Four years ago, I took the kids on a trip. As was tradition for me as a kid, we always stop at Red Rock Pass when driving past. I shared that story and history in a previous post from 2018. That post also had photos of a younger Aliza and Hiram. Now I share these photos from two years later on 26 July 2020. I will have to take more pictures as time pass to show the timelessness of the pass and the marching of time on growing children.
James, Lillie, Hiram, and Aliza Ross climbing Red Rock Pass.
Lillie, Aliza, James, and Hiram Ross
In the background, you can see the road on the right headed to Oxford, Clifton, Dayton, and Weston, Idaho. On the left, the state highway continues on to Swanlake, Winder, and Preston.
Another article clipped by my Grandmother, Gladys Donaldson Ross. This references a fire of a home that belonged to Harold and Jennie Ross. Jennie is a Van Leeuwen cousin of my Grandma, Harold is the brother to my Grandpa. Jennie told me at one point, she may have thought the fire was intentionally set to get back at her by Harold. She lost some of her prized Charlie Russell paintings in the fire.
“Pleasant View – Although they would have liked to, city officials here voted against loaning city equipment to help clean up after a recent house fire.
“City councilman and Mayor Richard Diamond said they feared such an act would set a precedent that may be difficult to live with as the years come and go.
“In addition, a group of citizens appearing before them on other matters felt the same way.
“Voiced Sympathy
“Mayor Diamond asked the group how they felt about granting such a request involving the home of Harold Ross at 975 W. 3800 N., that was gutted by fire.
“Several of the people responded. They also expressed sympathy for the cause, but said it would not be wise for the city to loan the front-end loader.
“A couple cited other examples in which such requests could have been made and said there would be no place to “draw the line.”
“Debris left over by the fire was being cleared by volunteers, mostly neighbors and friends.
“The front-end loader, it was explained, would have come in handy to scoop up the debris and load it into waiting trucks.
“In further illustrating the problem such an act would create, Councilman Leonard Cevering mentioned an experience at his own home.
“He said he came home at 10:30 one evening to find his basement half full of water.
“”I would have been great if I could have called the city and had them bring over a piece of equipment to dig down and drain the water out,” he said.
“As it was, he added, the task involved considerable time and expense on his part. He said there could be a number of such problems in the future.
“City officials, however, did not rule out the use of city equipment during emergency situations when lives or property might be threatened.
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 141 through 149.
BONA VISTA IMPROVEMENT DISTRICT
SUBMITTED BY FLOYD PALMER
This most important new culinary water system has made life a little more pleasant in this community and surrounding areas. It was turned into the lines just a century after sturdy pioneer families first put together temporary shelters and tapped several sweet water springs which they found in the area.
It replaces old flowing wells, bringing precious waster from the depths of the earth. In early days many deep and surface wells dug, covered over, and fenced off to keep children from falling in. They were first fitted with “pitcher” pumps, a short-handled affair which were the “pumper” out in a short time. Even the farm animals had to depend on well water pumped to the surface by hand.
Later, the easier to work, long-handled pumps were installed. These were followed by power pumps connected to a small storage tank. This was the ultimate in a private water supply.
In 1955, a Weber County man, Linn C. Baker, was a member of the State legislature. He is the one who sponsored the bill to create special improvement districts. The reason he was the sponsor of this bill was due to his work in the Health Department for the State of Utah. As he studied samples of water sent to him from the outlying towns, he became aware of the amount of contamination there was in the drinking water in certain areas, Plain City was among the highest on the list. This was traceable to shallow surface wells being used, also septic tanks with poor drainage.
Soon after the Weber Basin Conservancy District was organized, Plain City wanted to purchase one-thousand-acre feet of water. Their request was held in abeyance until a line could be built from Ogden Canyon. This, however, was never done.
Elmer Carver was on the executive committee of Weber Basin Project. Through the encouragement of Commissioner Carver, Mr. Ezra Fjeldsted, manager of Weber basin Project, and Linn Baker, all met with the Plain City Town Board to get something started. Floyd A. Palmer, a member of the Town Board, was asked to represent Plain City on a committee of surrounding towns in Weber and Davis counties. Mr. Ezra Fjeldsted acted as chairman of this group and several meetings were held in both counties which Mr. Palmer attended.
Following this, a public meeting was held in Plain city. Farr West, and Harrisville were asked to join in. This was for the purpose of starting a culinary water system. The results of this meeting, from all groups attending, were to go ahead, also to contact other nearby towns and get their feelings about joining in.
A series of meetings were held in Farr West, Harrisville, Slaterville, Marriott, Wilson Lane, and Plain City. Other towns were invited to attend. Ezra Fjeldsted represented Weber Basin, Floyd A. Palmer represented Plain City, Dick Groberg represented Farr West, Kenneth Brown represented Harrisville, Clifford Blair represented Marriott and Slaterville, and Arthur W. Sorensen represented Wilson Lane. The meetings were all met with a great deal of enthusiasm and interest.
Plain City Town Board consisted of Lee Olsen, President, Floyd A. Palmer, Elvin H. Maw, Merrill Jenkins, Blair Simpson, as members. A culinary water system was a prime item of the agenda in 1956. The town board along with several local residents were well organized to promote the need for a water supply to replace the surface wells and pumps.
On July 19, 1956, Elmer Carver, Chairman of the Board of County Commissioners of Weber County, State of Utah, signed a certified documents that there be and is hereby created within Weber County, Utah, a Water Improvement District to be known and designated as the BONA VISTA WATER IMPROVEMENT DISTRICT, the same to embrace and include all real property lying within the following boundaries, to-wit: (SETS FORTH DETAILED LEGAL DESCRIPTION OF DISTRICT BOUNDARIES WHICH BOUNDARIES EMBRACE LANDS HEREIN ABSTRACTED – Abstracter)
That the following-named persons are appointed as the Board of Trustees of said Bon Vista Water Improvement District:
Floyd A. Palmer, Plain City
Richard Groberg, Farr West
Kenneth Brown, Harrisville
Clifford Blair, Marriott-Slaterville
Arthur Sorensen, Wilson Lane
This resolution shall take effect immediately and shall be recorded in the office of the Weber County Clerk. Recorded August 22, 1956.
