Mendon, Utah is located in northern Utah’s most beautiful Cache Valley, its many snow-fed streams keeping the valley a lush, cool green for much of the year. Cache Valley, as named by the early 1830’s American fur trappers who first worked these same streams and cached-up their goods near here, has long been a favored resting place. The settlement that would come to be known as Mendon, is nestled tightly against the western flank of the snow capped mountains that ring the valley, much as a young child tucked into its mothers arms. With the surrounding valley floor covered in a thick native grass and several nearby streams that could be diverted to water crops, Mendon looked to be an ideal location to establish a new settlement. It is for here then, that a small group of Mormon colonist pioneers from the Mill Creek, Big and Little Cottonwood areas of the Great Salt Lake Valley would strike out for in April of 1859. Mendon was to be the first of the new cities established in the Cache Valley, during this year of renewed expansion and colonization, following the peaceful conclusion of the so called, “Utah War” of 1858. As the second community to be founded in Cache County, she was for a long time the gateway into and out of the Cache Valley. The majority of the pioneers entering the valley during this time, would do so by the low divide just north of Mendon proper. Cache County was establised a few years prior, a product of the 1856 legislature sessions at Fillmore, Territory of Utah. Maughan’s Fort or Wellsville as it would come to be known, was established previously in the valley, during the fall of 1856. However this settlement was soon abandoned and left to the devices of the native Indians, aminals and the cold harsh elements of a Cache Valley winter, until the return of the settlers in April, of 1859. Thus Mendon has the dinstinction of being the oldest continuously inhabited settlement in all of the Cache Valley, currently comprised of Franklin County, in Idaho and Cache County, Utah.

Mendon was once referred to as the “North Settlement,” in those early times, being north of Maughan’s Fort, as Wellsville was referred to in those times. No other settlements were organized in the valley at this time. The name of North Settlement was used more or less until December 19, 1859 when Apostle Ezra T. Benson of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, named her Mendon. He was part of a traveling group organizing the new towns in the Cache Valley into what was to become the Cache Stake and had the honor of christening the newly formed ward and settlement, Mendon. It is thought that this was in honor of his hometown of Mendon, Worcester County, Massachusetts which is located in the Blackstone Valley. There are of course other versions of where the name Mendon came from, as all good history stories will. I will share a few of them latter over in the history section.

Information courtesy of http://www.pcu.net/web/mendon/

A stunning view and awesome full screen. You've captured it to perfection Nathan and your writeup is certainly very interesting. Fascinating history.

Very beautiful indeed and thanks for the write up Nathan.

Stunning Nathan, and the history lesson serves it well. Great job all the way around my friend.

Beautiful Image Nathan. It tells me that I must explore Utah soon. I have maped part of the state when I worked for the US Geological survey but only passed through it on the way to visit my daughter in California. Really a great posting Nathan. Well done

Nathan, God has indeed given you a most wonderful talent with a camera. I had your other post up on my computer screen for several days now and along comes this one. I can't describe how much I love your landscape work. Excellent, just plumb excellent!
Pat

This is an awesome capture, best I have seen in a long time. Great work, a 10 if I see it in the voting booth. And thank's for the history lesson.

Superb :)

Beautiful photo, I really love the clarity of it.

The light is making magic here mate. Lovely capture.

That light is amazing, a wonderful capture !!

Jacky

Great scene Nathan , a most wonderfull capture.

Such a gorgeous mountain view. The colours and light are stunning! And those clouds are just amazing. Wonderful photography!

oke I have learned something today and what a beautiful picture do you have with the story

Beautiful!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

0:-*

Really nice scene! Very good capture!

THis is an excellent photograph Nathen and I love the angle that you have captured this. i love the cloud coverage overr the mountain. I have added this one to my favs. Excellent work
jason

This is such a superb shot I like it so much its going into my favs.

Magnificent scenery & a beautiful shot, well worth the 10 I just now gave it in the Booth. Straight in to my faves Nathan !

Wonderful landscape Nathan!It almost looks like the hills are on fire.
Peace&Respect Jojo

Thanks, dear friends. I appreciate you stopping by.

Stunning capture, timing is everything!
JuneBug

Excellent image.Thanks for sharing.

Stunning!!

Luv the fence and the light play Nathan!!

Awesome coloristic ! Beautiful scenery! Especially i like a mirrow effect in the water and wonderfull light play on it!
Thank you for posting!
Johanna

Thanks! :)

This is by far one of the best photos I have probably seen on this site.

You could actually hunt with this view. I would envy the ducks.

A beautiful place. It seems quite serene. I can tell you really care for this place too by how you describe it. Cheers!

Great capture. The light on the hills is awesome. Thanks for posting!

You're welcome. Thank you for the kind compliments.

Your capture of the morning rays on the mountains is nothing short of spectacular, Nathan. That you got the reflection in the clouds and the water too, makes this an instant keeper.

Very Beautiful Shot

Beautiful place,and very good shot

Thanks :)

Wow! I love the image is mostly muted (but detailed) colours, with the splash of light on the mountains. Very interesting composition and use of shadows. Love it!

Ominous :)

I absolutely love this series of photos... the landscape is gorgeous and landscape gorgeous. Thank you so much for sharing!