Debi Brady, a program coordinator and character guide at This Is the Place, said there was "a lot of suffering and sickness" for Utah's original settlers. Reports of forensics done on the pioneer bodies show malnutrition, interrupted development of children, tooth decay and starchy diets.

Heritage Park historian Paul Smith said in a statement: "It was not uncommon in the 1800s to lose up to one-third of your children to what would be considered benign causes today."

The cemetery is at the northeast edge of This Is the Place, overlooking a village with re-created or original buildings from 1847 to 1897. Down a hill, directly south, visiting children can run with handcarts and attempt to relive the treks of Utah pioneers.

Today, flowers will be placed at the 32 headstones in the pioneer cemetery. The cemetery can be visited from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. from now until Labor Day. For more information, visit: www.thisistheplace.org

---

E-MAIL: nwarburton@desnews.com