Following this appointment from the Weber County Commission, the board held a short meeting. It was necessary to elect a chairman, after a discussion of each of the board members. Kenneth Brown was appointed as chairman.
The first order of business was to secure professional and legal help. Mr. Jack Richards was appointed attorney. Jack Reeves, of the firm of Nelson, Reeves and Maxwell, was appointed engineer. They were appointed to do the field work and present the plans and drawings back to the board.
When the plans were completed, the board spent much time deciding the most feasible and economical areas to run the lines in. Also, to give each town a fair share of the project. Following this, it was necessary to project estimated costs. The board spent many months getting costs and deciding on types and kinds of pipes and materials to use on the project. The overall plans had to look attractive and feasible in order to get a bonding company to handle the bonds.
The first step made to secure the bond issue was to get signed pledge cards with an agreement to pay $250.00 for a waster connection. This was a requirement. Committees were organized with Floyd A. Palmer, Richard Groberg, Kenneth Brown, Clifford Blair, and Arthur Sorensen acting as chairman in each of their respective towns. The result was very successful, all those serving on these committee are deserving of much credit for their untiring effort and accomplishments.
On August 20, 1957, a bond election was held to see if the residents would approve a $900,000.00 bond issue. The vote was 490 yes and 82 no. Edward L. Burton Company was retained as Fiscal Agent, and $698,000.00 was sold in General Obligation Bonds, and the system was under way.
On April 14, 1958, a contract was awarded to Smith-Scott Pipe Company to furnish cement mortar-lined steel pipe for the main lines.
Also, on April 14, 1958, a contract was awarded to Knudson Construction Company to install water mains in the Harrisville-Randall area which was Phase I of the project.
Also, on April 14, 1958, a contract was awarded to Chicago Bridge & Iron Company to furnish and erect a 250,000.00 gallon elevated storage tank in Plain City.
On April 28, 1958, Theron Palmer was hired as General Superintendent to oversee construction and to get it ready to serve and operated as a system.
On May 27, 1958, an office was rented from the E. B. Stone Estate on the corner of 9th and Washington. The district still maintains its offices here. The building was purchased by the district in 1969 and has been remodeled.
On May 27, 1958, negotiations were begun with the State Department of Welfare of obtain ownership of a spring located in Garner’s Canyon in North Ogden. The spring was used at the time by the welfare department at the Industrial School property for culinary use and irrigation use.
On May 27, 1958, Weber Basin let a contract to Statewide Construction Company to build the 16-inch transmission line from 4000 South on U-84, down into the district where Bona Vista could connect to it.
Also, on May 27, 1958, a piece of property located at 4100 West on 2200 North in Plain city, was purchased from Vern Palmer to construct the elevated tank.
Bona Vista Water Storage Tank
Raymond Concrete Title Company moved in and drove concrete pilings 80 feet into the ground to support the tank.
Gerald Larkin was then awarded a contract to construct a foundation so Chicago Bridge and iron could begin erection.
On July 3, 1958, a contract was awarded to Bert Robinson Construction Company to build lines in the Farr West and Plain City.
Also, on July 3, 1958, Standard Plumbing Supply Company was awarded a contract to furnish materials for service lines.
On July 17, 1958, the Weber County Commission agreed to purchase 60 fire hydrants to go on the system to be located by the Weber County Fire Chief.
On July 17, 1958, Smedley construction Company was awarded a bid to construct lines in the Slaterville, Marriott, and Wilson area for $44,975.00. The same day Mac Construction Company of Salt Lake City was awarded the bid to construct our North Ogden Reservoir for $16,911.00. This is a concrete underground reservoir.
On August 11, 1958, an agreement was reached with the Welfare Department to obtain full use of the spring in North Ogden. Weber-Box Elder water was purchased to replace the Welfare Department’s share of the spring.
On February 11, 1959, work began on the plans and site for a reservoir in the Roy area.
On March 23, 1959, it was decided to run a line on the North Plain City Road.
On August 27, 1959, it was decided to either buy or condemn the Hansen property for a reservoir.
A bid to build a tank in Roy was awarded to Wehyer Construction Company for #31,403.80 on September 23, 1959.
Negotiations began to buy an eight-foot well from the Farr West Stake for $31,403.80 on September 23, 1959.
Linn C. Baker resigned as Secretary on January 1, 1961. He had been with the district since it began.
On December 6, 1961, it was decided to construct extensions to existing mains in the amount of $90,000.00 General Obligation Bonds were sold to finance these extensions. Waterfall Construction Company did the job.
All though the summer of 1961, the Farr West well was tested to see if it would hold up.
On February 28, 1962, President Wimmer signed the Warranty Deed on the Farr West well and property. On January 16, 1963, it was decided to put heat lights on our Roy tank. This was the first such installation in this area and it drew a lot of attention.
The Utah State Health Department studied the plans for use of the plans for use of the existing well in Farr West and decided against allowing it to be used because of its depth. A change application was then filled with the State Engineer to drill the well to a deeper depth.
On May 10, 1963, a contract with Wesley Stoddard was made to drill a well in Farr West for $21,632.00 plus $4,700.00 for the test hole to see how deep the well would have to go.
A meeting was held at the Farr West Pump House building on January 20, 1964. This building was contracted by the Bona Vista Water employees. The piping was also done by employees of Bona Vista.
R. W. Coleman Company was awarded a contract for $18,877.50 to change some lines under the interstate highway on November 22, 1965.
Negotiations began on March 28, 1966, with Weber Basin on the North Ogden Well, which was later drilled and is used in the system now.
Water meters were deemed necessary and were bought by bid from Waterworks Equipment Company and E. C. Olsen Company on October 28, 1968.
New Plain City Canal
BEGINNING OF PLAIN CITY IRRIGATION WATER
1859 Before the summer was over some water had been brought in their new ditch from Four Mile Creek to Plain City. In 1860, the Canal was completed to Mill Creek, the following year to Broom’s Creek and in 1862 to the Ogden River. The Right of Way in Weber River was purchased in 1873 at a cost of $2000.
