As a young boy growing up on a back lane in Garfield County during the depression, Jerry Roundy had no idea what his future would hold. The CCC boys would walk past his home on their way to town from the only CCC camp in the nation with a swimming pool. Jerry witnessed pivotal events in American history during his youth.
He enlisted in the Navy, became a history professor, and taught in Hawaii, Israel, and Idaho, where he retired. After his wife’s death, he married a high school friend, and they moved back to Escalante.
When you know where you are from and who you are, it is easier to face the unknowns of life.
Jerry knew who he was. He knew about his foundation growing up in a rural town. He was confident in his knowledge and appreciation for his past. Jerry shared his passion for his hometown by educating natives and newcomers about the many routes of Highway 12, which traveled to Boulder, and the old Cream Cellar Road, where milk was taken and stored for pick-up. He wrote a book on the history of the settlement and informed the townspeople of how explorers suggested the name Escalante after the river named after Father Escalante, who had never been in this valley.
Jerry started the Escalante Heritage Center, a museum and gift shop where people can watch a video reenacting the Hole in the Rock expedition. He was instrumental in creating a veteran’s memorial in the town park. He wrote several plays that were performed annually at the Heritage Festival, reenacting significant events such as the sawmills, race track, the three CCC camps in this area, and Hole in the Rock expedition. All these events helped shape Escalante into what it is today. He preserved, promoted, and celebrated this valley.
Escalante’s Heritage Festival and Jerry Roundy’s productions ended around 2015 when his health failed. But his contributions live on. In 2020, the Wild Potato Festival was started, highlighting the indigenous plant that fed Native Americans and settlers alike when they arrived in the valley. Indeed, the valley was first known as Potato Valley for the presence of these tuberous plants.
The Escalante Heritage and Wild Potato Festival
Deciding that the humble potato is too limiting a theme however, organizers rebranded the festival this year as the Escalante Heritage and Wild Potato Festival. The overwhelming response from volunteers has been an indication of how eager the locals are to preserve, celebrate, and promote what we have.
When we are grounded in our roots, we are stable and more capable of supporting others who may need steadying.
Escalante Heritage Park on May 30-31
The Escalante Heritage and Wild Potato Festival will be held at the Heritage Park on May 30-31. On Friday, we have scheduled a sourdough pancake breakfast, classes, demonstrations, displays, vendors, children’s activities, performers, and a drum circle, quilting, live music, and guest speakers.
On Friday evening, after a potato bar supper at the Showhouse, Indigenous journalist turned farmer, Alastair Bitsoi, will share his Four Corners Potato Journey. As the finale of the day, Lindsey Lindsay will do a presentation of the interviews she conducted with local legendary cowboys who have passed on.
On Saturday, we will have more demos, classes, performers, children’s crafts, a potato dish cook-off, and a contra dance at night at the Old Gym to wrap up the weekend.
This festival’s purpose is to bring people together, celebrate the stabilizing heritage of this great valley, and encourage us all to preserve it for the future. We need many more volunteers to reach this potential. Please contact Karen Munson or Melyssa Holbrook with any questions and ideas.
– by Karen Munson
Feature image caption: Dance Hall Rock, Hole in the Rock Road. April 22, 2006. The Mormon pioneers used to hold square dances here during the Hole in the Rock expedition. It is now a historic trail.
Read about the 2024 Wild Potato Days event here.
Karen M. Munson – Escalante
Karen is an associate editor at The Byway. She is fascinated and fulfilled by all things involved with writing. After graduating from BYU, she taught English at Escalante High School for three years. She pursues opportunities to write and support others in their writing. Karen has published three books with four more scheduled to be released in 2024. She and Reed are the parents of ten children and the grandparents of 35 grandchildren.
Karen is the author of the New Twist on Mental Health column in The Byway.