Introduction to Our Story

           This is a small project that consists of a photographic family history from my own grandparents, and father. All commentary cited are either from the picture album provided by my Grandfather, or from a written account from my Father.

The names of the characters in this story are:

• Cleo Don Bishop (Grandfather)
• Norma Bishop (Grandmother)
• Kent & Thelma Bishop (Aunt & Uncle)
• Alan Bishop (Uncle)
• Jerold Bishop (Father)

Author of this blog, and (at best) family historian:

• Noël Mackenzie Bishop

             In the beginning, this motel was bought from Ruth Mitchell, whose husband, Edgar Bentley Mitchell, was the original builder and owner of this establishment, until his untimely death in 1959. She eventually sold it to my grandparents in 1963, who were seeking to invest their retirement into a business that would hopefully turn out more profitable in the end. The plan was to run it for seven years, and then sell it. This motel became the worrisome lifeblood and family-run operation going into 1970, when Mitchell Motel was successfully sold to Utah State University.
            The intent of this story is to try and capture some the physical elements of my own family, provide a small bit of historical insight as the building itself as it changes throughout the years, small bits of academic insight into the small bit of the tourism industry that embraced Cache Valley during the decade of the 1960's, and bring alive the anecdotal views of both my father and grandfather.

              And with that brief introduction, I will begin our story.