In 1899 Samuel Wayment drilled an Artesian Well 249 feet deep producing additional water for the settlers. He also was in charge of the iron work and the building of the Chief Canning Factory in Plain City.
PLAIN CITY IRRIGATION-CEMENTING OF THE MAIN CANAL
SUBMITTED BY Wayne Skeen
For many years the Plain City Irrigation Company received it’s water from the Weber River. The diversion point into the canal was just north of the old American Packing Plant that was later called the Swift Meat Packaging Plant. The Irrigation Company had a large Plank Head Gate in the Weber River that forced the water into the Plain City Irrigation Company Canal because of high waters in the spring this gate would wash out and it was necessary to make a gravel and dirt dam each year using horses, scrapers, and even large bulldozers. In recent years this became a major problem.
The government began planning the Willard Project in 1960. This project would interfere to a certain extent with the existing canal used by the Irrigation Company because big Willard Bay Canal would be built in part of our existing canal and would also cross it in part of our existing canal and would also cross it in other areas. The leaders of this project wanted to provide a turn out from the big canal into the Plain City Irrigation Canal. The corporation of our company was necessary to give them the right to use the area affected by the construction of the Willard Bay Canal. The logical point of diversion would be west of the Farr West Church House. This meant that some new construction would be necessary to get the water into the old canal. It was in need of some repairs and it was at this time that the idea of a new cement lined canal was entertained.
Directors who served during this period of construction were as followed:
President Abram Maw 1959-60
President Alvin J. Robson 1961-65
Vice President Walt Christensen 1959-64
Vice President Carl Taylor 1965
Bert Hunt
Charles Heslop
Keith Blanch
Mike Panunzio
Secretary Wayne Skeen 1959-65
High lights of the minutes of the meetings during the construction period are as follow:
August 11, 1959
Ogden City had extra water for sale this year which was allocated out to various canal companies. A motion was made by Alvin Robson that this water be purchased to see them through the current season. It would be paid by those stock holders who subscribed for the extra water.
April 4, 1960
The meeting was called to discuss the new canal. Charles Heslop was assigned to work on interested free money from the Utah Water & Power board for the construction. Alvin Robson was assigned to work with the Soil Conservation on the completion of the surveying of the canal, and additional monies.
July 12, 1960
A meeting was held to discuss a possible shortage of water for the remainder of the year. Time was changed from 20 shares per hour to 25 shares per hour.
January 9, 1961
A priority was established with the Utah Water an Power board for interest free money and application made for $100,000.00
A survey showed that there was a 10% loss of water between the River turn out and the Point of use.
March 8, 1961
The Irrigation Company received a $10,000.00 cash settlement for their rights in the old canal from the O.U.R.D. Railroad Company that passes through their yards.
Alvin Robson, Carl Taylor, and Walt Christensen was to secure information regarding tiling of the canal from Victor Lund’s corner up to the Jesse Singleton property where the canal leaves the road and runs back into the fields.
April 20, 1961
A report was given by Alvin Robson regarding the tiling of the lower part of the canal. There were mixed emotions about tiling this section of the canal because of the fall and the amount of water to be delivered. “Alvin Robson commented as the discussion went on concerning the piping verses the cement lining. The stockholders are residents of this town and should have some concern towards the improvements and beautification of the community and that an open cement lined canals to greet the people entering the town is not very inviting and once it was constructed it would never be changed in our life time.”
Keith Blanch speaking as a town board member expressed his opinion regarding the beautification and eliminating hazards in the community and felt that it was worth while and the tax payers should help with the construction of the Irrigation Company in piping this section of the canal.
Glen Charlton and Lee Olsen from the town board were present. An opinion was asked from the town board members. Mr. Charlton felt it was a worth while project as long as it was right. Mr. Olsen commented that it was a good thing as long as it was sufficient to meet the needs of the water users.
The town board members agreed to cover the pipe that was laid with dirt. It was agreed that 2880 feet of 36 inch tile would be laid this spring from the old beet dump corner to Victor Lund’s corner.
April 27, 1961
The Town board members present: Dee Cook, Glen Charlton, Kent Jenkins, and Lee Olsen. Mr. Covey from Utah State University was also present.
Further discussion concerning cost of construction of the concrete pipe continued. Keith Blanch made a motion that the town board and property owners should join with the Irrigation Company in the cost of the 36 inch tile to be laid. Motion seconded by Carl Taylor
Mr. Robson suggested the property owners who would benefit from the lining of the canal pay $1.25 per foot frontage towards the pipe. The Town Board said they could only participate within the city limits and they would contribute $4,000.00 over a 10 year period. The bids were to be sent to Secretary Wayne Skeen by March 30, 1961.
April 30, 1961
The purpose of this meeting was to open bids. Utah Concrete Pipe Company received bids for 36 inch concrete pipe at $8.75 per foot. Waterfall Construction Company was awarded the laying of the pipe at $1.55 per foot.
Abram Maw made the motion that the project not be stopped at the beet dump corner but continue up to the up to the weir east of the water tower (where the pipe portion of the canal now starts) if the property owners will contribute $1.25 per foot. Motion seconded by Keith Blanch.
Charles Heslop ad Elvin Maw were asked to approach these property owners and get their approval to pay the $1.25 and also contact all stock holders and get their signature for government participation thru the Soil Conservation.
Charles and Elvin were successful in getting all the names except Jesse Singleton who would not accept any government monies and would not pay the $1.25 per foot to tile in front of his property.
Alvin Robson contracted Howard Singleton, Jesse’s boy and he agreed to pay the $1.25 but only up to the old house that sat in the field and that is where the concrete pipe starts today. Alvin Robson tried to convince the Director’s that they should at the company’s cost tile the remainder of the ditch along the road because any future expansion of the community would by hampered by open ditch reducing the width of the road. This motion turned down.
Walter Christensen made the motion that Alvin Robson meet with the Soil Conservation to discuss details of cost and tiling and lining the canal.
April 31, 1961
Alvin East, Maurice Skeen, and Owen Wayment from the Warren Irrigation Company met with the directors to discuss details and sign a contract for the exchange of Ogden and Weber River which would benefit both companies. The contract was signed.
