And a big happy belated birthday to us. Just a few minutes before 8 a.m. Tuesday, Utah officially turned 109. If you're baking a cake, make it a big one. That's a lot of candles.
To commemorate the big day, a statehood celebration was held last night at the E Center in West Valley City, where free birthday cake and hot dogs were served, free stuff such as ski passes and guns was given away and the new governor, Jon Huntsman Jr., showed up for his first public appearance since being inaugurated the day before.
As grand as the party was, it still could not hold a candle to the very first one in 1896, when the news of our statehood reportedly overwhelmed just about everyone.
That celebration lasted three days. It began at 8:03 a.m. the morning of Jan. 4 when a telegram arrived from Washington, D.C., confirming that moments earlier Grover Cleveland, president of the United States, had signed the proclamation that officially brought Utah into the union of states.
"Business was suspended, crowds gathered, swarming the streets, shouting, laughing, and shaking hands, all to the accompaniment of bells ringing, whistles blowing, and a twenty-one gun salute firing," writes historian S. George Ellsworth in his essay on the Web site "Utah's Road to Statehood."
Jan. 4 was a Saturday, so the celebrating spilled into Monday, Jan. 6 — proclaimed "Inauguration Day" by Gov. Heber M. Wells. Inaugural ceremonies were held at noontime in the Salt Lake Tabernacle, which was decorated with a huge American flag that covered the entire ceiling. The flag had 45 stars, and the 45th one — Utah's — was illuminated.
Part of the glee was due to the natural excitement of getting full membership in such a great nation, but a bigger part was due to finding success after nearly a half-century of trying.
Six times before, Utah had applied for statehood — in 1849, 1856, 1862, 1872 and 1887 — and every time the application was turned down.
The neighbors were snickering. California got statehood on its very first try, in 1850; Nevada in 1854, Colorado in 1876. Even Wyoming and Idaho — with less history and population — preceded Utah into the United States of America, both coming into the fold in 1890.
The seventh try was a charm, though.
Utah's 1894 application, which included a promise by LDS Church leaders that polygamy would not be practiced by its members, finally produced an affirmative answer from Washington. (Coincidentally, many years later it would also take Utah seven tries before it would win the Olympics. On that basis, the Jazz only need to make five more trips to the NBA Finals before they bring home the rings).
Few who toasted statehood Tuesday probably appreciated Utah's long struggle. All that isn't just yesterday's news, it's the day before the day before yesterday's news. Not a single person is alive who stared up at the ceiling of the Tabernacle and saw that 45th star staring back at them. No one has personal knowledge of those years when Washington kept saying thanks but no thanks. (Granted, a few diehards continue to practice polygamy, but it's still against the law.)
We've crossed into two new centuries as a card-carrying member of the USA. We've had battleships named after us, and a beach at Normandy. We've even seen five states come in since we did (Oklahoma in 1907, Arizona and New Mexico in 1912 and Alaska and Hawaii in 1959). We've been a member since 1896. We're a pretty, old state. Feel free to swarm the streets.
Lee Benson's column runs Sunday, Monday, Wednesday and Friday. Please send e-mail to benson@desnews.com and faxes to 801-237-2527.