Orderville celebrates Soup Town Days on April 19

Orderville was established at the direction of LDS Church president Brigham Young in 1875 specifically to live the United Order, a voluntary form of communalism defined by Joseph Smith. The settlers grew their own crops and had some small farms surrounding the settlement. They also used local materials to make their own soap, brooms, buckets, furniture, etc. Orderville had blacksmiths, clerks, artists, musicians and other professions.

Images via Town of Orderville.

One of the most talked about items of the United Order history is the communal dining hall where every man, woman and child ate their meals. With so many mouths to feed, soup was an easy meal to make. Hence the nickname of Soup Town. This experiment in communal living was the longest-lasting order, with a decade of success.

In 1885, the enforcement of the Edmunds Anti-Polygamy Act of 1882 effectively ended the Order by jailing many of the Order’s leaders. Nearly a century and a half after the final vestiges of the LDS Orderville United Order disappeared, the town remains a tight-knit conglomerate of pioneer stock, and what better way to celebrate a lasting heritage than to eat soup!

At Soup Town Days this year, there will be a United Order display, essays and dioramas from the Valley High School kids, a Wiffleball Tournament, Lawn Mower races and, of course, soup! This year, the soup is FREE from 12-2 p.m., and you will be tasting the many cook-off entries.

The Lawn Mower races will be held a little later this year at 5 p.m., and we will have the concession stand open serving hamburgers and hot dogs.

The Daughters of Utah Pioneer Museum still preserves the unique history of Orderville and is open by appointment during the winter months and during summer months on Fridays and Saturdays 12-5 p.m.

Learn more about this event at souptowndays.com.