Mr. Daniel Lawrence from the Utah Water & Power Board attended the meeting. Keith Blanch made the motion that Alvin Robson and Wayne Skeen be given the power to enter into a contract with the Utah Water & Power Board for the total cost of $1,300.000.00 and formulate all details.
May 3, 1961
Junior Taylor was appointed as Water Master of the year.
May 15, 1961
The purpose of this meeting was to discuss the Weber Basin Project with E.J. Feldstead and commissioner Wilmer Carver. They needed additional votes to finish construction of the Willard Bay. A proposed addition would cost seventeen million dollars.
June 5, 1961
The purpose of the meeting was to see what should be done because it appeared that there would be a water shortage before the end of the year. It was proposed that we only run off water until the stream reached a point that we could not water properly and then start to use our shortage water and put turns on 1/3 basis.
September 27, 1961
The new project was discussed and it was recommended that the company hire an engineer and begin construction on the upper end of the new canal.
There were many problems that came out of the construction of this canal. It would be necessary to get some dirt to construct the pad for the canal. The company purchased some ground at the upper end of the canal from Max Stander. Then got the dirt that was necessary to build the upper end of the canal and then leveled the ground and gave it back to Mr. Stander. They also purchased additional dirt from Robert Penman. This dirt was trucked from his property just south of the Weber River and west of the main road. The dirt was hauled by farmers using their beet trucks, etc.. The new pad was made in the old canal banks where possible, but there was some trading of land etc. to straighten out the canal. There was also a problem in getting someone to dig out the canal to the size and shape required to allow 50 seconds feet of water at one time. The company asked for bids, but they only received one because the equipment needed to shape the canal was not available. In order to get the project moving Alvin Robson caught a bus on Ogden and went to the Fuller Forms Company in Arizona to see if they had some type of equipment that could be used. He purchased a right to one of their slip forms that could be used in forming and pouring the concrete. He returned to Ogden and worked with the Ogden Iron Works on 23rd Street and Grant Avenue where the construction of the slip forms took place. The next problem was to begin the construction of the project. Dean Hadley of Taylor was hired to do most of the big equipment work. Local farmers also helped with their equipment. The Soil Conservation furnished the engineering on the project. Herbert Issackson of Pleasant View was the surveyor. One of the major problems that existed and is still a yearly discussion is the amount of water delivered from the existing head gates. The government required that curtained head gates must be varied in size for them to participate financially.
Oct 1962
There was much contention and personal feelings during the construction of how it should be done. Some people left the jobs and never came back, but the project was finally finished. The construction created problems for some but most of the inconveniences were ratified by the Irrigation Company. New bridges were built, land was leveled, damages to property was crops were paid for during the construction. The Company paid for fencing materials with the property owners installing the fences. Cattle that used to walk across the stream would fall into the new lined canal and couldn’t get out. The Company paid for some of the cattle that were lost before the agreement to install fencing was made.
The total cost of the project was $199,754.08. The amount of $122,918.61 was borrowed from Utah Water & Power Board. This money was interest free if a yearly payment was made by November 30th each year. The last payment of $8.257.06 will be paid on November 30, 1977. Other cost not being paid by the stockholders come from the Soil Conservation and the sale of pieces of the old canal, and the town board. Vice President Bill Hatch of the First Security bank was also an asset in the financing of the canal.
We borrowed monies from the First Security Bank as construction went on to pay for cost on a daily basis. On December 31, 1974, the company owed the First Security bank $60,000.00 Alvin Robson and Wayne Skeen met with Mr. Hatch in May regarding this bill. Mr. Hatch said that the bank needed some type of security for this loan. There was nothing to give him because out rights to the canal had been given to the Utah Water and Power Board. Alvin Robson and Wayne Skeen then approached Mr. Lawrence of the Utah Water and Power Board asking them for more money for the project explaining the situation with the bank. Alvin Robson explained that they might just as well take over the ownership of the canal because the bill had to be paid. There was nothing to offer as security because the Utah Water and Power board had everything that the company owned. Later, Mr. Lawrence of the Utah Water and Power Board gave the Irrigation Company an additional $30,000 which helped to delete that note at the First Security Bank.
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 123 through 140.
SPORTS IN PLAIN CITY
By Lyman H. Cook
Plain City’s most prominent claim to fame has been through the sports program and the great players and teams that the town has produced. I know of no other town to community in this state, to possibly out of state, that can equal the accomplishments in the total sports program as the town of Plain City. I don’t know how many hundred championships or trophies this town has won in baseball, basketball, softball, volleyball, and Jr. Posses, over the last 75 years or more. We include the young teams and people in the town, and also the girls. These trophies and championships came from local, county, multi-county, state, stake division, region, multi-region, and All Church basketball, softball, and volleyball, which is the largest leagues in the world.
On February 14, 1977, at 3:30 PM, there were 226 trophies in the trophy cases at the Plain City Church. I couldn’t begin to estimate the number of trophies in the homes here in Plain City. Can you comprehend the number of teams involved and especially the number of people involved on the teams in accomplishing this great record.
There seems to be a special spirit, or force, ambition, or drive, that compels players to excel and teams to win. The will to win in Plain City is the strongest I have ever known. We have been accused of playing dirty, or being poor sports, but in answer to these charges, I would submit the phrase: We just play hard, and the spirit of competition just brings out the best in us. In Plain City you don’t hope you can win, you are expected to win. Some communities dislike us for our sports program because it is so strong, and in reality, they judge their success of their season by the fact of whether they can beat Plain City or not. I realize these are rather potent and strong statements, but never the less, they are all true.
We dedicate this section of sports to all the people who have ever played on a team in Plain City. We realize that some names will be missed and it is not our intent to forget anyone, but we can’t remember all, and this is all of the sports material that has been turned in for the history. If your name is left off, write it in, and if you were star of the team, write that in also.
We have asked for and received personal write-ups on a few people who have signed professional contracts or have distinguished themselves in certain sports. We recognize them for their talents in that they in turn have brought special recognition to Plain City. I am sure these talented athletes would be the first to recognize their fellow members, for they realize that no one man is bigger or better than the whole team, and in this light, we recognize the teams they played on.
