March Artifact of the Month: Pioneer Violin

This month at the McQuarrie Memorial Pioneer Museum we are featuring a violin with a long and meaningful family history.

Displayed in Room 7, this pioneer violin was used by the Hunt family for four generations before being donated to the museum in 1975 by John A. Hunt and Clarissa Hunt Jones.

The violin originally belonged to John Hunt Jr., who lived in Old Hebron in Muhlenberg County, Kentucky. After his death, the instrument was passed down to his son Amos Hunt, who came to Utah in 1853. The violin continued its journey through the Hunt family, passing from Amos to his son Jonathan Hunt, and then to Jonathan’s son Joseph H. Hunt, the father of the donors.

In 1875, Jonathan Hunt lived in Shoal Creek (Hebron) northeast of Enterprise. Jonathan loved music and often played the violin at community gatherings, dances, and special occasions. In the days before recorded music, instruments like this violin were an important part of community life, bringing people together for celebration and fellowship.

Family tradition holds that the instrument may be a Stradivarius violin, though this has never been confirmed. Regardless of its origin, the violin represents generations of music, heritage, and community in early Southern Utah.

Today, this treasured instrument helps tell the story of how music enriched pioneer life in Washington County.

Hunt Family violin used for four generations of pioneer musicians, played at dances and gatherings in Southern Utah. Donated to the museum in 1975 by John A. Hunt and Clarissa Hunt Jones. Displayed in Room 7.

Visitors are invited to see the Hunt Family Violin on display in Room 7 at the museum.