This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2010, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.
If you look up Labor Day in Webster's Dictionary, you will learn that it's a legal holiday in the U.S. and Canada honoring working people, first celebrated in 1882 in New York City.
But ask people on the street — or on the beach — what Labor Day is and you get something else: It's summer's last gasp, some say. Others celebrate it as a time to get together with friends and family for grilled meat and libation. And for many, it's just a day like any other.
For summer last-gaspers who took to Jordanelle Reservoir, Monday was a chilly reminder that, indeed, summer is unofficially over. When the sun rose over the Uinta Mountains on the reservoir in Wasatch County, the mercury was hovering around 40 degrees.
"It's cold," exclaimed Jolynn Miles on Monday morning. "We got blankets to ride in the boat."
Jolynn and husband, Dave, brought their extended family of 17 to their annual Jordanelle Park Labor Day celebration.
Daughter-in-law Melissa Miles feared the cold lake water. "We'll have to draw straws to see who gets in the tube with the kids."
But it was son-in-law Matt Selander who got wet first, setting the boat's anchor.
"It's as cold as the BYU offense," he said as he waded ashore.
Nonetheless, it was smiles all around and although a little nippy, the azure sky was cloudless.
"It doesn't matter if it's cold," Jolynn added. "We're here as a family and that's all that matters. We'll always remember the day we went to Jordanelle and froze."
Karen Tarawhiti and Jeff Hardy of West Jordan were on their way to Strawberry Reservoir to drown some power bait when they had second thoughts and pulled off at Jordanelle, where it was bound to be about 10 degrees warmer.
Tarawhiti is originally from New Zealand and Hardy is from California. The two were bundled up against the cold and said they just wanted to be near water — the fishing was merely an excuse to get out.
"We'll throw a line in and we could be here for a week and not get a bite," Hardy grinned.
But the cool air could not thwart Peyton Blanchat, 8, her 11-year-old sister Lindsey, and their friend Cailee Collier, 11, from knee-boarding behind their dad's power boat.
"We're not afraid of the cold," announced Lindsey. "We're just crazy."
Added Collier: "Today, I'm trying wake-boarding for the first time."
LaRonda Blanchat said she and husband, Chris, weren't exactly surprised Jordanelle was not crowded for the holiday. "We figured it was going to be cold, but it's the last blast of summer and our last chance to get the kids out here."
By contrast, Centennial Park in West Valley City was a balmy 65 degrees by midday as Tangi Atiga and Afatia Toilolo began setting up a big Labor Day cookout.
They expected about 50 hungry friends and family members and were busy barbecuing about 200 pounds of chicken and New Zealand sausages.
"Every Labor Day, this is where we all get together, said Atiga. "It's about love and food. It's about getting together. We love it."
Across the park, another big party was gathering with grilled chicken and roast pig. The celebration marked the first birthday of Meki and Ema Jungblut's daughter, Marie.
"Usually we go to the lake," said Teresa Angilan, "but it's their daughter's birthday, so we'll eat and hang out and dance all day."
A much different holiday materialized at Salt Lake City's Pioneer Park as the Salt Lake Mission sponsored its annual Labor Day picnic for the homeless.
Several hundred people had gathered by early afternoon to chow down on hot dogs with all the trimmings.
A friendly warmth pervaded the park, backed up with preaching by various speakers, including one who told her captive audience not to fear: "God has a place for you up there."
Emil Wells, 46, seemed to take the scene in stride. He's at the park most every day.
"Labor Day is just another day to me," he said. "But I like seeing them doing something for the homeless. We all need help sometime."