I have two copies of the History of Plain City, Utah. The front indicates it is from March 17th 1859 to present. As far as I can tell, the book was written in 1977. At least that is the latest date I can find in the book.
One copy belonged to my Grandparents Milo and Gladys Ross. My Grandpa has written various notes inside the history which I intend to include in parenthesis whenever they appear. They add to the history and come from his own experience and hearing.
I will only do a number of pages at a time. I will also try to include scanned copies of the photos in the books. These are just scanned copies of these books, I have not tried to seek out originals or better copies.
History of Plain City March 17th 1859 to present, pages 107 through 122.
SCHOOLS
Poplar School
Submitted by Roxey R. Heslop
Poplar was a branch of the Plain City Ward and it received its name from the long rows of Poplar trees on both sides of the street.
The school district was organized in 1891. First school was held in the home of Peter McCue located about 3475 West 1975 North. James L. Robson was the first teacher followed by Mrs. W. Winslow and Myra Gray.
A room school house was built about 1894 at 3320 West 1975 North. This picture is not the Poplar school which had no windows in the front but on the west side and three was a wood shed at the back but it is very similar in many ways.
The teachers were Bessie Zinn, Blanch Bagley, Freed W. Dalton, Naomi Tracy, Emma Anderson, Sarah Stevenson, Etta Brow, Lottie Henigar, Minnie Rudiger, Melvina Wayment, Esther Steward, Welthy Lake, and Pearl Tracy.
The Poplar School House was the center of church and social activities. Sunday School was organized 3 Sept. 1894. Primary and Religion were held there.
Dances were wonderful. Everyone danced and the young folks were taught to waltz, two-step, quadrills, polkas, schottisches and others that were popular at that times. Richard Lund with his violin accompanied by his daughters, Annie or Alminda on the organ. Often lunch was served. Children’s dances were held.
The Poplar Lane people were like a united family. Everyone went to church and attended all social events. All the children played together.
Nearly all of the folks have gone but those who are left enjoy wonderful memories of the days of activity, associations and inspirations that was bought from the one-room school.
CLASS PICTURE TAKEN IN THE POPLAR SCHOOL
Poplar school was a one room building. This picture was taken during the school term of 1901-1902 with Etta Brown as teacher. Later she married LeRoy E. Cowles who became the president of the University of Utah.
Top row: Emma Cottle, Elmer Robson, Ada Skeen, Williams Allred, Walter Cottle, Anzley Miller Luckart, Parley Taylor, Luella Cottle Stanger, Edmund Furnis, Alma Furnis, Laurence Cottle, Leslie Taylor, John Taylor.
Bertha Urry, Kate Urry East, Pearl Taylor Lund, Bertha Robson England, Alice Urry Wayment, Josephine Cottle Monroe, John Jackson, Elmer Taylor.
Roxey Robson Heslop, Manila Taylor Hancock, Emma Taylor Homer, Kate Kensley Nalder, Parley Stoker, Blanch Kenley, Drysdale, Unknown, Jessie Kenley Wayment, Evelyn Taylor Cottle, unknown, Martena Taylor Surrage, Merl Jackson, Zina Urry, Nellie Kenley Draney.
Some were too young to go to school and were brought for the picture.
Submitted by Roxey R. Heslop
Bottom Row
Pearl Taylor Lund, Lester Taylor, her brother
2nd Row From Bottom
Kristina Grieve, John Quincy Blaylock, Principal
Lula Marriott Neal, Hazel Skeen Rhead
3rd Row
Bertha England, Ruth Hodson Wheeler
Sylvia Richardson Singleton, Ruby Ipson Hunter
Jesse Cottle
Left to Right, Back Row:
Mable Palmer, Noland Taylor, Gilbert Maw, Leone Lund
Middle Row:
Iris Poulsen, LaVerna Davis, Principal John C. Neal, Florence Singleton, Ruth Poulsen
Front Row:
Clifton Kerr, Marion Sneed, Arvilla Taylor, Ellis Giles, Margaret Hunt, Gilbert Taylor, Harold Carver
PUBLIC SCHOOL BUILT IN 1906
This is located on the site of the present Plain City Elementary School.
It included elementary through tenth grade in later years. The last year the tenth grade was held in the school was 1947. After that, it remained in use as an elementary school.
The front windows were bricked over and later the front doors were bricked when the gymnasium was added to the east.
Still later, a cafeteria was added to the west. The building was demolished in 1955, leaving the later additions and adding a new addition of classrooms to the east that same year.
The students pictured at the bottom of the picture are enlarged on the3 following pages.
Weber County School District was organized in 1906-07. Plain City was dedicated in September of 1906.
The teachers are: John Quincy Blaylock, Laura Lamon, Rosabell O’dell and Elda Cooley.
1909, 8TH Grade Graduation Class.
