Cedar City in Iron County, Utah — The American Mountains (Southwest)
The Hay Derrick
Hay derricks, usually homemade devices, consisted of a central pole rigged so that it could rotate on its base. By means of pulleys, rope, and a one-horse hookup, the loading fork could be raised and rotated over the haystack. When tripped, the hay would drop onto the stack. Men on top of the stack would arrange the hay so that it would shed water, thus the hay would cure rather than rot. Occasionally rattlesnakes might be hiding in the hay and provide a surprise for those on top of the hay pile. Stacks were built one section at a time. When one section was finished, the derrick was hitched to a horse and dragged to the next section.
This derrick was donated to Frontier Homestead State Park by local rancher Bud Bauer and relocated from his farm to the museum as an Eagle Scout project in May 2013.
Erected by Frontier Homestead State Park Museum.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Agriculture • Man-Made Features • Settlements & Settlers.
Location. 37° 41.315′ N, 113° 3.731′ W. Marker is in Cedar City, Utah, in Iron County. Marker is on North Main Street (Utah Route 130) south of Iron Mission Parkway (West 685 North), on the right when traveling south. Marker is located within Frontier Homestead State Park, overlooking the Hay Derrick exhibit, near the museum front entrance on North Main Street. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 635 North Main Street, Cedar City UT 84721, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. Legacies of Iron County (here, next to this marker); The Ore Shovel (a few steps from this marker); Pioneer Cabin (a few steps from this marker); The Caboose (within shouting distance of this marker); Cedar City's Iron Heritage (about 400 feet away, measured in a direct line); Cedar City Historic Pioneer Cemetery Wall (approx. 0.2 miles away); Deseret Iron Works (approx. 0.3 miles away); Pioneer Iron Works Blast Furnace (approx. 0.3 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Cedar City.
More about this marker. Marker is a painted metal plaque, mounted horizontally on a waist-high metal post.
Related markers. Click here for a list of markers that are related to this marker. Frontier Homestead State Park Museum
Also see . . .
1. A Mormon hay stacker or hay derrick. Photograph of a Mormon hay derrick in Grouse Creek, Utah. (Submitted on March 4, 2019, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida.)
2. The Hay Derrick. Library Congress Video presentation of what a hay derrick looks like, how it is used, and how it fits into the haying process. The hay derrick referenced in this video is a few generations newer than the one here with this marker, but the principles are similar. (Submitted on March 4, 2019, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida.)
Credits. This page was last revised on March 6, 2019. It was originally submitted on March 4, 2019, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida. This page has been viewed 839 times since then and 111 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5. submitted on March 4, 2019, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida. • Andrew Ruppenstein was the editor who published this page.