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Show Centerville reviews the past, celebrates diamond anniversary : t j . f V . j j L - - - r- " - " 5 r - ; - ' - - , - ( - - . . . j i , r, i-mw Jim pF" w-pwm $fw m r i i1: 1 i I SL-:.LL, By DO NET A GATHERUM On Monday, May 3, 1915, the Davis County Court accepted a petition peti-tion of incorporation signed by 100 residents of the county that officially offi-cially made Centerville the third town in Davis County to become incorporated. Centerville was settled in 1847-48 1847-48 by Thomas Glover, and Osmyn and William Deuel. It was originally original-ly called "Deuel Creek or Deuel Creek Settlement and later, Cherry Creek Settlement." In 1855 when the county court, enforcing the laws of the Utah Territorial Ter-ritorial Legislature, established five fort districts in Davis County, Centerville or Fort District No. 2, was formed. The fort was "bounded "bound-ed on the South by the Centre of the Block North of Kent Street and on the north By a parrelel line running from the street North of Roundy Conneying (author couldn't read the next word) from the Bottoms. Note: the spelling and wording were copied directly from court records. The fort locating committee was Aaron B. Cheney, Simon C. Dolten and William R. Smith. All families living within the The Coombs home, built in 1 875 by William Capener, is listed on the historic register. It is significant signifi-cant as the most intact example of a group of remaining stone venacular residences built in Centerville between the 1 850s and 1 880s. During its 1 08-year history, it has been owned by only two families. Since Randall had moved to Idaho the 61 voters elected J.E. Williams as president of the board of trustees. C.H. Smith replaced him on the board of trustees. Immediately, the town leaders started developing a water system. They secured water rights from the Deuel Creek Irrigation Company and purchased 5 SA acres for a reservoir reser-voir site to hold the overflow from Deuel Creek. The city agreed to pay the irrigation irriga-tion company $1,624 for piping ol the system in order to reduce loss through seepage and evaporation. As opponents to incorporation predicted, the Town of Centerville held a election on December 20, 1915 to gain approval for the issuance is-suance of $15,000 worth of bonds for the development of a watei system. There were 54 votes cast. Of this number, 52 favored bonding. district boundaries were taxed at a rate of $30 on each lot within the fort and $12 on each able-bodied man over the age of 1 8 and 1 1 percent per-cent of the valuation of property within the district. A rock and dirt wall was started. Since the fear of Indian troubles was unfounded, the fort was never completed, but the organization of the fort boundaries provided a good nucleus for the future town of Centerville. The first attempt at incorporation was probably made in 1893. The Clipper reported on March 9, 1893, "The meeting held the other evening, even-ing, for considering the city question ques-tion was remarkable for disagreements, dis-agreements, as the only point on which they mutually agreed was, "The motion for adjournment." Because of the need for a central culinary water system, the idea of incorporation persisted. On April 9, 1915 N.T. Porter presented a petition peti-tion to the county court asking for incorporation. He indicated that a supplemental petition would be filed. fil-ed. The court tabled action until the supplemental petition was received. At the same time one group of Centerville residents was circulating cir-culating a petition for incorporation, another group was circulating a petition opposing incorporation, fearing that incorporation would mean higher taxes without any benefits. This individual who opposed incorporation felt it was best to rely on individual wells for a water supply. The opposition succeeded to the extent that not enough people agreed to incorporation to allow Centerville to become a third class city. The municipality had to be incorporated in-corporated with a "town" form of government. The boundaries of Centerville were reduced because of this opposition. oppo-sition. After the county court approved the incorporation of the Town of Centerville, a set of elected officials had to be chosen. The Clipper reported on May 7, 1915, "At a meeting held at the Alberta hall, Monday evening, a president and trustees were selected for the new town organization. M.H. Randall, former county commissioner com-missioner and former bishop of Centerville, was elected president of the board. Don H. Major, William Barber, Jos. E. Williams and Fred Walton, trustees. These names will be presented to the county commissioners who will make the official appointment." The first municipal election for Centerville was held in November. s -) r u I 1 - ; t MELVIN H. RANDALL The Bamberger station in Centerville was part of a local railroad which Simon Bamberger felt should be built to serve between Salt Lake City and Ogden. JOSEPH E. WILLIAMS J - f f r , i t. f.; ( " f t - f F h i i r it - - - - - This group of 6th, 7th and 8th grade students are posing for their class picture in front of the Centerville Central School. The building was converted into "Soldier's Memorial Hall" and used for public meetings including Centerville Town Board meetings. F. WALLACE WALTON |