My trip to Colorado City

Last October (2007) Joel and I went to St. George, Utah for his annual "Tournament of the Goons", or TOG as it is called. That is where his buddies from high school (BY High) get together for a weekend of food, fun, and golf. They have a golf tournament where prizes are awarded, etc. The best part for me is the food--always good. The host was Ray Beckham. His wife Elaine, rescues women and girls from polygamy. She runs a non profit organization and basically helps women escape, and puts them up in a safe house, etc. On Saturday, she had a rented van and some women in her neighborhood had donated some very nice furniture for this safe house that has been established in Colorado City. This safe house belongs to the trust that oversees the property in Colorado City. Joel and I went with her, and some other volunteers, to deliver the furniture to the safe house. It was quite the experience to be able to go there with someone that knew what was going on there. This home had 27,000 square feet, with 17 bedrooms and 17 bathrooms, along with a huge industrial sized kitchen. A former polygamist and her husband run this place. There were all kinds of people living there at the time. We spent the afternoon, moving boxes, furniture and visiting. As soon as we arrived there, the people who live there started driving by, checking out what was going on. I stood by the curb with my camera, and they didn't want their picture taken, so they didn't stay.

Joel and the "keeper of the inn"

Joel and his women--the former polygamists who helped with the moving.

On the far right is Sara Hammond. Her mother is still in polygamy, and her father is dead. He didn't even know who she was when she lived in

the compound. She had 11 mothers. Her mother is in a wheel chair and lives in Centennial Park, and is taken care of there. Sara wants to get her out of there, but where would she go at her age???????

The view from the back of the house

Sara again. She is so bitter towards men, she said she will NEVER get married, EVER.

Local children walking by

These two girls are sisters, and asked Joel if he was a reporter. They live nearby and work at the restaurant "The Merry Wives". These girls would love to leave, but don't dare. They are the sisters of the home's caretaker, who's name I can't remember!