From 1944 until the present, there were three basketball teams that went to All Church and won two second places. Commencing in 1951 through 1954, we played in four fast-pitch All Church Tournaments. We won a second-place finish and eight-place finish.
In 1953, we played on a volleyball team that went to the All Church Tournament and won the Sportsmanship Trophy, which was a great honor. The team that played were: Dee Cook, Lyman Cook, Wayne Cottle, Wayne Skeen, Blair Simpson, Kenneth Lund, Harold Hadley, and others we couldn’t remember.
There were teams that went to the All Church Slow Pitch Tournaments from Pain City for three years. They won two All Church Championships, and a third-place finish. There have been some excellent younger teams in baseball, basketball, and softball, and a Junior team last year (1976) won a second-place in a
The All Church program.
This was one of the early teams of Plain City, and this picture was taken around 1910. They played together for many years, and they won several championships.
Top Row: L to R: Joe Hunt, Tooley Louis Poulsen, Preston Thomas, Parley Taylor, Jack Hodson.
Middle Row: L to R: Mr. Anderson, Coach, Jim Thomas, Melvin Draney
Bottom row: L to R: Oscar Richardson, Joe Singleton
Louis Poulsen
Tooley Poulsen played on many championship teams, and played several positions, mainly second base and catcher.
This was one of the first Mutual basketball teams in Plain City. They played their games in the upstairs of the old hall. Lyle Thomas reports that you didn’t have to be polished to play on this team, just big and rough, for there was very little whistle blowing in those days. This picture was taken in about 1925, and they won several championships.
Back Row: L to R: Rulon Jenkins, Lyle Palmer, Marion Sneed, Milton Garner
Front Row L to R: Theo Thompson, Ralph Robson, Coach Ellis Giles
This was the 1930 Plain City Baseball team. They played for State Champion ship.
Top Row: L to R: Horace Knight, Albert Sharp, Walter Christensen
Middle Row: L to R: Floyd Palmer, Angus Richardson, Arnold Taylor, Walter Moyes, Abram Maw, William Freestone
Bottom Row: L to R: Clair Folkman, Gilbert Taylor, Dick Skeen, Fred Singleton, Frank Skeen, Elmer Carver
BASEBALL AND EARLY SPORTS
By Elwood (Dick) Skeen
Baseball was Plain City’s most favorite sport. Baseball in Plain City in the early 1920’s and 1930’s was composed of the Plain City Bull Dogs with the following players taking part:
Louis Poulsen
Joe Singleton
Walter Draney
Elmo Rhead
Parley Taylor
Joe Hunt
Elvin Maw
Oscar Richardson
John Hodson
They represented Plain City in the Weber County Farm Bureau League, composed of North Ogden, Hooper, Roy, and Clinton. There were many good ball players in those days that played on the teams. The town park at that time was covered with salt grass. There were no base lines, no pitcher mounds. But, on a Saturday afternoon the park was filled with people that came from all over the county to watch the games. Horses and wagons lined the park.
Foot racing was also a great sport at that time, and Plain City had one of the best in Walter Draney, who was not only fast, but also a great athlete.
As time passed and the older players began to drop out, the chance came for us younger players to take over. In 1925 I caught my first Farm Bureau game at Liberty with Ezra Taylor doing the pitching. Then, the other players that made up our team for the next few years started to play. We had our share of victories. In fact, we had more than our share of wins.
Finances at that time were hard to come by. We did what we could to raise money to continue supporting the team. In 1928, the ball team put on the first Black and White Day with Mervin Thompson and Joseph Skeen showing their cattle. An old-time refreshment stand, soda water, ice cream, candy bars, and popcorn, which sold for 5¢. Also, some drinks that were not sold at the stand.
Our uniforms were furnished by Plain City individuals and business firms from Ogden. Suits would have the name of the giver on the back. Decoration day and the Fourth of July were our most celebrated days with all kinds of sports for those who wished to perform. A baseball game and a dance in the evening would top the day.
We would get the best team from Ogden to play on these days so that we could show what was leading up to the best team we had. In 1930, we won the Weber County Farm Bureau League, and the town bought us new uniforms to go to Lagoon to play Sandy, Utah, for thy State Championship. We lost by a close score. Our players were:
Gilbert Taylor
Walter Moyes
Arnold Taylor
Frank Skeen
Horace Knight
Albert Sharp
Fred Singleton
Abram Maw
Walter Christensen
Clair Folkman
Dick Skeen
Bill Freestone was the manager. Angus Richardson was the coach. Elmer Carver took care of finances, and Floyd Palmer and Byron Carver were scorekeepers. We played in tournaments at Brigham City and Ogden, and some out-of-state games were played.
We continued playing, but soon the gang started drifting different ways and our days were coming to an end. The league started to dwindle and later, folded up with the workload increase. Baseball was soon lost to the towns in Weber County.
Left to Right: Nalon Taylor, Bert Cook, Howard Gibson, Bud Dallinga, Wayne Cottle, Thayne Robson, Bill Stokes, Rulon Jenkins, Coach
The Desert News Sport Best Two MIA Teams
Page 10 – Salt Lake City, Utah-Saturday, March 11, 1944
Bottom Row: L to R: Carl Taylor, Carl Hodson, Fred Singleton, Coach, Blair Simpson, Glen Charlton
Top Row: L to R: Frank Hadley, John Nash, Lyman Cook, Ray Cottle
Ray Cottle, Center: First Team All Church
Frank Hadley, Forward: Second Team All Church
Lyman Cook, Guard: Second Team All Church
Blair Simpson, Guard: Honorable Mention
This team played for All Church Championship in 19441. They played Grantsville, Utah, and lost to them for the title. The games were played in the old Desert Gym, by the Hotel Utah. The teams stayed four nights in the Hotel Utah. They ate, slept, and played basketball.
Top Row L to R:
Alf Charlton, Athletic Director
Lyman Cook, Ronald Skeen, Kenneth Lund, Grant
Lund, Wayne Skeen, Clair Folkman, Coach
Bottom Row L to R:
Harold Hadley, Elmer Hipwell, Bill Stokes, Dee
Cook, Blair Simpson
This was the Plain City M-Men Team that played after World War II, in 1946, for several years and won several state championships and played in the division tournaments.
