Though more recent than a lot of the history that I try to record here, but a significant portion of history itself is actually fairly recent.
The
Honeyville Hermits were unofficially formed around 1977. Early members were Ron Reeder, Dave Stacey, Mike Hunsaker and mostly carried on through the Reeder and Stacey sibling through the years. As an upcoming generation saw a large enough group to add to their ranks, the late 1980s saw a surge in the ranks of The Honeyville Hermits, with over a dozen locals identifying themselves as such. This was the truly the gilded age of The Honeyville Hermits. One of the questions frequently asked of the hermits is "what does that mean (hermits)?". My best explanation is that we just plain didn't do much with girls; not so much out of disgust as much as it was that their just seemed to be a bit higher balance in the male population. Add that to the alluring lifestyle of a future adult life with no real responsibility and being able to do whatever you want, including hanging out with the guys and just having a good time.
Generation one of the Hermits had painted the "The Few, the Proud, The Honeyville Hermits" on the old cement factory along I-15, between Brigham City and Honeyville. That slogan lasted quite a while before it was painted over; however, it had set a precedent for making our presence known on the old crumbling concrete structure. It was painted again in 1996, but that only lasted one year before being painted over.
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| Jake Anderson and Jay Miller holding the repelling rope for the painter on the outside wall. |
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| Jared Howard was the brave one who used our make shift harness and a rope help by two friends on the back side. |
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| Posing after the 1996 cement building painting. Jake Anderson, Jay Miller, Jared Howard, Mark Reeder, Nate Miller, Ben Reeder, Casey Harper |
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| 1996 Hermit sign on the old cement factory |
There was a spot higher up, on the top-right corner of the south wall
that had never been painted yet. This time the Hermits vowed to go all
out, a big sign at the prominent spot, previously unpainted. The paint
was even sealed for a long life. That sign lasted for well over 10
years. Currently the entire cement factory has been painted gray (2016).
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| 1997 painting of the cement factory - this one lasted about ten years. |
One great tradition started by generation 2 of the Hermits was the
famous Hermit float in the Honeyville Fourth of July parade. Starting
in 1997 and running through 2005, each float was proudly planned at
breakfast and executed within an hour.
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| 1997 Hermit float - too hard to make out who is who, especially since we were incognito the first year. We were dancing to YMCA for this picture. Hard to see, but there was a dead cat tied to the front of the truck (already dead, we didn't kill it). |
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| 1998 Hermit Float - cage wrestling |
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| 1999 Hermit float - Jay William Anderson driving. Jared Howard, Nate Johnson, Ben Reeder, Josh Kelly, Jared Anderson, Jay Miller, and Mark Reeder (not seen here) |
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| 2000 Hermit Float - Jay William Anderson driving, Mark Reeder, Jay Miller, Ben Reeder, Jared Anderson, Ted Reeder, and Jake Anderson |
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| 2001 Hermit float - Jared Anderson, Jake Anderson, Jay Miller, Jim Madsen (in back), and Ben Reeder. Most Like Jay William Anderson driving. |
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| 2002 Hermit float - Ted and Mark Reeder are on the right |
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| 2003 Hermit float - Nate Miller, Ted Reeder, Jay Miller, Jared Anderson, Mark Reeder, Jared Howard, and Jake Anderson |
A few random group photos
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| A reception for Scot Stacey. Scot, Spencer Howard, Jay Miller, Jim Madsen, Jeremy Johnson, Jared Andersen, Steve Stacey, Mark Reeder |
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| 1998 - Seaworld - Jay Miller, Mark Reeder, Jeremy Johnson, Spencer Howard |
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| Party like it's 1999. Headed out for the 1999-2000 New Year's Eve Party at the Bay in Salt Lake City. Curtis Bingham, Mark Reeder, Jeremy Reeder (back), Jack Anderson (front), Jay Miller, Spencer Howard, Ben Reeder, Jared Howard |
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| Dressed up for the premier of Austin Powers 3 - Jake Anderson, Jay Miller, Mark Reeder |
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| The eve of Jared Anderson leaving on his mission (1993). Mark Reeder, Jay Miller, Jared, Ben Reeder, Nate Johnson, Scot Stacey, Jeremy Johnson |
Slowly, generation 2 of the Hermits began to marry (though I must point out, later in life than the average Utahan), there was not enough generation 3 Hermits to keep many of the traditions alive, and though there are still a handful of generation 2 and 3 Hermits that have not taken the vows of marriage, they are older now (older - I did not say old) and no longer carry on any Hermit traditions.
As far as a continuing line of Hermits, there were no longer younger sibling of Hermits to carry on the tradition and spread it to their friends. Changing town dynamics also contributed to the decline in membership.
Now, I have been writing in past tense, but this is not truly accurate, as a Honeyville Hermit is always a Honeyville Hermit. Wherever they have moved and regardless of what they are currently doing in life, the kinship of the Honeyville Hermits continues. And if you watch closely on the Fourth of July, you just may see a few of them around.
Any comments or additional Hermit traditions noted in the comments section would be greatly appreciated.
THE FEW, THE PROUD, THE HONEYVILLE HERMITS!
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