Volume XXIX Issue XIV The Ogden Valley News Page 9 June 1, 2022 Early History of Liberty, Weber, Utah: Part III Brickmaking and blacksmithing were two other industries that were developed to a limited degree. The first church building and several individual homes were built form bricks made locally. Nathaniel (Nate) Warren from North Ogden established a brick yard on the school section and furnished the bricks for the George and John Shaw homes, the Albert Ward and Andrew Ward and Andrew Clark homes were also built from these locally made bricks. Later, Robert Montgomery used the same yard and made the bricks for the first church building. The town has had two blacksmiths—John Trumble and Joseph Southwick. In early days, farmers had to be jack of all trades and do their own horse-shoeing and other repair work on their farm machinery, so the blacksmithing business was not too successful and local shops did not last very long. In later years, much of the blacksmithing business has been done at the Wilbur shop in Eden. R. N. Ames (one of the early schoolteachers) was the first and only Justice of the Peace. Most of the early settlers had access to small individual springs or ditches from larger springs for culinary water but a few had to dig wells, which was quite a problem. The method frequently used was to install a windlass or winch over the place they wished to start digging and by means of attaching a large bucket to the end of a rope, firmly fastened on the other end to a horizontal drum around which the rope was wound. A crank attached to one end of the horizontal bar was turned to hoist the bucket filled with dirt form the well and unwinding with the crank would lower the bucket to be refilled. This method was crude but effective. On two occasions there has been some excitement over the prospect of finding valuable mines. One was the bluebell, supposed to be a copper mine located in the mountains back of Broadmouth peak, and the other a coal mine located in Thimbleberry canyon. The copper mine was too far away for economical operation and the other produced a very low-grade graphite. One attempt was made to change the name of the town from Liberty to Mountain Dell, but the majority chose to keep the original name of Liberty. During the early history of Liberty, it was part of the Eden Ward and the children attended the Eden school as well as the church meetings. The Sunday School was the first church auxiliary organized in Liberty and James Burt, Sr., from the Eden Ward was sustained as the superintendent October 2, 1886. Grandfather Burt, as he was affectionately called, made the trip from Eden each Sunday morning (rain or shine) to take charge. The Liberty Primary association was organized by sister Josephine West June 4, 1887. Sustained as officers were Annie Burt, President with Mary Atkinson and Jannet Lindsey as councilors. Eliza Ferrin was sustained as the Secretary and Margaret Summers as Treasurer. Fifty-five children were enrolled at the first meeting held June 17, 1887. From the available records, it appears that regular meetings were not held for the first few years and the meetings consisted for the most part of storytelling by the officers and songs and recitations by the children. Some of the original primary members still reside in Liberty [as of 1966]. On December 4, 1892, President Lewis Shurtliff and Charles F. Middleton called a meeting in the schoolhouse for the purpose of organizing a ward. Joshua B. Judkins was sustained as the first Bishop for the new Liberty Ward, with James Monroe Wade and James M. Ferrin as counselors. Richard Jones was the first ward clerk, followed by Charles A. Clark. Edward J. Davis later replaced James M. Ferrin in the Bishopric. Bishop Judkins served until approximately 1904. Meetings were held in the schoolhouse until a new brick chapel was erected in 1905 across the street from the schoolhouse on property secured from James Burt Jr. The cemetery property and tithing barn property were also acquired from James Burt Jr. About the same date the ward was established, the Liberty Ward Relief Society was organized with Mary Ann Judkins as President, Mary Ann Chard and Mary Campbell counselors, and Mary Ann Ferrin and Christina Marshall as secretary and treasurer, respectively. In 1900, the ward population was 294 members. The brick for the new chapel was made in Liberty on property known as the school section across the river on property now owned by Shaw Brothers. The building consisted of one allpurpose room with a stage in the east end and a smaller room behind the stage. A fine hardwood floor was installed, said to be the first of its kind in Weber County. People came from far and near to dance on it. The building served as a church and recreational hall and was used as such until it was rebuilt into the present structure completed in 1953 [on the