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Show 1 CENTERUILLE 1 HISTOBICSL SOCIETY By VES HARRISON The fall season of the Centerville Historical Society opened with F. Wallace Walton, former multi-term multi-term mayor, as the speaker, giving a detailed account of the many significant sig-nificant happenings during his terms in office, first as the president presi-dent of the Town Board, and later as mayor. His presentation is reproduced exactly as he gave it, and Centerville Center-ville history enthusiasts will find much informative material of extreme ex-treme value in it. Prior to Wallace's presentation, the audience gave a moment of silence si-lence in memory of the first president, presi-dent, Alzina H. Barton, and Clinton Clin-ton S. Barber, the first vice president, presi-dent, both of whom died this past summer. Clara Goudy described some of the pictorial and other material contributions given to the Society. Marlene Dalrymple is the newly-appointed newly-appointed secretary-treasurer. The following is the presentation given by F. Wallace Walton. F. Wallace Walton was elected in November 1935 to serve as a member of the Centerville Town Board for the years 1936 and 1937. The first problem was providing funds of $ 1550 per year for 20 years for the construction of a water system. sys-tem. The town was established for this purpose in 1915. Population of the town was now 690. The town board meetings were held in the homes of the members of the board. The salaries of board members mem-bers were $2 per meeting and the president received $50 per year. The problem confronting the board were water shed protection measures created by overgrazing and fire. The most important project pro-ject was the transfer of ownership of the cemetery from the church to the town. Previous boards had refused re-fused to accept this proposal on several occasions, but the remarks of Elder J. Golden Kimball at the burial of Elder B.H. Roberts in October 1933 prompted a strong movement by two civic clubs, the bishoprics of the two wards, and other members of the community to cause the transfer of the cemetery. There was also very strong opposition to this movement, but the board decided it was in the best interest of the town to take full re-sponsibility re-sponsibility for the cemetery. Board member Herbert E. Haacke volunteered to oversee the work of improving the cemetery and with the help of the civic clubs and donations from the clubs and others, the work progressed and the cemetery became a place of beauty and great civic pride. In November 1941 F. Wallace Walton was elected as president of the board for 1941 and 1943. In 1943 Wallace was re-elected as president for the years 1944 and 1945. For many years the town had been searching for ways to protect and enrich our water rights. In approximately 1943 a flood control dike constructed by the Forest Service on the hillside above the town was used to develop de-velop a water-spreading basin to get surplus winter and spring . runoff water into the ground. The resulting artificial lake located 100 feet above the town was more thrV 2600 feet long and 20 feet wide. At about this same time, F.C. : Koziol of the Forest Service joined : the town in their efforts to reach an ; agreement with the Paskett- : Kippen interests in obtaining their ; properties on the Centerville . watershed. This had been and con- ; tinued to be an ongoing problem for " many years. It should also be noted that the town was buying, at every opportunity, oppor-tunity, shares in the Centerville Deuel Creek Irrigation Company in order to increase the water supply available to the town. The state of Utah was allotting funds for B&C roads to the towns " and cities of the state. Centerville ; town did not have any road equip- : ment and therefore worked out an arrangement with Davis County road division to grade and mulch the town's streets to the extent of the B&C funds available. Also, the -town's street light system was expanded ex-panded considerably. Wallace did not seek re-election in November 1945, and Herbert E. ' Haacke was elected president of J the board effective January 1946. TO BE CONTINUED IN -OCT. 12TH CUPPER The public is invited to the next meeting on Oct. 19. |