Utah

by

History of Plain City Pt 8

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.

______________________________________________________________________________

                                                            SUNDAY MORNING, AUGUST 19, 1951

                                                                        District Three Winners

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-

                                                            Ship in 1956. They took second place.

                                                            Bottom Row: L to R:

                                                            Quinten Jenkins, Archie Skeen, LaGrand Hadley, Brent

                                                            Taylor, Ronald Sharp

                                                            Back Row: L to R:

                                                            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.

                                                                        Bert Cook

                                                            New York Knickerbockers

                                                                        Archie Skeen

by

School Petition Goes to House

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.

“Elizabeth Vance

“Ogden

by

Hygiene and Sanitation by Egbert

Hygiene and Sanitation Textbook used at Brigham Young College

On the 15th I wrote about my Grandfather’s 100th Birthday (Norwood Jonas) and noting it with a newspaper article found in a textbook that belonged to his parents. This is that book. This was a textbook for my Great Grandfather at Brigham Young College in Logan, Utah.

Joseph Nelson Jonas graduated from Brigham Young College on 3 June 1915. That is 109 years ago tomorrow. Here is a copy of his Diploma. I have written about his history previously. I have also written about his time at BYC previously too.

Joseph Jonas graduation diploma from Brigham Young College in Logan, Utah

The textbook is also interesting. It appears Hygiene and Sanitation written by Seneca Egbert has some serious staying power. I found this history of Mr. Egbert.

Dr. Seneca Egbert (1863-1939) and Nancy Egbert

“Dr. Egbert was a physician. He graduated from Princeton University in 1884 and received his medical degree from the University of Pennsylvania in 1888. Before graduating, Dr. Egbert had been a demonstrator of hygiene in the Medical Department of the University of Pennsylvania. While in this position, he worked with Professor Samuel G. Dixon to establish the first Laboratory of Hygiene in the University, and was made lecturer on hygiene for 1890-1891. In 1892 the Drexel Institute of Philadelphia hired Dr. Egbert for a similar position. In 1893 he was elected Professor of Hygiene and Sanitation in the Medico-Chirurgical College of Philadelphia, appointed Vice-Dean of the same college in 1897, and elected Dean in 1898. Once the Medico-Chirurgical College merged with the University of Pennsylvania, Dr. Seneca became a professor of hygiene. He was president of the Radnor Township Board of Health and he was esteemed as a public health authority.

“In 1897 Seneca Egbert and his wife, Nancy Bredin Egbert, bought part of the old Towne family farm. The home, now owned by Fred French, is located on Blueberry Lane.

“Dr. Egbert was widely published. His book, Manual of Hygiene and Sanitation (seven editions), appeared first in 1898, as did his Home Sanitation, a Manual for Housekeepers. In 1919 Personal Hygiene for Nurses was published. He also wrote numerous articles for medical journals, maintained an impressive lecture schedule, and was a history buff who strongly advocated for the creation and maintenance of historic sites. He was not hesitant about venturing his opinion openly, and on at least two occasions made suggestions to Philadelphia politicians which received limited consideration. Dr. Egbert “was an advocate for ‘pure air, pure milk, and pure water.’ He felt that if people in the United States had these ingredients the average span of life would be increased by seven and one-half years.” He pursued this philosophy in an article, “Pure Water for Philadelphia,” which proposed damming the Mullica River and its feeder streams at the head of the tide to form a reservoir all the way to Atsion, NJ, and then pump to a reservoir on the western side to flow towards the Cooper River and another reservoir, thence to be pumped under the Delaware in order to relieve the poor water quality in Philadelphia . It would have pumped a relatively small quantity, 450,000,000 gallons of water per year, to start. The potential value of his plan was not recognized, either then or, to judge from a 2011 Web comment, now.

“On another issue, the City of Philadelphia proposed clearing all buildings from three city blocks. In response to a request for ideas on how to use this space, Dr. Egbert suggested allocating some of the land to the federal government, some to the state and some to the city of Philadelphia. On a strip of land extending down the center of the whole space, Dr. Egbert suggested constructing thirteen buildings representing the thirteen original colonies, and calling the area In­dependence Square. Each building would house the contributions made by that state towards the forming of our Union. “The idea was considered ludicrous in design and in scope. Dr. Egbert was a physician, not an architect.”

“Despite his critics, Seneca Egbert was doggedly de­termined to maintain the quality of life for Americans. For example, he embraced the newest form of transportation, bicycling, and “saw cycling as a remedy for dyspepsia, torpid liver, incipient consumption, nervous exhaustion , rheumatism, and melancholia.”

