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Show A1 2 Wednesday, April 30, Vernal Express 2003 wives, who have no place to rest at present, unless they impose on the generosity of some storekeeper." People from outside the area began reporting that Vernal was the livest town in eastern Utah and the entire Uintah Basin." One admirer said, "Those people down there pull together and do things." The Vernal Express replied: "We have dozens of local businessmen and boosters who are willing to jump in with time and money for the gixul of Vernal and the section. In fact, the whole Uintah Basin. This is as it should be." The Commercial Club focused on community activities, from highway building and placing road signs to support for the establishment of a public health clinic. The club became a travel bureau, ensuring that Vernal was on state tourist maps and distributed pamphlets at the state fair. The Club officially incorporated in 1922; in April 1923 members voted to discontinue operation of their pixil and card rooms, and they continued to participate in all things civic. The Commercial Club nearly ceased to exist, ending mixing a recreational club in Chamber of Commerce work. The dissenting Kathleen Irving presents her research of the history of the Vernal Chamber of Commerce. Railroad was chamber target in 1899 by Kathleen Irving Uintah County Regional History Center Tin Vernal Area C'lwimhcr of Commerce observed ChamlxT Day April 22, with a presentation of reseaicli by Kathleen Irving. "A lixal Chamber of Commerce with was fust oigiinicd in a to attract railway to hopes Vernal. You can sec how successful they were in that endeavor. The Commercial Club was organized in 1909 functioning as a I Chamber of Commerce. 27 April 1899 The rime has arrived for the Vernal Chamber of Commerce to carry into effect the object of its creation. The atmosphere is full of raihoad building and no better time could be chosen for the gathering of statistics than the present. It is a duty that cveiy business man owes to the community at large to aid in the gathering and compilation of statistics so that the projectors of these various railroad schemes may have some idea of the vast amount of traffic Vernal affords, Dont let us have any more sixty cent mass meeting talks, let the business men go quietly to work and choose and send them out committees choosing facts. A railroad in Vernal means the industrial emancipation of the farmers; it means the development of our mining resonrues, und above all it means a higher moral and intellectual development. Of course, there will be a few moss backs who will oppose such a scheme. You cannot expect any thing belter from men whose only object in life is to put money in their own puises. Things fell apait for a few years und no railroad came in. In January 19(H), efforts were renewed Citizens galheied to take the preliminary steps to establish a chamber of cormneice. Over the next two months these imn did oiga-nithe Uintah creating Commercial Club In March 1909, we find that again the Commercial Club is organized in Venial. Veiy few of the 1906 organizers are listed as being involved with the 1909 organization, which was highly e, widcly available and people could move quickly. Tourism blossomed. Auto touring groups roared into town for a good meal and to watch some sort of entertainment once or twice a season. A headline in the Vernal Fxpiess at this time noted that a three day auto trip from Salt l.ake to Denver had become a reali- group organized a Chamber of Commerce. In December 1923, the Chamlier noted that our problems deal with the financial advancement of the inhabitants of this valley, their moral advancement, physical advancement and intellectual the At advancement. time, Chamber members focused on promoting stockraising and farming; assisted with "any undertaking which would) help to raise the morals of our people, pursued good, clean, healthy recreation, worked to get a county hospital funded, and supported the building of a county high school. By April of 1925, however, the Commercial Club officers had resigned. Nothing more is heard of the Chamber of Commerce. The Vernal Express pled for a mass meeting of persons interested in a ty Club members backed World War efforts, established an employment luneau, attracted settlers as late as 19 IK, and the following year started a movement to build a hospital. After WWI, the federal government decided to build a highway coast to coast, called Victory Highway. The Commercial Club was successful in getting the highthrough Vernal. It way built remains as part of Highway 40. members Club Commercial maintained caid and pool rooms in their headquarters, and had lavish, comfortable looms for the relaxation of members. e In 1915, they backed a initiative to construct a farmers restroom," specifically for farmers I city-wid- I iI RELAY FOR LIFE I YARD SALE I I At Parking Lot I I Saturday, May 3 I from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. K-m- art city." On - d, Jason Harlan Auto h Imperial P is MOVING! Fri., May 2 & Sat., May 3 Come see us at our new location, 1180 W. Hwy 40 789-249- (Old - We till A Wal-Ma- rt 3 Store) Have A Car For You - 3 Good Deal and A Good 15 Deal More oJJ. A Cow, A Jug Of Whiskey & The Citys Cat Made One Of Vernals Finest Restaurants Mlol plana with 5 or agraamant 800 mlnutea Audlovox Attar kwti4 lOOO HulMila Way Ipaakar Ptooe Way Rhort Meeaeging rapahla Wab Browser Capable sa NEW ? your Aah too Way NEW! per month montty uoakaT (bout talk WATCH 79 99 BUM In Veto minutes INATIOMWIOa LONG DCSTAMCB Audlovox Backlight Ootora I Wey Bpeahar Activated OteMng Bhorl Meaaeglng f vM buwrMiiMi arcazaao A new historical marker on the south side of Main Street across from 1 Ranch Restaurant at 100 East Main states that it is Vernals oldest existing restaurant