Winner of the district three double elimination softball tournament of the L.D.S. church was this fast moving team from Plain City in the Farr West Stake. In the lineup (front row) F. Hadley, 2b; Cook 3b; B. Simpson, 5b; D. Christensen, rf; T. Musgrave. Of; L. Cook, lf; coach; G. Charlton, of; W. Cottle. 1b; R. Cottle, p, and K. Jenkins, c.
Plain City Romps To 12-4 Win
Over Centerville for L. D. S.
District Three Softball Title
PLAIN CITY SOFTBALL TEAM OF 1951
By Lyman Cook
Plain City has always been a very strong baseball town, and the feeling was that softball was a game for girls, or you played softball at family reunions. In 1951 the Farr West Stake started a softball program and wanted teams to participate. I was Ward Athletic Director at that time and asked these players to play. This was the first softball team organized in Plain City. We won the Stake and District III. We then went on to the All Church Tournament in Salt Lake City. We won some and lost some, not too eventful. I coached the team the first year we played. This was a fast-pitch team.
L. D. S. Division III Champs
Repeating their last year’s victory in the L.D.S. division III softball tournament, the Plain City team came through again last night at Ogden softball park to beat Hoytsville 9 to 6. Front row Left to right: M. Heslop, E. Hadley, C. Taylor, D. Cook, A. Maw and G. Charlton: back row, lerft to right: R. Cottle, W. Skeen, W. Cottle, L. Cook, B. Simpson, and D. Skeen, coach. Absent from photo: Jenkins, V. Stokes and R. Skeen.
PLAIN CITY WARD SOFTBALL TEAM OF 1952
By Lyman Cook
In 1952 we repeated as stake champions and also won the Division III Championship again. We went to the All Church Tournament again and played very well. We played for the All Church Championship, but lost to Pocatello 10th Ward in a good game. Blair Simpson was voted Most Valuable Player of the tournament. Wayne Cottle made the All Church Team. There may be others. This was also a fast-pitch team. Dick Skeen was the coach.
This team played Farm Bureau Baseball and won the
Championship around 1950:
Top Row: L to R:
Junior Taylor, Wayne Skeen, Don Singleton, Bert Cook,
Glen Charlton, Kent Jenkins, Clair Folkman, Coach
Bottom Row: L to R:
“Buss” Lyman Skeen, Frank Hadley, Wayne Cottle, Ray
Charlton, John Maw, Dee Cook
This team played Pleasant Grove for All Church Champion-
Dee Cook, Manager, Darrell Christensen, Robert Folkman,
Bert Cook, Kenneth Lund, Wayne Cottle, Kent Jenkins, Coach
Many county and Northern Utah Championships were obtained by this team that was sponsored by the Town Board in the late 1950’s to middle 1960’s.
COACHES: Clair Folkman – Blair Simpson
TEAM MEMBERS: POSITIONS:
Blair Simpson P- IF
Wayne Cottle IF
Cy Freston IF
LaGrand Hadley OF – P
Archie Skeen C
Gaylen Hansen C – P – IF
Bobby Taylor P – OF
George Cook IF
Reid Nielson IF P
Ted Favero IF –
Dennis Anderson P
Garry Skeen OF
Lynn Folkman OF
Bud Parker IF – OP
Tom Seager OF
Harold Hadley IF
Harold Marriott IF
******
PLAIN CITY WARD FASTPITCH TEAM
1960, 1961, 1962
This team won the Stake, Region, and Division Championships, and represented the ward in All-Church competition with a successful number of victories.
COACH: Elmer Carver
TEAM MEMBERS:
Tom Seager, P Blair Simpson, SS
Gaylen Hansen, C LaGrand Hadley, LF
Wayne Cottle, 1st Robert Folkman, CF
George Cook, 2nd Dee Cook, RF
Cy Freston, 3rd Don Singleton, IF
Blaine Eckman, QF Gar Hunter, 1st – OF
THE PLAIN CITY BULLDOGS
This is one of the very first Weber County Recreation Teams in Plain City. Many of these players went on playing baseball for many years.
Front Row: L to R:
Dick Skeen, Coach, Fred Palmer, Darrel Thompson, Kenneth Hogge, George Cook, Ronald Sharp.
Back Row: L to R:
Archie Skeen, Brent Taylor, Wayne Poulson, Jay Freestone, Robert Folkman, LaGrand Hadley
PLAIN CITY SECOND WARD
ALL – CHURCH CHAMPIONSHIP TEAM
1963 – 1ST Place
1964 – 1st Place
1965 – 3rd Place
This team represented the Plain City 2nd Ward and Plain City Town by winning 64 and losing only two games over a three-year span. Many players received All – Church recognition. In the championship game the first year the team hit 11 home runs and pulled off a triple play for the victory.
Back Row: L to R: Not in Photo
Garry Skeen Archie Skeen
Gaylen Hansen Ken Searcy
George Cook Jay Freestone
Gar Hunter Val Taylor
Jerry Bradford Mel Cottle
Lynn Folkman Gordon Singleton
Bishop Rulon Chugg Jim Beasley
Don Singleton
Front Row: L to R: Gary Hill
Bishop Orlo Maw
Jerry Moyes
Doug Palmer
Dale Searcy
Blair Simpson
LaGrand Hadley
All – Church Honors:
Gar Hunter
Jerry Bradford
Ken Searcy
Gaylen Hansen
Archie Skeen
Blair Simpson, Most Valuable Player
BLAIR SIMPSON
and
ELMER SINGLETON
of the
PITTSBURGH PIRATES
1948
“Two cousins met”
ELMER SINGLETON
Elmer Singleton started pitching for the Farm Bureau League in Plain City. He pitched for several championship teams. He signed a professional contract with Cincinnati, and played at Wenatchee, Washington in 1939, his first year. He played for Idaho Falls, Portland, and Oklahoma City. He moved on up to the big league and played with the following teams:
Cincinnati
Yankees
Chicago
Kansas City
Boston
Pittsburgh
Washington in 1950
Toronto
San Francisco
Seattle
He was in professional baseball for 27 or 28 years, the last eight years as a player coach.