“A portrait of Dr. Egbert was painted for the University of Pennsylvania by Nancy Egbert’s brother, Rae Sloan Bredin (1870-1937). Mr. Bredin was a member of the New Hope group of American impressionists and several of his paintings are owned by New York’s Metropolitan Museum of Art. Mr. Bredin was co-founder of the Philadelphia School of Design for Women and the New York School of Fine Arts. His portrait of Dr. Egbert hangs now in the home of Dr. David Egbert Sparks, Dr. and Mrs. Egbert’s grandson, who is a genealogist and retired head of libraries at Notre Dame.

“Like Dr. Thomas Montgomery Lightfoot, Dr. Egbert was a lecturer in the winter lecture series held during the years 1887-1895 sponsored by the Academy of Natural Sciences. Dr. Egbert’s lecture was titled, “The Prevention of Disease and the Preservation of Health.”

“Nelson’s own Parke Struthers wrote in A History of Nelson that like Dr. Egbert’s good friend Dr. Thomas Montgomery Lightfoot, Seneca Egbert “met his fellow Nelsonians on an equal footing, a trait in human relations reserved for only the Great.” Mr. Struthers also states that the Egberts were “gracious, active in town affairs, and interested in the people of Nelson.” With their friends Dr. Lightfoot and his wife, Dr. and Mrs. Egbert served on the committee to make arrangements for the celebration of the one hundred and fiftieth anniversary of the first settlement of Nelson 1767-1917.

Inside cover of Hygiene and Sanitation

Here is the writing inside the book:

Joseph N. Jonas 1915

394 So. 1st East

Logan, UT

Jonas Joseph

Richmond, Utah

1915

First written page inside Hygiene and Sanitation

Here is the writing on the second page of the book:

Joseph N. Jonas

B.Y.C.

Logan, Ut.

394 So. 1 E.

Herrington, or Park

Stearn, Hot air, or Water

1 degree expands 1/491 of its val

relationship of insects to disease, Herrington

Hygiene of the school. h medical inspection.

282-387

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Layton & Taylorsville Temple Open Houses

Paul, Hiram, and Aliza Ross at Vernal Utah Temple

Before I talk about the Layton and Taylorsville Temples, I thought I better throw in another temple visit we made since I last updated. While on Spring Break this year, we made a stop in Vernal, Utah. While there, we scheduled and attended the Vernal Utah Temple with the kids. Glad we stopped to make another memory at another House of the Lord.

Hiram and Aliza at Vernal Utah Temple on 27 March 2024

Since the kids have a goal to attend the temple every month this year, we did also make it in April to the Twin Falls Temple. In May, while going to Utah for the open houses, we made sure to stop off and fulfill the monthly goal. May took us to Ogden Utah Temple.

Hiram and Aliza Ross at Ogden Utah Temple 17 May 2024

Later that evening, we attended the open house of the Layton Utah Temple with Amanda’s parents. Beautiful.

Paul, Lillian, Amanda, Aliza, James, and Hiram Ross with Bryan and Jill Hemsley 17 May 2024

We look forward to attending the temple after it is dedicated.

The next day we attended the open house for the Taylorsville Utah Temple, again with Amanda’s parents. We were also excited to run into the Brad and Rachel Hales family as well as Sarah Sanderson!

Bryan and Jill Hemsley with James, Aliza, Lillian, Hiram, Amanda, and Paul Ross 18 May 2024

It has been a crazy year for temple attendance and temple open houses. We have attended quite a few and quite a few are coming up for open houses. Wow, should be fun. It is exciting that the Kingdom and Church of God on the earth is in such a position to build so many beautiful houses to the Lord. We are blessed to attend the open houses and hopefully return some day to participate in holy ordinances there.

When I was interviewed for my first temple recommend in 1998, President Gene Hansen indicated he had a goal since he was first endowed to attend the temple every single month. He challenged me to do the same. As long as I have held a recommend, or I had permission to attend, I have attended the temple every single month since 1998. That meant a full day off of work in Missouri as it was a 4 hour drive one way from Branson, Missouri, to St. Louis, Missouri. Or from Richmond, Virginia, to Washington, D.C., that was a 4-5 hour drive and we often would go up and spend the night and return home on Saturday or Sunday depending on the circumstances.

