Home of Truth, Utah facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Home of Truth
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Entrance to the "Inner Portal"
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 Home of Truth
Location in Utah
Home of Truth
Location in the United States
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| Country | United States |
| State | Utah |
| County | San Juan |
| Established | 1933 |
| Abandoned | 1937, empty 1977 |
Home of Truth is a ghost town located in San Juan County, in southeastern Utah, United States. A ghost town is a place where people used to live, but now it's mostly empty. This settlement was a special kind of religious community in the 1930s. It was led by a woman named Marie Ogden, who believed she could talk to spirits.
The Home of Truth started in 1933 with 22 people. It grew to about 100 people at its busiest time. The people who lived there kept to themselves. They followed a very strict and simple way of life. Marie Ogden even took over the local newspaper to share her beliefs with others.
The community faced problems when Marie Ogden wrote about trying to bring a woman back to life. Local authorities investigated, and the news media paid a lot of attention. This caused most members to leave by the end of 1937. A few people stayed at Home of Truth until 1977.
Today, the empty buildings are on private land. They are a little-known sight along Utah State Route 211. Most people who see them are visitors heading to Canyonlands National Park.
Contents
Where is Home of Truth?
The Home of Truth is about 15 miles north of Monticello. It's also about 3 miles west of Church Rock. The community was spread out along a place called Dry Valley. This valley is surrounded by mountains. At the western end, the mountains come close together. This spot is known as Photograph Gap.
The main road to Newspaper Rock and Canyonlands National Park goes right through the old site.
The Story of Home of Truth
How it Started
Marie Ogden was born in 1883 and passed away in 1975. She was a wealthy widow from New Jersey. She was very active in her community. She helped the poor and led women's clubs. After her husband died in 1929, she became interested in spiritualism. This is a belief that you can communicate with spirits of the dead. She hoped to talk to her husband and find answers about life.
Marie Ogden claimed she received messages from a higher power. She said these messages came to her through "automatic writing" on her typewriter. She traveled around the country, giving talks and gathering followers.
In 1932, she announced a message telling her to start a religious community. This community would be dedicated to "the truth." She believed it had to be in a wild area, far from cities. She found land in San Juan County, Utah. She said this location matched her vision. In September 1933, 21 followers joined her in Dry Valley. They wanted to start a collective farm, where everyone worked together. They tried to buy some irrigated land, but it was too expensive.
So, they settled on a dry desert area near Church Rock. Marie Ogden believed this was a very special place. They began to build their community, which they called the Home of Truth.
Building the Community
The Home of Truth was built in three parts, spread a few miles apart.
- The Outer Portal had several buildings, including a shared house.
- The Middle Portal was the largest. It was supposed to have a chapel made of stones, but it was never finished.
- The Inner Portal had barracks and six houses. Marie Ogden lived here with her daughter. She taught that the Inner Portal was the exact center of the Earth. She also said that only those who lived there would be safe from future problems.
There were at least 23 buildings in total. Most were simple, made of wood or tar paper.
Life in the Colony
The people living at Home of Truth followed strict rules. They gave all their personal belongings to the group. In return, the group provided food, clothes, and a place to live. They were not allowed to use alcohol or tobacco. At first, they raised chickens, but later, they were only allowed to eat fish. Marie Ogden even told them to stop planting gardens.
Marie Ogden said she received instructions for the community through her typewriter. She also got messages during trips to nearby Shay Mountain. She taught about ideas like reincarnation (being reborn) and talking to the dead. She also believed in asceticism, which means living a very simple and strict life.
Marie Ogden also managed the community's money. In 1934, she bought the local newspaper, the San Juan Record. She became the editor and wrote a section promoting her ideas. She also used the newspaper to print pamphlets about her beliefs.
Everyone in the group was expected to work for the community. Women did household chores. Men worked on the farm and looked for gold, though they didn't find much. Water was hard to find, but they used a windmill to pump water for their fields. Members built all the buildings themselves. There was no electricity or indoor plumbing. This fit their belief in living simply. They also made their own furniture. Despite this simple life, the community grew. At its peak in 1934-1935, there were about 100 members.
A Strange Event
At first, the neighbors didn't pay much attention to the Home of Truth. But then, on February 11, 1935, a member named Edith Peshak died from cancer. She and her husband had joined the group hoping for a spiritual cure. Marie Ogden claimed that Edith was just "purifying" herself and would soon come back to life.
On April 4, 1935, Marie Ogden wrote in her newspaper column about talking to the dead woman. She also wrote about her beliefs in bringing her back to life. Marie Ogden kept Edith's body. She said it was washed three times a day in salt water and "fed" milk and eggs.
Rumors spread in the area. In June 1935, the county sheriff came to investigate. The authorities found Edith's body was well preserved. They decided to let the community keep it. They didn't think it was a health risk.
The Community Shrinks
Over the next two years, newspapers wrote many dramatic stories about the Home of Truth. They often called it a dangerous group. More than half of the members left because they were disappointed.
In February 1937, Marie Ogden announced again that Edith Peshak was about to come back to life. Investigators returned. They insisted that a death certificate be signed. Marie Ogden still claimed the woman wasn't truly dead. She was arrested. On May 4, 1937, she agreed to sign the certificate. But the authorities still couldn't find the body.
Finally, a former member came forward. This person admitted to helping Marie Ogden burn the body in August 1935. After this, all but seven of Marie Ogden's followers left Home of Truth.
What Happened Next?
Marie Ogden was left almost alone. She continued to support herself by publishing the newspaper. She also taught piano lessons to children in Monticello. In 1949, she sold her newspaper. She later moved to a nursing home in Blanding, where she passed away in 1975.
The Home of Truth property was sold privately in the 1970s. A few of her followers stayed at Home of Truth until September 30, 1977. On that day, the new owners sold the remaining items from the Inner Portal at an auction.
Today, the buildings at the Middle and Inner Portals are still standing. They are locked and dusty. A caretaker looks after them. Signs say "No Trespassing." A sign reading "Marie's Place" hangs over the gate to the Inner Portal. There is also a small cemetery with five graves.
Images for kids
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Entrance to the "Inner Portal"
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Photograph Gap
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Unfinished chapel at the Middle Portal
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Inner Portal buildings
