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Utah Centennial Studies

 


Ghost Riders and Rest Stops Packet B

 

ECHO STATION

Dear Pupils,

Echo Station was located in Summit County, near what you may know as Echo Canyon Creek. Many years after I rode the Pony Express the station was called Castle Rock Station and it became a gasoline stop for automobiles. Finally it was closed when the highway in Echo Canyon was rerouted. Can you find out why the road was rerouted? Echo Station wasn't much of a stop even in its good days. One early traveler described it as "A mere structure of slabs to keep the wolves away."

High on the vertical cliffs above Echo Station, Mormon minutemen led by Bishop Joseph Murdock built rock wall fortifications to stop the advance of Johnston's Army. Pine poles were cut square and blackened with stove black, and when seen from the canyon below, they looked exactly like cannon barrels! 500 men stood guard behind those fortifications hoping that Johnston's army would think that they were up against a well armed group. Over the years many valuable relics from this time have been found. What others ways could the minutemen have tricked the army or helped protect the city of Salt Lake?

Echo Station was also a main supply station for the Overland Telegraph Company when its lines were being strung down Echo Canyon. Countless thousands of insulators and miles of copper wire were stored there. Meals and lodging were available to travelers. From Echo Station the trail continued down past Hanging Rock. Hanging Rock had a fine water spring, a nice change from the muddy water of other stops. From Hanging Rock, the road continued down to Weber Station.