corner next to Liberty Park]. Much credit can be given to the building committee consisting of Myron Loewenstein, chairman Parley J. Clark, Robert F. Holmes, Woodrow K. Shaw, Ralph A. Ward, and Edgar Holmes. William Deblois and Warren Allred as contractors, worked under the supervision of Bishop Lysle J. Chard, and counselors during construction. Ward dinners sponsored by ward organizations, rodeos and other entertainments were a means of raising money to help finance the building. Bishop Parley J. Clark, with counselors Ralph A. Ward and Lawrence E. Shaw made the first assessment of $200 per family in 1942. Many others made substantial contributions of time and money during the construction of the building and their contributions are deeply appreciated. As previously stated, the children were taught in their homes or attended the Eden school. In 1883, John Marshall was given permission by Louis F. Moench superintendent of county schools, to establish a school at Liberty. A one-room log building was replaced with a frame one, and ten years later, one more room was added, making it possible to have two teachers from then on. In 1915, a fourroom brick building with steam heat and all modern facilities was erected on property purchased from James B. Lindsay. This building was used until 1950 when all Liberty school children were sent to the Huntsville school under a consolidation program. Later, Valley school. The following teachers have served over the years: Mary Holmes, Naomi Fifield, Molly Henninger, Ross Henninger, Alma Gard, Henry T. Chard, Edward Davis, R. N. Ames, Fred Briscoe, Mr. and Mrs. Flemming, John Rawson, David Dean, Charles McLaughlin, Riley Cain, and George W. Dale. The people traded at the Eden store until 1899 when Bishop Judkins recognizing the need of a store, installed some shelves in one room of his home and supplied a few groceries. Samuel Higginbotham built a store on the east side of the street on property now [1966] owned by Angus Shaw. He carried quite a varied stock until his store burned down in 1897. Later, Aunt Mary Atkinson carried a few groceries for sale in one room of her home. Joseph Gardner operated a small store in his home on the Sophia Shaw property. Penrod Bros. had a store across the street from the Jerry Southwick home, which burned to the ground about 1906. They moved a building from Eden and operated a store just south of Jerry’s new home, later operated by Lafe Sessions, followed by William H Chard. Mr. Chard purchased the old schoolhouse, remodeled it into a store and liv- ing quarters where he lived and operated quite an up-to-date store until 1943 when he closed the store and moved to Ogden. An irrigation ditch was established as early as June 1, 1864. The irrigation company was incorporated in 1899. In 1913, a culinary water system was completed and furnished about 25 families, the church, and school with water. This system was improved and extended to a spring free from contamination during 1949. Christina Marshall and Mary Atkinson helped their husbands make one of the first irrigation ditches. This ditch divides at the Hadlock place, one lateral going to the LindsayBurt property and one going to the AtkinsonMarshall property. John Marshall was the first president of the Liberty Irrigation Company. The first telephone was installed in the Penrod store in 1903, which proved to be a fine service for the people, enabling them to call outside the town for emergency or business reasons. The first car was owned by Edmond Shaw about 1912. The first snowplow came this way in 1920. Electricity brightened our homes in 1927. All these improvements have played an important part in the lives of people. From The Past . . . Eighth-Grade Graduating Class, 1920, Liberty, Utah Members of the class are, front row, left to right: Elizabeth Lindsay, Viola Chard, Mirnen Lindsay Denakker (teacher), Bertha Whiteley, Lois Chard. Back Row: Verl Ward, Harriet Ward, John Montgomery, Nellie Wade, and Della Barley. Photograph is from “Early History of Liberty and the People.” -Flatwork -Decorative Concrete -Concrete Prep Schedule a Quote Today! 801-857-1567 Danny Graves | @DJFencingLLC Steel Building Contractor ~ Residential ~ Agricultural ~ Commercial ~ Storage Units ~ Steel Siding and Roofing 2668 Grant Avenue, Suite #104A, Ogden, UT Huntsville, Utah 801-528-2318 Saturday Night 6:00 p.m. Sunday Morning 9:00 a.m. Fr. Joshua Marie Santos 801-399-5627 FrJoshuaS.Stambrose@gmail.com Saturday 5:30 p.m Sunday 8:00 a.m. or by appt. Saint Joseph Catholic Elementary, Middle School, and High School Providing a challenging, college-focused education in the proven tradition of Catholic schools, for the families of the Ogden Valley. We want to teach your children! For information on our program, financial assistance, tours, or application, please call 801-393-6051 or 801-394-1515. 801-612-9299