Ulrich Probst Home

This is the old log cabin up Snake Creek where Karl L. Probst was born June 7, 1895. It was called the Ulrich Probst home and had a dirt floor. On the back of the photo is this information by Mary Huber Probst:" Old home built in Snake Creek by Grandpa Probst (Jacob's dad Ulrich) about 1878. The family moved up to the ranch every summer for about 10-12 years. As boys and girls, we used to have good times together. John (Marguerite and Matilda's dad) and I used to wile away our time under the quaking aspen trees––reading and playing cards and croquet. Papa (Ulrich) bought the farm in 1891 before he went on a mission (to Switzerland), and when he came back, we (Mary and Jacob) lived for two summers in the log house. Karl (Probst) was born here in 1895. Many fond memories and good times around the old place."

On another photo is found this information written by Jacob Probst: "First house lived in after marriage, the summer of 1894, old homestead built 1878 by my father (Ulrich), I at that time being 14 years old. I helped in building the house the same year Brother John Huber built his house in Snake Creek (later known as Uncle Joe's Cabin). I spent some of the happiest and some of the most sorrowful moments of my life in this old log house. My only sister Emma E. Probst died in this house, 24th day of August, 1884, being eight years old at her death. Our first baby, Karl, was born here in 1895. My father (Ulrich) and family lived here during the summers for 12 years."

The family pictured may be Jacob Probst's family, but the picture could be older than that. If that is the case, it would be Ulrich's family.

Army Days

Memories of Karl L. Probst as told by Glen W. Probst:

Karl L. Probst, 1918

This is Dad (Karl) in his Army days. He was sent to Camp John Wise in San Antonio, Texas in 1918. There he was attached to a Balloon Reconnaissance regiment. Once Major Lambert learned of Dad's musical ability, he appointed Dad to organize a camp band to boost morale. He even took Dad into San Antonio to a music store where they bought the instruments needed. Dad played both the saxophone and trombone very well. He also conducted music well. Dad studied music at Blrigham Young University (BYU) in Provo, Utah, under Robert Sauer, a well-known musician in those days. Sauer was the one who composed the tune to "Springtime in the Rockies" (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1929_in_music Scroll down to 1929). As band director, Dad was able to include several other Midway boys in the band. They were all talented muscians. This kept them out of going to fight at the front.

Dad was discharged from the Army at Fort Logan, Colorado, the latter part of Feb 1919. He met Cree Wright and married her June 23, 1920, in the Salt Lake Temple. They lived in an old log cabin down on the Weber River, where their oldest son Bernard was born the following spring on April 1, 1821. Dad was teaching school in Oakley near Kamas, Utah. I remember his telling me that his first teaching contract was $800 for the school year.

Probst Grandchildren

Memories of the family as told by Glen W. Probst:

Probst Grandchildren, 1957

These are some of Karl and Cree's grandchildren back in the early-to-mid 1950's. At top is Lynn Probst (Bernard) next is Craig Probst (with boxing glove), next to him is his older brother Michael Probst, (both Gene's) and the next one is Max "Buzz"Probst (Bernard). The two in front are Bill Probst (Gene) and Allen Probst (Bernard) I took this picture in front of Bernard's home in Midway.

Lynn Probst (left) & Glen Probst (right)

This is my oldest nephew Lynn Probst on the left. He's Bernard's oldest son. Lynn passed away a number of years ago at about age 46. I'm on the right riding Blaze, the horse that I grew up with. Dad bought it as a small colt when I was about five. You can see our 1949 Ford Victoria Hardtop Convertible behind us. It was cream and turquoise in color. Also, the old house is covered with snow. Notice the pot rock construction of the walls. Those walls are about a foot or so thick, and since the pot rock is porous, it kept the house cool in the summer and warmer in the winter. We stuccoed the house some years later. Notice the icicles above the upstairs window.

Old Midway Grade School

Memories of the Old School as told by Glen W. Probst:

Cree's handwriting reads: "Here is where Dad & I met, I was teaching 6th grade. He came home from World War I. He taught here for 22 years. I taught here 2 years. All the family went to school here."

This is the old Midway Grade School. I went from first to eighth grade here. Clarence "Click" Probst (Dad's first cousin) was the principal. I have very fond memories of this period of time. Mr. Probst taught us all the old songs (many were current at the time). My favorite activity was to play marbles at recess. I could go to school with only two marbles and bring home over a hundred. I won a prize in the district marble contest one year--probably 1949 in the 8th grade.

In her history Mom records that she started teaching school for $50 dollars a month. Later, they raised it to $60/month.

Winter of 1949

Memories of the winter of 1949 as told by Glen W. Probst (pictures taken by GWP):

Cree Probst carrying groceries on the path from the road to home, winter 1948-49.

Mom was returning from Guy Coleman's store, approximately a two-mile round trip, where she had bought some groceries, including some Twinkies for me, my favorite food then. She had to walk. I don't remember Mom ever driving a car. She's wearing her fur coat. Since our circle driveway was too much to clear in the winter, we had a path straight out to the gate in front. That's where we caught the bus for school. Although winters were generally heavy, the winter of 1949 was especially severe. There was so much snow you could not see the fences. Caterpillars had to be used to clear the roads, and this made the banks on either side about 12 feet high.

Karl Probst home in Midway, winter 1948-49.

This is another perspective of the trail from the road to our house. We had an old Heatrola coal burning stove. In the winter it got really cold at night. I used to have a large cobble rock, about two-thirds the size of a soccer ball, that I'd picked out of the rocks lining our circle driveway. My sisters Nila, Madelyn, Marilyn, and Joyce also used rocks to keep warm at night. We heated these rock on the top of the Heatrola for about an hour before going to bed. I still remember carrying my rock upstairs to go to bed. I wrapped it in a towel or cloth so it wouldn't burn me. It kept me warm most of the night. You can see the upstairs window where I slept. Even so, I still kept the window cracked a little in the winter. Dad always got up early and started a fire in the stove, and it took some time for the house to heat up again.

Probst home in Midway, winter of 1948-49.

Dad parked our Black 1941 Ford Coupe out here on the road, since the driveway was too difficult to shovel. I've got a picture of it somewhere and will try to find it. Meanwhile, you can Google 1941 Ford (images) and see what it looked like. The black part on the snow bank is an old blanket, probably one Mom made, Dad kept it out there to throw over the hood of the car to keep it from freezing in the winter. Here you can get an idea of how massive the snow banks were.

I remember driving the milk cows into the barn one morning during the winter of '49. It was about 6:00 AM and dark. There was so much snow on the ground it was like descending into the mouth of a tunnel for the cows to go through the barn door. The temperature went to about 45º degrees below zero at least once that winter.