FILE PHOTO: a spoonful of sugar. Photo by Alexander Grey on Unsplash
HYRUM – Matthew Godfrey, the Senior Managing Historian at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints History Department, has been invited to give a presentation about the sugar beet industry on Saturday, August 26 at 11:00 am at the Hyrum City Museum. The museum is located at 50 West Main Street in Hyrum.
Godfrey, a Cache Valley native, will discuss how in the late 1910s and early 1920s the Amalgamated Sugar Company thwarted the efforts of the West Cache Sugar Company to create an independent sugar enterprise.
“We are very excited for Matt’s presentation,” said Museum Director Jami Van Huss. “I know many people who thinned beets when they were young and talk about actually getting out of school in the fall to work in the beet fields, so the history of sugar beets touches the lives of many of our community members.”
The library director said there should be a lot of interest in the history of the sugar beet industry in this area and she is looking forward to hearing this part of the story.
Godfrey is a Cache Valley native, the son of Ken and Audrey Godfrey who both also have advanced degrees in history. His dad spent his career in the Church Education System.
Godfrey is a general editor on the Joseph Smith Papers Project. Godfrey currently serves as the Senior Managing Historian for Outreach and Engagement at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. One of the initiatives that he is working on is the developing relationships and sharing Church History Department resources and products with historical organizations, such as the Hyrum City Museum.
The library director said there should be a lot of interest in the history of the sugar beet industry in this area and she is looking forward to hearing this part of the story.
The Hyrum City Museum hosts special events one Saturday each month and will be open to visitors from 10:00 am to 3:00 pm.
Godfrey’s presentation, entitled A West Side (Sugar) Story: Big Business, Corporate Intrigue, and the West Cache Sugar Company, is sure to be an engaging new perspective on one of the valley’s oldest stories.
In addition to Godfrey’s presentation at 11:00 am, the Hyrum City Museum will offer an art activity for families. Van Huss also said this is the final month that the museum will be featuring the artwork of Hyrum native and Jump the Moon artist Kaya Eccles. Kaya’s artwork is amazing and really communicates how happy creating the pieces make her.
“Jump the Moon is an incredible local resource that helps artists of all abilities express their creativity and we’re very pleased to partner with them to host this wonderful art exhibit,” Van Huss said. “I hope that our community members will make the effort to come on Saturday for the presentation, the art activity, and the special art exhibit.”
To learn more about the programming and exhibits at the Hyrum City Museum, visit hyrumcitymuseum.org, follow them on Facebook and Instagram, or contact the museum via phone 435-245-0208 or email [email protected].
The Hyrum City Museum creates and maintains interpretive exhibits, provides educational activities, and actively collects and cares for artifacts and historical materials to offer a resource for visitors to make connections with local heritage and our community. Our small staff and volunteers aim to provide an inviting space for all visitors to feel a sense of belonging by learning, interacting with one another, and engaging with local heritage, which is sustainable and employs museum best practices. The museum is open Tuesday through Thursday from 10:00 am to 5:00 pm and for special programming.