• • The white bird on the mountainside was the first sight the Indians looked for when they came to their summer camp ground in Morgan County. [With a little imagination, you can see the pigeon in the largest snow patch on the peak at the center of the picture.] Indian Charlie, his slouch hat bedecked with feathers, led the caravan of ponies and riders into the valley each spring. If he saw the perfectly formed outline of the bird on the mountain ridge, he knew that all danger of high water had passed. A good sized, weU fonned snow bird in late April or early May meant there would be water runoff into the summer for irrigation of crops. If the bird was already melted by early spring there could be a bad drought. When the early settlers came to establish homes and cultivate the valley, the legend was passed on to them. Among the first to learn the legend of he Snow Pigeon was Thomas Rich (1847-1940) whose family came to Richville in 1861 and later to neighboring Porterville. His granddaughter, Veda Porter Mortimer, remembered her father's story thus: " It was an Indian legend and they, as well as grandfather, depended on it a great deal for successful farming. The story was that the bird was a friend and saw to it that there was plenty of water for the crops. Grandpa was happy each year when the outline remained until Pioneer Day, July 24. He would say "There'll be no drought this year" and he would work his farm on that basis. "When the bird left early he began ways to conserve his crops for whenever the dry spell might come, for he was sure there would be one. He was never easy in his mind when the bird left earlier." **** **** This story and other history of the area was provided by Vera Carter of Porterville, Utah ~rs • • •