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Show Oreni 'founder' never lived irf Oreiti By DONALD W. MEYERS The Daily Herald land as the central point, the tract did play an important role in the city's early days. Orem told the newly formed city government to "tax our property to the limit." Orem's enthusiasm for paying taxes helped the city pay off a $110,000 bond to finance the new city's water system. . While Orem owned property in the city and jbliowed its progress with interest, he never lived in the City. In Sagebrush to Steel, the 1961 history of Orem, author Clyde Weeks relates how T. Britt Woodward, dent of the Provo Bench Commercial Club, suggested that they name the area after Orem, w ho was putting the railroad through at the time. But getting a distinct name for the fruit growers.was not the only motive Woodward had for naming the city the after railroad magnate." Woodward hoped Orem would provide "favors for the area, such as It's easy to figure out how many of Utah's cities got their flames. . Some, like Salr Ukc . City or Springville, are named for their surroundings. Others are named either for one of the community's prominent citizens, an Indian1 Chief ,"a frontiersman or a figure from scriptures. But Orem is different, IWwas named for Walter C;?Ortrtva irian. community. whos only connection to the city Orem's last recorded visit, tp the was two iron rails. was in 1949, when he and his wife .establishing a depot. . city Orem, who wai'born in Missouri attended the ceremonies commemo- -' . . The club appointed a committee to in 1873, was president' of the Salt meet with Orem and pitch their prcv' rating the opening of the newly paved Lake and Utah. Electric Interurban Orem State Street, the "Velvet Strip." posal to tiame the bench after-him- , railroad. The railroad began conOrem died Aug. 27., 95 U in Salt Orem, impressed with the idea of ' " struction on a" rail line down to having au area named for him. agreed "Lake V"v City. Pavson in 1914 and passed through His descendants have made return to aceept the "honor" and purchased the unincorporated Pfovo - Bench-alon40 acres of land between what is now . - trips and kept in contact w ith the what is now Orem Boulevard!" 6(MJ North. 400 West. 800 North and" town that bears their forebear's name " i .. The railway provided ihe urea fruit ."! State Street:'-- . .' ': ,; in recent years. with to their a It Welsh said. that future the Stella was Orem's hope produce growers way get any Mayor to market. But the farmers needed somecommunity' would develop around ProvoOrem Chamber of Commerce, tracked down the sons of Walter C. that point, thing more, a distinct name for the area . where they grew the fruit Orem 10 years ago. Since then, Welsh, In 1919. the residents of the bench consaid she has kept in touch with William fusion with surrounding communities. incorporated the area, and continued son of Walter C. Orem. the Among the rejected names were calling it Orem. While the original cho'se-oo- t card from him "I Christmas a use Orem's to and Sharon get Timpanogos, Canyon city planners . g -- every year," Welsh said. William Orem lives in a California nursing home. She said recently a member of the Orem family was in the area and asked, if. the family could hold a reunion in the city. Welsh suggested an even better idea: Hold the reunion during the city's annual Orem's Family SummerFest. "We had 95 of thereat our parade this summer," Welsh saidj The family participated in . the annual march -down Center Street. A display case outside the Council Chambers tells the story of. the man behind the city's name. The display contains an oil portrait; of Orem, models of the trains that, ran' on the railroad, artifacts from the railroad and photographs of Orem' and the railroad sites in the city. Orem is also remembered through the Walter C. Orem Citizen of the Quarter Award. The award is given to .thf 'resident's 'who best exemplifies d attributes of the the city's namesake. Notables of The Southwest, a biographical encyclopedia of the western United States, describes Orem as "a man of Christian instincts and practices." '' civje-minde- Ill) MM GARDENCENTER Fanner Grant says "When the Ytmtd wearies and society ceases td satisfy, there's always the garden." . Jackson &Pbrkins$ "Roses CONTAINER PLANTS1MTH INSTANT COLOR FOR ALL OCCASIONS PANSIES PLANT EARLY BEDDING PLANTS COMPLETE UNE OF GARDEN SUPPLIES F0UAGE QUALITY UNSURPASSED FLOWERING PLANTS PERENNIALS ARABIS TO ZEBRINA FLOWERING SHRUBS P0INSETTIAS-C0L- 0R tree FRUIT CENTER . JJ (Tr EVERGREENS ROSES UNMATCHED TREES STARK BROS. FRUIT TREES FRESH PRODUCE DURING SEASON PVMPKINLAND ... A CHILD'S DELIGHT VEGETABLES UNBELIEVABLY FRESH IN OREM OPEN 9 Monday 435. So. Geneva Road 1 (1 - to 6 Saturday block South of Geneva Steel) 15 |