OCR Text |
Show I SUN TIMES, Nov. 22, 1 f I CLEARFIELD COURIER, Nov. 22, 1978, 978, Page 5 Tirracgir0wrth'':rammbrd. by Frances Taylor Planning doesnt cost - it pays stated an early edition of the Washington Terrace News back in the 50s, and out of this philosophy a city was born to become the first ' type Urban Renewal project approved in the United States. When the World War II broke out in 1942, the government hastily built many Army, Navy, Air installations around the country. Washington Terrace was one such area, complete with housing for the workers as the otfws. After the war some families returned to their original home states, others could not or did not leave. According to Washington Terrace records, it was the original intent of the government to raze the structures but instead, they put them up for sale. Concerned citizens of Washington Terrace con- ceived of the idea of purchasing the project from the With no government. precedent to guide them but with extraordinary vision and stamine to match, the set a residents up Washington Terrace Board of Directors with George H. Van Leeuwer as president and he is still serving the Board. Other principal officers included Jay B. Rohmer; treausrer Vincent J. Sweeney; and the Leeuwen said that he felt Judge J.A. Howell, now secretaries of the board who acted at that time; General join the corporations efforts because of his wonderful as Ralph B. attitude Parsons put it. He was employed on a retainer basis for the legal work. vice-preside- nt Manager C. Orval Stott; Director of Finance Ralph B. Parsons; and Sales Manager Don W. Chambers. Present Councilman Percy M. Hess who was an early Board member of the it Washington Terrace Housing Corporation, stated that Mr. Van Leeuwen did more for the comNon-Prof- munity than any other person. He worked at Hill Air Force but gave his time to unite the people in carrying the project to completion in spite of obstacles. Hess called Mr. Van Leeuwen the father Washington Terrace. of Many people contributed to the successful outcome of the project but Mr. Van a deserves deceased, amount of tremendous credit because of the complete Judges dedication. He said he felt a government had to meet the requirements of the Public street should be named after Housing Administration (PHA) and the citizens to get the loans on their homes from the Federal Housing him. i Howell was an individual who was invited to Judge The Judge has said I feel it is a part of my civic duty to help you fellows. You have a wonderful opportunity out there. I will be glad to serve in any way I can. According to the Washington Terrace the history, Board authorized Judge Howell to prepare a contract between Weber County and the Terrace Corporation among other duties. Van Leeuwen remembers the Judge for sustaining him through the dark days. there And dark days were. The Washington George find to be real treasure by Cliff Bachison Assistant Editor Salt Lake City antique dealer has uncovered a hidden treasure. Dave Erickson, a young antique dealer, found an interesting bust of an unknown man in New York City two years ago. The owner of the bust, a New York antique dealer, offered the bust to Erickson for $150. It was all a joke, Erickson said. It looked neat and I planned to set it in one corner of my bedroom. We played all kinds of garnet W'ithii.the bust on.; the wgy home. We named him George and sat him in an empty seat near us on the plane. When the stewardess came be we asked her to fix George a drink. She got a little upset with us for taking up an empty seat like that. We had to put George in one of the closets on board the plane, but we even had fun then. Every time we landed and a new stewardess came on board, we carefully watched her reaction as she opened the closet to find George with his green face staring out at her. Erickson said he had no idea that George was a rare art treasure for almost two years. I didnt know who he was when I brought him home. He was made out of plaster so I had a bronze cast made from him.. I told the member! oL, my family , that I would pay $50 to which ever one of them could find out who George really was. My little brother really went to work and while he was looking at a book that contained pictures of valuable french art treasures, he Terrace Corporation, in order to finance the a of rehabilitating deteriorating housing development left by the Administration (FHA) also had to follow guidelines set up by the government. One of the requirements that the Corporaton had to meet was to secure the cooperation of the Weber County Planning Commission. At that period in time the Commission went on record as opposing the development of Washington Terrace. They could see nothing but a slum area developing. They felt it better to simply tear down the old buildings and sell the land to private industry. Fortunately the mayor of Ogden City, Rulon White, came to the rescue and in time Weber County became the first in the United States to develop a workable program of community renewal. The Washington Terrace project was owned by, and under the complete control of the Corporation and the Board, under the Articles of had Incorporation, the authority vested in it to carry out the provisions of the Renewal Urban program. They were to have the entire amortized in mortgage a 25-ye- ar period. Die city mortgage was paid off in seven and a half years - truly a feat of no small magnitude having effects years before its due date. The final payment $4 million mortgage took place in the Nations Capitol, . YlVt March 19, 1958. The Master Plan paid off. The dark days included a contractor who defaulted and harassment of real estate people in Ogden. In those early days there were those who could not or would meet the requirements of the FHA. was Vandalism rampant. According to Mr. the inthe about teresting thing whole development was participation of the people who were either violently for it or violently against it. Mr. J.B. Rohmer said they had to hire private police officers, Virgil Rich and Arle Van Leeuwen Flinders who did a real good job. There