The Doughboy & Clyde Keefer Memorial Park

The Doughboy. Photo from the CIty of St. Anthony.

On January 17, 1920, a bill passed Congress granting the City of St. Anthony the parcel of land off Bridge Street known as the "The Island." The land had been used as a city park since before the turn of the century, cleared of brush with foot bridges built. Now called the Clyde Keefer Memorial Park, it’s for relaxation, fishing, picnics, and town activities.

The effort was made to clear the city's right to the site to establish there a memorial to the fighting men from Fremont County who had served in World War I.

The county commissioners ordered the statue of a simple “doughboy,” a term for a World War I infantryman. A base made of local lava rock was erected, the statue was placed in late May 1923, and covered until the unveiling on Memorial Day.

The morning of May 30, 1923, was cool and stormy, but by noon the sun was peeking through and a parade and the unveiling were enjoyed in calm and pleasant conditions.

Following a parade, a patriotic ceremony honored those fallen in battle during World War I. The LDS Tabernacle was filled to capacity. The audience participated in singing the opening and closing selections, "America" and the "Star Spangled Banner."

The Industrial School Band played, followed by the unveiling of the statue by Elise Gardner, selected for the honors because her father, John Anthony Gardner, was killed in action in 1918. County Commission Chairman O.O. Skalet presented the memorial to the ex-servicemen of Fremont County. William D. Hollist accepted the memorial on behalf of all servicemen of Fremont County. The St. Anthony Band concluded the program with a medley of national airs.

The Doughboy still stands, Fremont County's lasting monument to her fallen sons in World War I.

Unbeknownst to most people, there are actually two parks in this place. Most everyone thinks that both parks are Clyde Keefer Memorial Park. However the park south of the river on Bridge Street is called American Legion/Daughters of the Utah Pioneers (DUP) Park. The park on the north side of the river and on the island is Clyde Keefer Memorial Park, named for a mayor of St. Anthony and manager of the Utah Power & Light generating station in town.

The American Legion Park has two monuments. The first is dedicated to Fort Henry, which was built in 1810 by Capt. Andrew Henry. The fort was situated about five miles south of this park, also on the river.

The second monument is the Daughters of the Utah Pioneers (DUP) monument to the first house of worship built in the Upper Snake River Valley, in Egin, by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. It also memorializes all the pioneers who came to Fremont County.

From the City of St. Anthony Web site. Click here to reach the site.

This is part of the online edition of Henry's Fork Country.

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