He pitch two no hitters, one at San Francisco, and the other at Seattle. Elmer won the Player of the Year Award at Seattle in 1956. There is a baseball card with Elmer’s picture on it with the Chicago Cubs. It reads:
“This will be Elmer’s 17th year in professional baseball.
He started back in 1940 and after 11 uneventful seasons,
got red hot to become one of the top hurlers on the
Pacific Coast. In 1952 at San Francisco, he won 17, followed
with 15 triumphs in 1953 and moved to Seattle in 1956.
He had the best Pacific Coast Earned Run Average.”
Elmer told us that before he left to play professional baseball, the people of Plain City honored him at a banquet. They gave him a ball glove, and he still has it. He is listed in the Sports Record along with his accomplishments. Elmer was a great baseball pitcher. The only picture we have of Elmer is with Blair Simpson. Elmer and Blair are cousins,
BLAIR SIMPSON
BY Blair Simpson
I attended school at Plain City before going to Weber High School. At Weber High School I participated on the track team, played some basketball and pitched for the Weber High baseball team.
After graduating from Weber High School in 1944, I was drafted into the army for two years.
In 1948, I signed a professional baseball contract with the Pittsburgh Pirates organization. While playing with the Pirates, I played with the following cities:
Santa Rosa, California
Pittsburg, California
Modesto, California
Hutchinson, Kansas
Waco, Texas
Charleston, South Carolina
I was a pitcher and had to quit because of an injury to my knee.
After retiring from professional baseball, I played a considerable amount of baseball with Plain City and other teams in the Ogden area, such as:
Ogden Ford Sales
Heitz Heating
Wasatch Time
I was selected on the All Star Baseball Team composed of 16 players from the State of Utah.
I also played on many softball teams in the Ogden area such as Fisher Hess, Utah General Depot, Fred M. Nyes, Savon, and others.
In 1952, I was named the Most Outstanding Player in the “All Church Fastpitch Softball Tournament” in Salt Lake City and was also named to the All Church All Star Team in 1953.
In 1963, o received the Most Outstanding Player Award in the All Church Softball Slow Pitch Tournament. In 1964, I again received the most Outstanding Player Award in the slow pitch division of the All Church Tournament held in Salt Lake City. The year 1964 was one of my most memorable occasions in All Church Softball as I hit four consecutive home runs in one game.
I would like to give a lot of credit to whatever successes I have enjoyed in athletics to the talented town of Plain City.
WAYNE COTTLE
By Wayne Cottle
I was born November 30, 1928, in Ogden, Utah. I lived in Plain City all my life. I attended Plain City Elementary and Junior High. I played basketball in the 9th and in the 10th grades for Plain City. L. Rulon Jenkins was our coach and our principal. We played against Hooper, North Ogden, Huntsville, and Weber High School.
In the Fall of 1945, I started Weber High School, playing football, basketball, baseball, and track for both years. In 1947, I played to a tie for the Region I Championship with Box Elder. We played off the tie breaker at Ogden High School, beating Box Elder for the first Region I Championship for many years. I won the Region I scoring title. We entered the State Tournament in Salt Lake City and we lost to Granite, who became the State Championships, in the semi-finals. I was the recipient of the Standard Examiner KLO Watch Award for being the outstanding athlete of the year.
I entered Weber Junior College in the Fall of 1947. After about a month of practice I became one of the starting forwards. We played in several tournaments winning 3rd place in the Compton California Invitational. We played an independent schedule that year. In 1948-49 Weber became a member of the ICAC Conference. We won the conference and played Snow Junior College Tournament. We won the game and I was voted the tournament’s Outstanding Player Ward. We went to the national finals in Hutchinson, Kansas. We won our first game, then we met two defeats.
In the Fall of 1949, I entered Brigham Young University. I was on the team that won the Skyline Conference Championship for the first in many years. We went to the NCAA at Kansas City, Missouri. We lost to Baylor University, then beat UCLA for 3rd place. The next year we accepted a bid to enter the National Invitational Championship and two of our players were voted All American.
I graduated from BYU in 1951, came back to Plain City and started to play basketball with the Ward team. From the 1951- 1952 season until the creation of the Plain City 2nd Ward in 1960, we never lost a league game in the Farr West Stake. The year of the creation of the Plain City 2nd Ward, they beat us once and we beat them once. We played off the Stake Championship at Wahlquist Jr. High, and we won the team and the championship. After that season, the Church specified an age limit and I was area championships and went to the All Church several times.
WAYNE COTTLE
Brigham Young University
BERT COOK
He attended Plain City School where he was active in athletics. He graduated and attended Weber High School in 1947 and 1948., where he participated in football, basketball, baseball, and track. In 1948, he was selected on the Class A State All Star Team, in which Weber High School won the championship. He also won the All American in boys Award in baseball at John Affleck Park in 1948. From this he won a trip to Chicago.
He played for the Plain City baseball team for the Farm Bureau and Ogden City League.
From 1948 until 1952 he attended Utah State university at Logan, Utah, where he started on the first five as a freshman, and later in the year played in the AAU Tournament and was selected on the All Tournament Team.
In 1951 – 1952, he lead the conference in scoring and was voted All Conference both years. In 1952 he was voted All American in basketball where his Number 6 jersey was retired at Utah State University being the first one in the history of the school. That same year he was selected on the All Conference Team, and traveled with the Harlem Globe Trotters and the College All Star for several games. Later that year, he signed a contract with the New York Knickerbockers and was drafted into the service where he played for Fort Lee, Virginia Military team in which he lead the scoring and was later voted to the Second Army All Star Team.
He served his country in the Far East Command in 1954, being released in 1955, when he rejoined the Knicks until 1956. After a serious knee injury he returned to Plain City and played for the Plain City Ward and the Ogden City League.
He played on the 1956 team that won second place and he made First Team All Church.
At Weber High School I participated in basketball, baseball, and football and was productive and beneficial. After graduation in 1954, I attended Utah State University for two years on a football scholarship. Next, I received a University of Utah Scholarship in baseball. That year 1958, was a successful year with a batting of .350. The next year was even more eventful. My batting average jumped to .490. The .490 batting average was good enough to lead the Skyline Conference, plus I was fortunate to lead the NCAA in homeruns and RBI’s. These statistics and the efforts of the University of Utah Sports Publicity Department lead to my selection as the “First Team Catcher on the College All -American baseball Team”. As a result of this honor, I was selected the “Most Valuable Player in NCAA, District 7.” The year was 1959.