CELUULARONE 7-1- railroad construction. Some of the projects completed by the Commercial Club were: Christmas gifts to needy children, organizing a day to work on roads, Basin mail route investigation, organization of a baseball team that back irrigation bonds and establish an experiment station at Ft. Duchesne. They organized 4th of July celebrations and entertainment for auto tourists. Automobiles were becoming Vernal Express correspondent Two students from Uintah Basin College Technology Applied received superior and second place awards at the April 22 Southern Technology Fair at Southern Utah University in Cedar City. UBATC student Jason Harlan received a superior rating for his amphibious vehicle while Lee Keller received second place for a silhouetted power- - Coated, lift top coffee table. Harlan built an all terrain amphibious vehicle, all made from scratch and put together at Uintah High School. The vehicle cost $2,300 to create. If one wheel turns, all of the wheels turn. The vehicle was built in two pieces with a pivot point in the middle so the vehicle can articulate in all terrains. The vehicle can maneuver on both land or in water. The invention was patterned after the old Coot Amphibious vehicle. At the fair, Harlans vehicle drew a great deal of attention, including attention from the judges. In all my years teaching, 1 have never seen a student have UBATC involved project, said. instructor Jeff Taniguchi Harlan spent four hours a day for one full trimester on the project. I would like to build a second vehicle, but with more hydraulics, Harlan said. Harlan would like to display his project in the UHS commons so other students can see his project and to show academic students exactly what vocational students can do. Meanwhile, Kellers silhouetted lift top, coffee table power-coateis lockable. Taniguchi said these two students were the first to attend the fair from UBATC. PLUS In 1910, the major focus ol busi- led to a city league. In 1915, Club members lobbied the legislature to complete a state highway. It took two years to succeed. They asked the legislature to By Ashley Smuin nights and weekends ness for the club was attracting railroad construction. Again unsuccessful. From 1909 until the early 1920s. die Commercial Club functioned as the areas Chamber of Commerce, dedicated to their slogan: Our City Shall Grow. It did, despite repeated unsuccessful attempts to attract 1 students receive awards such an UBATC taDniimitedl successful. Vernal Express, 12 March 1909: leading Citizens of the Valley Organize for the Purpose of Advertising the Resources of the County. The Vernal Commercial Club has been organized and will be incorporated at once." Members were thereafter able to join what they called "the club" for an initiation fee of $1 und with dues of 50 cents per month, payable quarterly in advunce. The Club searched methods to advertise the benefits of Ashley Valley. The club should have commodious headquarters und should make pretensions to entertaining and looking after the welfare of visitors when they come to the , business club to immediately organize and begin to function. Still, nothing happened until the Jaycees organized in 1936. This group chalked up a number of roaring successes. of Chamber Junior The Commerce was comprised of young men ages 2 to 35, and organized in the spring of 1936. For 20 years after their organization the JCs were so enthusiastic and active that more civic improvements were undertaken and completed than at any other time period. JCs lighted Main Street during the Christmas season, did clean up campaigns, swimming pool, hospital construction, polio drive, little league sports and construction of ball diamonds and tennis courts. The present Chamber has been in continuous operation since 1949, when it was reorganized with 16 standing committees. The Chamber backed construction of Echo Park Dam. Although the project was defeated some time after the Sierra Club became involved, it laid the foundation for the successful Flaming Gorge Reservoir project. The Chamber supported the Central Utah Project, which resulted in construction of Steinaker and Red Fleet dams. 1950 supported a National Guard unit; 1955 National Guard Armory completed; early 1950s helped with hay lifts for area stockmen who would have lost stock during a particularly bad winter; supported rodeo and recreation; 1957 supported formation of Little League Baseball. 1957 encouraged SF Phosphate to locate here; 1963 worked with honey producers to create a honey label which advertised the area; 1970-7- 1 supported movie Jeremiah Johnson; 1975 hospital improvements; 1977 DinaMitcs organized; 1979 Dinosaur Days instituted; 1981 Dinosaur Gardens project; Rodeo 1984 Dinosaur Round-U- p 1985 installed holiday sponsored; lights in Dinosaur Gardens; 1986 Christmas lights on Main Street and Main Street planters; 1990 Moved to current location at 134 W. Main; 1997 Convention Bureau established Individuals within the Chamber have donated literally hundreds of thousands of hours to community service work over the many years of its existence. On praudhr upparta mp IMPP VouMl AMMlrug MiiiPp Campaign aww.TMMOvB.Mm In 1933, Warren Fat Belcher sold a cow and bought a hot dog stand on South Vernal Avenue. Belcher bribed George Ramsey with a jug of whiskey to borrow the citys bulldozer and move the stand in the middle of the night to its present location. The 1 1 Restaurant is still owned and operated by Warren and Daisys daughters, Connie and her husband Jerry Pope. 7-- Mm 110W Man 789 4444 192 N ZOO 722 0935 E. 123 S 837 Mwy 55 . 400 784227 frwdOfflWvBNI '' .. . t mmwwifOMoaiiaa an P weeiw StowaaiMe aw aio yao VeiiewbiMt awo (MweterateoawaenbVwes Vi i mr" t ke(M waMawkrniw - tt rr i r in n a imiisae JQutcjt 3 KevfawuzHt j Open: Monday - Saturday 6 am -- 10 pm |