“Heberisms” are terms or phrases that were commonly used by residents of Heber. They weren’t exactly a foreign language, but they did have special meaning to the residents of Heber. I will try to explain some of the ones I can remember.
Aunts and Uncles: A genealogist would go crazy trying to figure out family relationships in Heber. If you walked down the street in Heber you would hear the kids refer to adults they passed as “Uncle” or “Aunt”. When I was growing up in Heber it was common for kids to refer to any older adult in the church, whether they were related or not, using these terms. We lived across the street for “Uncle Laurald and Aunt Vera”. Our next door neighbors were “Uncle Mart and Aunt Ruth”. The actual relationship between me and these relatives was more accurately cousin or 2nd cousin.
Heber was a small town and members of the larger families often intermarried at some point. Uncle Laurald was my real cousin. He was my Aunt Eliza Bigler’s son. Aunt Liza was Dad’s oldest sister. Aunt Vera was the daughter of Uncle Dobby and Aunt Alice. I think Uncle Dobby was probably my 2nd cousin or cousin once removed. Maybe using the term “Aunt and Uncle” was a way of showing respect to our elders, or maybe it was just because of the confusing relationships. Whatever the reason, I and every other kid in town grew up with lots of “Aunts and Uncles” keeping an eye on us.
Work in the Woods: This term referred to those who worked in the logging woods. They could be those who cut down the trees, those who skidded the logs, those who loaded or drove trucks to haul the logs or to anyone who was associated with either the Porter or Southwest logging operation. Interestingly, my Dad worked for the Forest Service in the woods but he was never classified as someone who “worked in the woods”.
Work on the mill: This term had nothing to do with building or repairing the sawmill. This term referred to those who “operated” the sawmill or worked there in any capacity. It did not refer to those who worked at the Pulp Mill for some reason.
Up the Canyon or Down the Canyon: These were phrases that indicated direction. Up the canyon meant going south “Up Buckskin” or Southwest “Up Black Canyon”. To go down the canyon was to go northeast “down the canyon” after they joined at Heber and flowed toward Holbrook.
Up on the Hill or Mountain: This term referred to the area called the Mogollon Rim. As you leave Heber and drive toward Payson you are going “Up on the Mountain” although the climb is quite gentle. The elevation difference between Heber and the Rim is about 1000ft.
The valley : The term refers to the Salt River Valley area not to other valleys closer to Heber.