Many open houses are upcoming, including Deseret Peak Utah; Casper Wyoming; Grand Junction Colorado; Elko Nevada; Syracuse Utah; Burley Idaho; Lindon Utah; Ephraim Utah; Smithfield Utah; Montpelier Idaho; Heber Valley Utah; Teton River Idaho; Salt Lake City Utah; Provo Rock Canyon Utah; Cody Wyoming; Lethbridge Alberta; Lehi Utah; and West Jordan Utah. Hopefully we can make some of the more exotic ones, particularly Birmingham England; Edinburgh Scotland; Honolulu Hawaii; and Vancouver British Columbia. We will see what our future holds.

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Wilburn Norwood Jonas 100th Birthday!

Norwood Jonas in the 1960s

I thought it would be appropriate to commemorate the 100th birthday of my Grandpa, Wilburn Norwood Jonas. He went by Norwood his whole life, or Nor to those closest.

Grandpa was born 15 May 1924 in Lewiston, Cache, Utah to Lillian Coley and Joseph Nelson Jonas.  The fourth child of eight to his parents.  He married Colleen Mary Andra 27 September 1946 in Elko, Elko, Nevada.  Three children were born to him and Colleen; Douglas in 1952, Sandra in 1954, and Jackie in 1960.  He died 14 March 1975 in Burley, Cassia, Idaho and was buried 19 March 1975 in Richmond, Cache, Utah.

I was trying to think of a way to commemorate Grandpa. As linked above, I have written of him before. This week, I went through an old book I have that belong to Norwood’s dad, Joseph. Inside were some newspaper clippings and notes. One linked to Grandpa. I share it to show that research is ongoing and can be found anywhere! Just takes a little luck, heaven’s guidance, and you will stumble on them. I will wrote more on the book and other clippings inside later.

Park School was in Richmond. It was only razed in the past few years. Grandpa went to North Cache High School, although he did not graduate. This clipping also has Irwin written in to it. Which tells me he was missed or it is the wrong Jonas boy that was listed. Although, I do have a class picture of Irwin and Norwood together, so I am not clear if that tips it one way or the other.

“Name Graduates of Park School

“The Richmond Park School commencement exercises will be held in the Benson Stake tabernacle Thursday, at 8 p. m.

“The program follows: Processional; Invocation, Bishop J. M. Godfrey; salutation, Garr Christensen; music, school orchestra; talks, Norma Kaye Funk, Margaret Merrill; music, class; class history, Joyce Larson; presentation of class gift, Oral L. Ballam Jr.; awarding of prizes and the presentation of the class. Principal G. G. Merrill; awarding of certificates, Levi H. Allen; class song, class; adjournment to the community building for dancing; benediction, S. W. Allen.

“The list of graduates are: Ivan Anderson, Oral Ballam, LaMarr Carlson, Archie Carver, Garr Christensen, Don Hansen, Warren Hamp, [Irwin written in, referring to Irwin Jonas], Norwood Jonas, Robert Johnson, Glenn Mortensen, Junior Peterborg, Darrell Smith, Gail Spackman, Alvin Spackman, Allen Spackman, James Scott, Boyd Tripp, Olive Biggs, Dorma Anderson, Joy Erickson, Norma Kaye Funk, Bernice Frandsen, Ruth Hutchison, Nadine Johnson, Eva Kershaw, Virginia Kirstofferson, Elaine Lewis, Anna May Lawrence, Joyce Larson, Margaret Merrill, Dorothy Nielsen, Beth Rich, Afton Sorensen, Lyle Wilding.

Here is the class picture with many of these same names. It also includes Irwin and Norwood. I have written about it previously.

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History of Plain City Pt 7

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

Early Plain City School

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.

First consolidated public school. Built to replace the North, South, and Poplar Schools. It was built of adobe and located on the northeast corner of the square. It was used as a community and recreational center for many years after the second consolidated school was built.
Second public school after front door was sealed; new entrance was built on the east side when the gymnasium was added. Lunch room facilities were added to the west later.
Second public school after remodeling when front windows were bricked over but before later additions were made.
Interior of the second school, showing old wood and metal desks that were attached to long wooden planks.

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

This is the graduating class of 1907, Class of 1906-1907

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

Plain City Graduation Class

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.

Demolition in 1955 of the school building of 1906. This building had been in use continuously since that date. Many changes and additions had been added around it.
View of the new addition added in 1954-55 as seen through the rubble of the 1906 building and the construction equipment of the new building.
View of the Plain City Town Square from the roof of the school gymnasium.

Three view of the Plain City Elementary School as it stands today in 1977 with its many additions.

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Manti Temple Open House

Like many others, we took the opportunity to attend the Manti Temple Open House. We scheduled it during the kids’ Spring Break from School. The last time we were in Manti was for Zach and Alyssa Smart’s wedding in 2018 (I posted it about it at the time). We took this picture as a family then.