were many things to settle for the area to become a city such as deeds for Rohmer park and others; sites for schools, street names and identification of all facilities. Mr. Leeuwen said he even got threatening calls in the middle of the night against him and his family. He said that sociologists should record how difficult times were. The war was over and people were trying to adjust to the uncertainties of peace. To many, owning a home had only been a dream until the housing project started developing. In time, many of their critics became the staunchest of supporters. Van Leeuwen recalled an elderly lady who brought a cake one night. I finally baked my first cake in my own house, she said to him. Other problems included what to do with occupants while their homes were being remodeled. This was solved by the Corporation buying 40 units from those desiring to sell. Seventy per cent of the people stayed in the project. The remodeling was done in the phases according to master plan. Other important things to settle was water, sewerage outlets, insurance, lighting. Professor William Peterson of Logan (Utah State University) was the man who worked with the Corporation in determing the where there was adequate water in quantity to serve the city, a story in site itself. In 1958 the well chosen was producing 1,100 gallons a minute and construction of the mammoth undertaking. Herbert W. Lane who acted as secretary to the Corporation, now teaching welding for Weber State College at the Skills Center said that none of the Corporation members received Page 5 . . payment during that tur- bulent period. After the Corporation was dissolved, Stanley Poulsen, former Board member became the first mayor of Washington Terrace. All city workers are now paid. Mr. Lane remains the only unpaid worker in behalf of Washington Terrace after 30 years, he said. Kay Neal, formerly Mrs. Snoddy was one of the first teachers in Washington Terrace schools. She recalls teaching the third grade in F Court in 1943-4John Reese was the principal at the time. They took out a wall of a bedroom to make a big room. All the children sat on benches facing a painted wall used as a blackboard. They had space heating so it was very hot all winter except by the windows, she said. The drinking fountain were kitchen faucets turned upside down and lunches were heated over the stove, she continued. She also recalls the sand. You couldnt go anywhere without being knee-deein sand - it piled up at the doors and windows so they could p hardly be opened." After the first year wagons moved them to the new Washington Terrace Elementary School. Six grades were crowded into nine double dwelling unit houses with improvised furniture. By 1945 it became the largest school in Weber County with 1,158 pupils in grades eight and a principal assistant principal. Wheatly J. Taylor, teachers, 30 and now actively retired, became the third principal of the school the same year the unit school was moved to the Terrace school, at that time serving as a junior high. The change came about that year when the School Board adopted a plan of instruction which provided 6 years of Elementary, 3 years of junior high and 3 years of senior high. The junior high moved from the Terrace School to South Junior High. Other rapid changes took place. Six classrooms were opened in the new Roosevelt Elementary School. There was so much sand around the school that the School Board offered to match anyone who could raise $2,000 to get the school sodded and blacktopped. With a chuckle, Wheatly Taylor said he was the one who raised that other $2,000. It was not until 1957-5due changes, that all the children housed in at the Washington Terrace School were housed in the main building. Bonneville High School land once belonged to the who were Corporation thinking at that point of a shopping center to raise the tax base but changed their viewpoint. 8, to found a picture of George. wasnt His name George ; it was John Paul Jones, the famous American naval hero of the War of 1812. The bust had been made from a sculptured bronze statue created by Jean Atone Houdon, one of the most famous french sculptors of the 17th century in 1781. I found that the plaster cast that I had bought for was worth anywhere $2,000 to $100,000, depending upon which appraiser I talked to. The bronze that I had made from the Diaster ; cast is worth on todays in$12,000 $150 from " 0j - ternational market, Erickson said. Unfortuantely, GENERAL the plaster by vandals who broke into the foundry where the cast was being being kept. Luckily, I had the bust cast was destroyed BATH remarked insured. MIRRORS AND Erickson. CABINETS NOW SAVE THIS WEEK ONLY! THREE-WA- Y OVAL MIRRORS CABINETS IN ) AND CABINETS i 38"x38" 50"x38" IN THERE'S STRENGTH IN NUMBERS. Like style 3038 shown here. When youve selected an Optyl frame style, dont expect a fancy model name to go with it . just a number. You see, theres strength in numbers and frames made in OPTYL material are strong. Vacuum cast in molds, OPTYL frames are durable. Fine details and sculptured effects are possible without loss of strength. And OPTYL frames hold adjustment longer. Lightweight Comfort Proper Durability OPTYL . Fit there is Convenience strength in nurtibers! We've got your OPTYL number at: , antique dealer bought a plaster bust and this bronze cast made, which he later discovered that of John Paul Jones. The plaster cast has been raised to be worth up to $100,000 and the bronze is valued at $20,000. M.T LAKE t , ISMiiRTMMf Residential Commercial IN$ULATED GLASS e .. J. COREY iTIMATO u rL INSTALLATION STAHLE 563 W. 100 N. ASO SAlll US;2t(M555 BOUNTIFUL. Ant. Silver Ant. Gold Available in Surface mounted or recessed for those special remodel jobs. , An extra pair of glasses Is a great holiday gift. . .Cant you see Itt STORM DOORS WINDOWS Choose from KNIGHTON OPTICAL C0MPANV Auto . 25"x31 20"x36 UT S4016 RT$t225503 OGDEN 050 25th St Suit 303-643- 9 N-- 1 . LAYTON OQOEN 2170 N. 1700W. West of Davis No. Hospital (251624 425 E. 5350 So. St Benedict Prof. Bldg 3048501 6211632 259 31st esc:: |