Opportunities were available to sign a professional baseball contract with the New York Yankees, Chicago Cubs, Boston Red Sox, and the Phillies. In 1959 I signed a bonus contract with the Boston Red Sox.
During the next three years I played in the following leagues: Sophomore League in Alpine, Texas: North Carolina League in Raleigh, North Carolina; Midwest League in Waterloo, Iowa; and the Eastern League in Johnstown, Pa. Winter ball was played in Bradenton, Florida.
In 1962, spring training was held in Deland, Florida. Because of a successful spring training I was invited to join the Triple A League in Seattle, Washington, “The Seattle Rainiers.” All Star Catcher honors were received in 1960, 1961, and 1962. In 1963 I was invited to spring training with the parent ball club, The Boston Red Sox. At the completion of spring training I was again assigned to the Seattle Rainiers.
Some of the great stars helping the young players were: Ted Williams, Bobby Doerr, Rudy York, Johnny Pesky, and Mel Parnell. As of this year, 1977, the only teammate of mine still with the Boston Red Sox is Carl Yastrzemski.
Mrs. Charles R. Shupe, Rep. Elizabeth Vance (D-Ogden), Mrs. Thomas K. Shupe and Mrs. Carl Bertagnoli view long petition.
This is a newspaper article in my Grandmother, Gladys Donaldson Ross’, possessions. My Aunt Judy was handicapped and that lifelong endeavor lead my Grandma to be involved in these issues.
“School Petition Goes to House
“An Ogden area delegation called on the Utah Legislature Thursday bearing a petition with 1,509 names.
“Their goal: A school to accommodate handicapped children in Weber County not receiving an education and mentally capable of benefiting from schooling.
“Rep. Elizabeth Vance (D-Ogden) received members of the “General Public Committee” in the Utah House. She said efforts will be made to work with the State Board of Education in developing a school plant (plan?) and staff to serve the handicapped.
Also in some of her clippings was this article from Ms. Vance.
“Education Center
“Editor, Standard-Examiner:
“I am wondering why the Ogden City Board of Education, the Weber County Board of Education and the State Board of Education cannot find it in their budgets to maintain the Ogden-Weber Education Center at 1100 Orchard Avenue, Ogden, at its full personnel capacity.
“I believe that there never should be seven teachers’ aides dismissed, and three teachers not rehired this fall. If there ever was a necessity for increasing the help at this school instead of decreasing personnel, the time is now.
“These teachers and helpers work with the handicapped children, and I seriously doubt if any other teacher in the state has a more demanding vocation; a place where such kindness, tolerance, understanding and perserverance is needed. It makes me very distressed when I see all the talk of increases for other schools, and this school where we need help so vitally in my opinion being neglected for the same of $29,000.
“I hope that the legislators will come to the aid of this school and see that these boards of education do not neglect these children who have no lobbyist intervening for them.
This photo was dropped to me by a friend and former employee of Circle A Construction. It conjured many thoughts and emotions as I grew up around these very trucks. I wrote previously a mention of the Aslett’s who were so tied with Circle A.
My first job in 1994 was washing and waxing trucks from the beet haul/harvest. Dustin McClellan was my co-worker and friend. We did all the washing at the old Hynes beet dump. Most of those trucks were new and just white. Circle A was getting away from the costly paint jobs you see above. In the photo below, you see the plain white tractors that took over from those in years past.
Circle A Construction trucks in front of the Idaho Capitol in 2000
When all the tractors and trailers were finished from the beet haul, then we got to work on the fancier paint job trucks. These were harder work. That dark golden brown didn’t hold up as well in the sun and often oxidized making the waxing hard. Sometimes multiple waxes were required. Turtle Wax was making money off of us now!
Here is another picture of one of those trucks. This is one of the double belly dump main trailers that started to disappear about the same time. The double belly dump trailers developed structural issues the longer they were used. Within a short time all were cut down or recycled to the single belly dumps you see above. Road weight laws were also changing and transitioning, which I seem to recall was another issue.
Circle A Construction Truck in Paul Parade about 1985
Now I was a little boy in the truck of that stark white Star trailer. This truck is older than the ones in the picture at the beginning of the post. This photo brings out the colors better than the one at the top. You can see the metallic flakes in the golden brown, the bright red, the dark burgundy, and the white. There was quite a bit of cost that went into painting each of these trucks the custom paint job.
There was the writing and the pin striping too. There were the lines between each of these blocks/shades too.
Many memories. I was almost killed one day while very young by one of these trailers. Some of my youngest memories included semis painted just like the ones above. I do not live and play in the trucking industry anymore, but it does not mean I do not have many memories growing up around it.
This is one of those times where there are not words.
On May 10, my father-in-law, Bryan Hemsley, sent me a photo of this card. He simply stated, “Paul, found this Christmas card going through my mom’s papers. I was wondering if this was your dad or grandpa?”
I looked at it and recognized the names as my father, his first wife, and my half-siblings.
Why in the world would my Dad and family have sent a Christmas card to Dee and Shanna Hemsley?
Dad, Vicki, Scott, Jeff, and Becky lived in Plain City for the 1960s, Becky was born in 1969. The family then moved to Brigham City for a few years but moved to Randolph about 1973. Amanda’s grandparents and father lived in Willard during this time.
I asked Dad about it. He has no memory of the Hemsleys. I asked Scott and Jeff and the similar aged children in the Hemsley family, Shayne and Dwight. They also had no memories of the Hemsleys.
I asked Shanna about it, she knew of Dad as a classmate of Ernest, her brother, but had no memory of Milo from before 1956 when she married and moved away until they met again at our wedding reception in 2005.
One of those little mysteries we will not likely ever know in this life. But further proof that we just never know who we are interacting with on a day to day basis.
With Best Wishes for Christmas and the New Year – The Ross Family – Milo, Vicki, Scott, Jeff, & Becky
Sagacity 