In Memory of Monroe and the Early Granger Schools (Copy)

“Ringing Through Time”: The Monument to Granger’s Earliest Schools

On the northwest corner of the Harmons Business Offices (4031 W. 3500 So. -Harmon Bldg. N.W. corner) stands a modest yet stirring landmark—an elegant granite bell cradled in yellow brick. Dedicated in 1983 by the Valley West and Julia Eldredge camps of the Daughters of Utah Pioneers (DUP), this monument preserves the story of Granger’s pioneer schools and, most especially, the beloved Monroe School.

A Community‐Built Tribute

* Design & Craftsmanship – Sculptor–mason Robert Light fashioned the bell from polished granite, framing it in yellow brick so it would harmonize with the Harmons Building that shelters it.
* Grass‑Roots Leadership – Stella P. Frahm—once both student and teacher at Monroe School—chaired the project, aided by fellow alumnae Enid Woodbury, Patsy Larson, Cleo Light, Martha Moulton, and Jean Fjeldsted.
* Unveiled – October 1983, fifth‑floor auditorium of the Harmons Building, with local descendants, educators, and DUP members in attendance.

What the Inscription Tells

Carved into the bell’s face is a concise history that begins with Joseph Harker’s 1848 crossing of the Jordan River and the spring he discovered—an oasis that enticed settlers westward. By 1870 families had taken root in Granger, teaching children around kitchen tables until:

West Granger School (1882) – a 16 × 24‑foot log structure at 3500 South & 4000 West on land donated by Alma Mathews; Miss Moore its first teacher.
Dewey School – half a mile west of Redwood Road; tuition paid by families who also arranged their own transport.
Monroe School I (1893) – a two‑story brick building erected atop part of the West Granger foundation; pot‑belly stoves on each floor kept students warm.
Monroe School II (1903) – a three‑story replacement that evolved through several remodels before its 1972 demolition.
Monroe School III (1973) – built at 3100 South & 4400 West, where students still gather today.

The Bell That Gathered a Valley

“There was a large bell in the old Monroe School belfry. Its resounding chimes echoed across the valley. Children ran, walked, rode in white‑topped wagons, buggies, or winter sleighs, all racing to reach class before the bell’s final toll.”

When the first Monroe School came down in 1924, the bell vanished into lore. The monument’s granite twin now stands in its stead—silent, yet symbolically ringing for every generation that hurried to those chimes.

Why It Matters

* Educational Roots – Many pioneers packed precious books alongside food and seed, convinced that learning must flourish wherever they settled.
* Civic Cohesion – The schools doubled as meeting halls, dance floors, and polling places—binding neighbors into a single community.
* Living Heritage – Today shoppers and office workers pass the bell daily, a tangible link between Granger’s agrarian past and West Valley City’s bustling present.

Gratitude in Granite

The inscription closes by thanking Ray Green for project guidance, Linda Harmon Green for research help, and Irene Harmon (with her son Terry) for securing the monument site. Their combined efforts turned memory into stone—ensuring the story of Monroe School and its sister classrooms will never be lost to widening roads or changing skylines.

So pause the next time you round that northwest corner of the Harmons Building. Run your hand along the cool granite, and imagine the clear clang of a bell calling children from farm, field, and dusty lane—reminding us that education, community, and a shared dream for something better have always been at the heart of Granger.