1980 Verna Hope Talk

From a talk given by Verna Hope April 20, 1980. (Elaine Merrill is Verna’s sister.)

Columbia Basin Ward History

How about a little daydreaming? Could all of you close your eyes for a moment and visualize what I am going to tell you. Ready?? Picture yourself, a stranger coming to a new land, where you had come with anticipation to find a new home. When you arrived you were greeted by hot sun, dry winds, dust, weeds -- No trees or bushes of any sort. No water – no buildings – just a barren land, covered with dry brittle grass. Okay, did you get the picture?

Twenty-six years ago some of you in this congregation or your family or friends or neighbors did exactly that. That land they were seeking was this land upon which you now reside. There were no decent roads to travel – nowhere to buy a sandwich or a cool drink – just barren land!! That was in 1954.

In the spring many of those brave ones who still decided to accept the challenge began arriving. This was in the spring of 1955, getting here just in time to be initiated by a 95 mile per hour wind. That was some experience!

Well, a few light poles began dotting the landscape. Here and there was to be seen a small shed, a tent, or some little makeshift type of living quarter which someone had moved onto a piece of property, showing signs of a modern-day pioneer. By early summer of that year, 25 years ago, there were about seven or eight LDS families moved into this area. These families were part of the then one Pasco Ward.

By July of 1955, there was enough membership that the Stake Presidency saw fit to start a Branch. The members all met in our home and the Columbia Basin Branch was organized, with President Bleazard as the Branch President and William Rigby and Cecil Barrow as counselors.

Now where could the meetings be held? In the member’s homes? Then the Rigby’s volunteered their basement, which worked great for a short time. It wasn’t long until we were bursting at the seams.

What could they do? Well, the only immediate answer was the old Eltopia school building. This was larger and served for a time, but it was cold, noisy and inadequate. The leaders could see what was ahead and they started preparing as best they could. They knew something must be done.

None had any money to talk with, but somehow a small herd of cattle was purchased. A corral was needed to be built and the cattle taken care of. The saints got together one evening after their day’s work was done – built a corral and laid a water line. The women served refreshments for the working men. The animals were brought in and then came the loads of donated hay, each member bringing his share. Well, the result was the cattle made a nice little profit and that was the beginning!

From then on there were numerous money-raising occasions, everything from dinners to 24th of July celebrations, farming, beet thinning and weeding, etc. Let me tell you a little about the 24th celebrations. At first they were held down at the old Ringold Ranch, formerly owned by the Pursers, down on the banks of the Columbia River. Everyone planned ahead and saved their coins for the fun. All kinds of booths were set up – everything from homemade ice cream and homemade root beer to water ducking and you name it. It was a lot of fun with many fond memories.

In not too long a time, the Branch President heard that this farm was going to be for sale, on which this building stands. We had been doing all of these fund-raising things and now a nice little sum was available to work with. So – the farm was purchased, with the consent of those Stake and Church Authorities.

Now we had to work harder and scheme tighter to arrange for a building!

Well – there was need for sugar beets to be weeded and thinned and this the ranch members who could, young and old, worked in the fields, while those who could not tended small children and fixed meals for the workers. We rented a farm and had purchased this farm so in those years we farmed two farms. Then came the chance to buy the top half of a large dormitory building in Richland. It was purchased and moved here on this property, being located directly east of this building. Everyone came with tools and equipment and many a hand made lighter work and soon the building was ready for use as the Branch meetinghouse. Now we had a place for all our meetings to be held! This we did.

All of these things happened in the first four years from when the branch was organized.

On July 19, 1959, the Stake Presidency came and the Branch was made a Ward. This was great! This was progress!

The Ward continued to grow. At last the old building was overflowing. Something had to be done. How pleased and grateful the members were for the opportunity to participate in the Church Missionary Building Program. Brother Verl Asay from Salt Lake City was assigned as the building supervisor and three building missionaries also were assigned to the Ward. Then with the volunteer help of the Ward Members, a new building started to take shape. Anyone who was able donated their labor towards helping build this building. It was built in phases -- the Chapel, classrooms, and Junior Sunday School – then the gym and all the structure to the north.

During this time there were changes in the bishopric and I will not attempt to give all the names of those involved, but William Rigby was the bishop.

About this time the seminary was begun. As near as we can determine, there have been about 20 years of seminary here in the Ward. Many great teachers and successful young people have emerged from these classes.

Through the years there have been fine things happen – dance festivals, road shows, ball games, Book of Mormon Pageant, banquets, and many spiritual meetings under the guidance of the before-named bishops and Bishop Eppich and Bishop Merrill. Many people have given their support to these four men, and the 25 years have been beneficial for all who have had the opportunity to be part of the growth of this Ward.

We are all benefitting from the sacrifice of many people who have made this desert blossom as the rose.

I shall always be grateful for the opportunity to have participated in these experiences over the past 25 years myself and it has indeed been a growing experience for me. I hold a special love and friendship for all those dear friends who I have been privileged to know and associate with. Many have come and gone through the years and have made this a choice experience for all. I want you to know that there is no experience like helping a Ward grow.

I truly believe that we were sent to this land to help establish our Heavenly Father’s Kingdom in this part of His vineyard. Seeing the growth of the Church here, from two or three wards in the Tri-Cities and one stake to three stakes and – oh, how many wards? Surely our Heavenly Father had a work for us to do and I know it to be true. And I say this humbly in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.