Back row L to R: John Taylor, Roxey Robson (Heslop), Easter Lund (Stevenson), Elvin Maw, Mildred England (Hart) (Robins).
Front row L to R: Lona Ipsen ( – ), Teacher John Q. Blaylock, Bertha Hodson (Bullock).
Enlargement of the students in the 1907-07 school picture on the preceeding pages, showing the center one-third of the students.
Early school buses were privately owned and used for summer vacations and school trips.
Enlargement of the students in the 1906-07 school picture on the preceeding page, showing the left one-third of the students.
L. Rulon Jenkins, teacher and Principal of the 1906 school during later years in the 30’s and 40’s.
Early classes held in the 1906 school during succeeding years. Dates and identities not known.
Early Plain City Class Picture Date and teacher unknown. We hope you can identify a parent or grandparent to make it more meaningful to you.
View of the 1906 school after the gymnasium had been added and more modern bus transportation used.
CLARA SKEEN THOMAS
SUBMITTED BY BEVERLY B EDDY
The Plain City School Hot Lunch Program was organized by Clara Skeen Thomas, wife of George Sidney Thomas. Clara Thomas was the first to start the Hot Lunch Program at the Plain City School 1923-1924.
She received $1.00 per day. She served vegetable and tomato soups, chip beef gravy on mashed potatoes and chili. These were purchased at the cost of three cents a bowl. With this money she received from the food, she would but the materials needed to prepare the next meal.
For years, she cooked and prepared the food at her home. She would have to take it up to the school each day. This would consist of three blocks each way. Later the school purchased a coal oil stove, which made it possible to prepare the food at the school. Each year the Hot Lunch program started in November and ended in March. Clara Skeen Thomas cooked and prepared the hot lunch at the Plain City School for eleven years and never missed a day.
SCHOOL LUNCH PROGRAM
L to R: Ivy Carver, Elizabeth Lund, Vacona Singleton, Tillie Moyes, Bell Woods.
SCHOOL BUS TRANSPORTATION
SUBMITTED BY ELMER ROSE
Oh what progress in education when in 1926, Weber High School opened its doors for County students. This high school is located on Washington Blvd. and presently occupied by the Adult Education Center.
Elmer Rose, of Warren, drove a bus to accommodate the northwest area of Weber County. Mr. Rose’s route covered several miles each day. He picked up all the high school students from Warren and both elementary and high school students from the south end of Plain City. He dropped the elementary students off at the Plain City elementary school. The student’s near the street car tracks were left to ride it to the high school.
Mr. Rose then continued his route through the North Plain City Road, back along highway 84 to within a reasonable distance from the car line. Then after passing the Harrisville along the route to Ogden limits.
On the route going to the high school, Mr. Rose picked up the Farr West Elementary students and delivered them to the Farr West School. He returned down the North Plain City Road picking up the elementary students for Plain City School.
The bus contracts to maintain and operate these units of transportation were awarded by bids. The lowest bidder getting the job if his outfit met the approval of the school board.
The inside of the bus had a bench on each side facing the center. The girls usually occupied these seats. In the center was a bench called a straddle seat. The boys were crowded together astraddle this bench.
The first bus was small and about 30 students were crowded into it. The students gave this bus the nickname of “Cracker Box”.
He often chartered his privately owned bus to take scouts, F.H.A. and other groups on excursions and other activities.
Mr. Rose removed the bus from its chassis during the summer so that he might use the truck for farm trucking.
This picture is of the second privately owned bus maintained and operated by Elmer Rose. This bus had a large capacity, accommodating about 50 students.
BUSSES LOADED IN FRONT OF WEBER HIGH SCHOOL IN 1926
The first buses to transport students to Weber High School in 1926 were operated and maintained by the individual owners. The contracts were let to the person whose bid was accepted by the Board of Education. Since these first buses were individually owned, the owners often used them for 4-H, temple, and various other excursions and activities.
Owners often used them for hunting trips. Family and friends slept in them overnight lodging away from home. The straddle bench was removed to make room for the bed.
Some owners removed the bus body from the chassis and placed another bed on the truck, so as to utilize it for farm trucking during the summer.
School transportation has evolved from the horse-drawn school wagon to the giant sized yellow school bus.
Today students ride to school fairly comfortable. The buses are warm, the seats padded, the radio plays popular music. These luxuries were undreamed of by the students who rode in the white top covered wagon, or the horse drawn sleigh in the midst of winter.
SUBMITTED BY RUTH FOWERS
SCHOOL LUNCH PROGRAM WORKERS
L to R: Hazel Kennedy, Mabel Moyes, Thelma H. Palmer, VaCona P. Singleton- Head Cook.
L to R: Principal Earl Cragun, Fern Hogge, Mabel Moyes, Norma Jensen, Hazel Kennedy.
Three view of the Plain City Elementary School as it stands today in 1977 with its many additions.
Sagacity 