Paul, Amanda, Aliza, Hiram, Lillian, and James Ross at Manti Temple in 2018

We decided to recreate the 2018 photo. Here is what we were able to do with the exhausted and cold kids.

Paul, Amanda, Aliza, Hiram, Lillian, and James Ross at Manti Temple in 2024

We all are 6 years older! I don’t think my hair line has receded anymore since then, although it still might be thinner. All are taller.

We waited for more than 2 hours to get into the temple for the tour. It was brisk and chilly, but the kids seemed to take it well. They even rolled down the temple hill a few times. We snapped this photo near the beginning of the line at the bottom of the hill. Grandma Jill Hemsley joined us for the occasion too!

Amanda, Paul, Hiram, James, Lillie, and Aliza Ross with Jill Hemsley at the Manti Utah Temple

It was a long line.

We finally made it inside. I think we moved through faster than I would have preferred. However, it was fun to be in parts of the temple I had never before seen. The Assembly Room was amazing. I enjoyed the novelty of the stairwells. The new screens in the Terrestrial Room, although necessary for the video presentation, are very disruptive of the room. I really appreciated and felt some of the paintings.

We also recreated another photo from 2018. Some of the landscaping was redone…

Aliza and Lillian Ross attempting to recreate a 2018 photo at the Manti Temple

Here is the photo they were recreating. Aliza and Hiram were waiting for a hummingbird to land on them. Unfortunately, with the new water conserving landscaping, I am sure there will be many fewer hummingbirds. Too bad the grounds didn’t just do away with the grass. The flowers were so amazing.

Hiram and Aliza Ross waiting for a hummingbird in 2018

If you look closely, you can see the keystone of the door in the 2018 photo. Too bad the bench is also gone.

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Dinosaur National Monument 1958 & 2024

I had these two photos shared with me many years ago of my Grandparents, Milo and Gladys Ross, at Dinosaur National Park. The Quarry Exhibit Building opened in June that year to the public. You can see the building to the left in the picture. The construction stairs and ladders are still in place and were removed that year. I would expect those were removed for the opening to the public, so this might predate the June opening.

Milo and Gladys Ross with Janet, Gerry, and Brent Preece

Milo Ross and Harold Ross were the sons of John “Jack” William Ross. Jack’s brother, James, had a number of family in the Vernal, Utah, area. Carma Ross Preece is on of James’ daughters. Brent, Gerry, Janet, and Lorri Preece are all her children (and Daryl was later added).

Based on these photos, it appears Milo and Gladys and Harold and Colleen made the trip out to Vernal to visit their first cousins. It may have had something to do with the opening of the Quarry Exhibit, if so it doesn’t appear Milo and Harold took their children with them.

Harold and Colleen Ross, Milo and Gladys Ross, Gerry, Carma, Janet, Brent, and Lorri Preece

We took our family to Dinosaur National Monument in March 2024. I knew the one photo was at the Quarry Exhibit, I suspected the other photo was nearby. I showed the pictures to one of the Rangers at the Quarry Exhibit and she gave me all sorts of history and information. Here was the kink, the photos were both backwards. We figured it out because the south end of the Quarry Exhibit does not have the elevation that it does on the north end. She also pointed out that the mountains in the second photo very much looked like Split Mountain, but she could not figure out the location that far to the north.

While at the Quarry Exhibit, I snapped this photo of the vicinity of where the prior photo was taken. You can see the structural upgrades to the building that were recently done. The Ranger indicated we were not allowed to go up on top, so this was the best we could do.

Dinosaur National Monument Quarry Exhibit

Here is a picture of the full Exhibit Building. The round entry building was removed due to the same issues that required redoing the foundations of the full building.

Dinosaur National Monument Quarry Exhibit

With a little sleuthing, we located the photo with Grandpa and Grandma Ross. Now to find the second location. The Ranger indicated it appeared to be north of Split Mountain, but if the photo was reversed it might simply be the Split Mountain overlook. But it was hard to tell and imagine if it is reversed.

We went out to the Josie Morris cabin and nothing quite lined up the father north we got. So we came back and went up to the Split Mountain Campground. We could tell it was the overlook almost immediately. Although the road had been expanded and other things had changed, it was the right location.

Split Mountain Overlook, Dinosaur National Monument, 1958 and 2024

This one was easier to take a family photo on our windy, brisk day.

Lillie, Hiram, Paul, James, and Aliza Ross at Split Mountain Overlook, Dinosaur National Monument

I tried reaching out to Janet Preece Pedersen, but she and Richard were out of town. We will have to make the trek back another time.