Near Monticello in San Juan County, Utah — The American Mountains (Southwest)
Verdure
Photographed By Bill Kirchner, May 18, 2016
1. Verdure Marker
Inscription.
Verdure. . The oldest Mormon settlement in the Blue Mountain Region was first known as South Montezuma. Later the name was changed to Verdure after the lush green growth along the stream bed. Verdure was settled by men of the Blue Mountain Mission March 11, 1887, under the direction of Pres. Francis A. Hammond of the San Juan Stake. He called George A. Adams, Frederick I. Jones, Parley R. Butt and Charles E. Walton to establish a new settlement at North Montezuma, later named Monticello. They first set up camp at Verdure to prepare for a permanent settlement at Monticello, six miles to the north. , When company members moved on to Monticello in 1888 the Adams and Butt families remained at Verdure. By 1894 they were joined by the Alvin Decker, Willard Butt, Lingo Christensen, R.P. Hott and Francis Nielson families. Nielson operated a store and a school out of his log home, the first church met in the Decker home, and in 1893 a post office was installed in the Adams home. , Verdure was a peaceful frontier village where cattle, farming and cheese-making were the main occupations. Gradually the settlers moved to Monticello.
The oldest Mormon settlement in the Blue Mountain Region was first known as South Montezuma. Later the name was changed to Verdure after the lush green growth along the stream bed. Verdure was settled by men of the Blue Mountain Mission March 11, 1887, under the direction of Pres. Francis A. Hammond of the San Juan Stake. He called George A. Adams, Frederick I. Jones, Parley R. Butt and Charles E. Walton to establish a new settlement at North Montezuma, later named Monticello. They first set up camp at Verdure to prepare for a permanent settlement at Monticello, six miles to the north.
When company members moved on to Monticello in 1888 the Adams and Butt families remained at Verdure. By 1894 they were joined by the Alvin Decker, Willard Butt, Lingo Christensen, R.P. Hott and Francis Nielson families. Nielson operated a store and a school out of his log home, the first church met in the Decker home, and in 1893 a post office was installed in the Adams home.
Verdure was a peaceful frontier village where cattle, farming and cheese-making were the main occupations. Gradually the settlers moved to Monticello.
Erected 1995 by Monticello Camp, Daughters of Utah Pioneers. (Marker Number 481.)
Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Settlements & Settlers
Click or scan to see this page online
. In addition, it is included in the Daughters of Utah Pioneers series list. A significant historical date for this entry is March 11, 1887.
Location. 37° 47.163′ N, 109° 20.898′ W. Marker is near Monticello, Utah, in San Juan County. Marker is on U.S. 191 at milepost 65.5, on the right when traveling north. Marker is 6 miles south of Monticello, on east side of highway, at bottom of Verdure Hill. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Monticello UT 84535, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Credits. This page was last revised on June 16, 2016. It was originally submitted on June 5, 2016, by Bill Kirchner of Tucson, Arizona. This page has been viewed 663 times since then and 84 times this year. Photos:1, 2, 3. submitted on June 5, 2016, by Bill Kirchner of Tucson, Arizona.