everyone.
These were not easy times for the pioneers. William Jordan Flake and his family were sent in April 1877 to replace families who had returned to Utah unhappy with the order.
Due to bad weather and United Order problems, Flake began to look for another place to settle, coming to Snowflake where James Stinson had settled. Flake paid Stinson $12,000 in Utah cattle for his ranch, and returned to get his family and settle in their new community.
They entered this beautiful valley on July 21, 1878. As more families entered Snowflake, they camped in their wagons by the Stinson home until they could build a home.
In September 1878, while en route to Utah to get supplies, Flake met Erastus Snow, an apostle for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Jesse N. Smith and Ira Hinckley, who were heading south to the Arizona Territory. Flake told Snow about his withdrawal from the United Order, the purchase of the Stinson Ranch and the sale of land to other families, then asked what he could name his post office. Snow replied, “Snow Flake,” after himself and Flake.
During Pioneer Days 2000 a monument depicting this event was dedicated by James E. Faust, first counselor for the LDS church. It is located on the corner of First North and Main Street.
Snowflake’s first Pioneer Days celebration was held July 24, 1879, and the holiday has been observed since.
At that first celebration, Jesse N. Smith, the LDS Stake president, was the main speaker at the morning program and a dance was held in the evening.
They celebrated 15 years in Snowflake in 1891 with foot races, games, pony races, a picnic in the cottonwood trees and a dance in the evening.
John A. Freeman was one of the early settlers in Snowflake, coming in 1879. He built his home in 1893 and had lived in the home for 60 years when he died at the age of 92 in 1952. The home was owned by Fred and Viola Adams, who deeded it to the town in 1997. There was concern as to whether it should be torn down or restored, but with help from a grant from the State Historic Preservation Office, it was restored and dedicated on Oct. 10, 1998. The home is located at 110 N. Main St.
James Madison Flake, oldest son of William Jordon Flake, built his English Victorian style home in 1895-96, hiring an English carpenter, Ralph Ramsay, and George A. Gardner to do much of the work in the home. Ramsay carved the horse head on the front of the home. William W. Willis made the brick that was fired across the street from the Flake Home. The house was used for community functions, dances and even a community kindergarten for a while. It was a home filled with love, work, fun and hospitality for the 50 years that it was lived in. In 2001 the home was refurbished and open for tours. Family artifacts depict pioneer life in early Snowflake. This home is located at 188 N. First East.
In 1878, Jesse N. Smith came with Erastus Snow to explore Arizona and was set apart as president of the Eastern Arizona Stake of the LDS church on Jan. 16, 1879. That year Smith built a log cabin on the corner of Center Street and Second West where the Jesse N. Smith Memorial Home now stands. It is said to be the first home in northeastern Arizona with a shingle roof. He later built a home for each of his four living wives near there. The Smith Memorial Home was built in 1905 for his fifth wife, Emma. The home has a room dedicated to wives Emma West, Augusta, Janet and Emma Larson. His second wife Margaret died in Utah before Smith came to Snowflake. The home has many artifacts of Smith and his wives.
The Locy Rogers log cabin was found when cleaning up a fire that burned the Papa home at First West and Center Street. The cabin was purchased by the Snowflake Heritage Foundation and the Town of Snowflake, and gives visitors a feel of life for the first pioneers in Snowflake.
Heritage Park is home to a log cabin that belonged to William J. Flake when he was living in Beaver, Utah. It was moved to Snowflake and put back to original by Carvell Solomon. The Flake granary and chicken coop are also located in Heritage Park, and have been restored and show what life was like in Snowflake’s early days.
The homes will be open for tours from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Friday, July 24, and from 12 noon to 3 p.m. on Saturday, July 25.
