The Escalante Camp of the Daughters of Utah Pioneers (DUP) unveiled a new monument on Saturday to memorialize the location of the Jensen area’s first school. Jensen, originally known as Riverdale, was settled in 1877 and received its first school in 1881 when Miss Lydia Chatwin was hired as a school teacher for that area. The young Miss Chatwin was only 13-years-old but came well qualified as the daughter of a teacher who taught for many years in Heber City and Santaquin. Lydia assisted her father at his schools until taking the position to teach in Jensen where the family had started a cattle ranch along the Green River. She taught 5 children total from two families and the school room was located in a three-room log house owned by H.G. Williams. At the age of 18, Lydia Chatwin married Heber Richard Wall and the couple lived in Jensen and raised a large family. Saturday’s events also included a ceremony that was especially memorable as about 60 people attended, many of whom were descendants of Lydia Chatwin. This project was about 4 years in the making, shares Addie Snow, Captain of the Escalante Camp. Daughters of Utah Pioneers International paid for the plaque and local volunteers coordinated the rest, with many individuals and organizations donating time and resources to make it all possible. The monument is located on 6500 South at the site where the log house was once located.
