BLANCHARDVILLE - The village with a population of about 800 people was once a Mormon community called "Zarahemia," or "City of God."
Zenas Gurley and his fellow Mormons first came to the area in 1850 and established a community.
Gurley had broken away from Mormon leader Brigham Young due to Young's practice of polygamy.
The goal of the settlers was to create a Mormon community. There were some converts to the Mormon religion.
The settlers built log cabins, a general store and a grist mill.
Education was important to the settlers and the Mormons constructed the first school.
After a few years, many of the early Mormon settlers traveled back to Nauvoo, Ill.
By the mid-1850s Alvin Blanchard and Cyrus Newkirk had signed a certificate making them "owners" of Blanchardville and began to sell land to settlers.
Within a short time a hotel was built, and it was followed by a blacksmith shop, a shoemaker's shop and a business that sold farm equipment.
Blanchard became the postmaster in 1858.
By 1862 there were 55 buildings in the village with over half of them used for businesses.
Zenas Gurley and his fellow Mormons first came to the area in 1850 and established a community.
Gurley had broken away from Mormon leader Brigham Young due to Young's practice of polygamy.
The goal of the settlers was to create a Mormon community. There were some converts to the Mormon religion.
The settlers built log cabins, a general store and a grist mill.
Education was important to the settlers and the Mormons constructed the first school.
After a few years, many of the early Mormon settlers traveled back to Nauvoo, Ill.
By the mid-1850s Alvin Blanchard and Cyrus Newkirk had signed a certificate making them "owners" of Blanchardville and began to sell land to settlers.
Within a short time a hotel was built, and it was followed by a blacksmith shop, a shoemaker's shop and a business that sold farm equipment.
Blanchard became the postmaster in 1858.
By 1862 there were 55 buildings in the village with over half of them used for businesses.