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Show wwexw ees "THE OGDEN VALLEY NEWS Page 11 February 1, 2007 Dog Derbies in Ogden Valley In about 1929 to 1934, dog derbies were introduced to Ogden Valley as a new form of entertainment. Jack Oliver’s name is remembered for this event. He was a stranger who leased ground in Winters Grove for a fox farm but he also raised handsome Husky dogs and trained them to pull long low sleds. There might be eight, more or less, of these dogs pulling as a team with Jack behind them in the sled, cracking his whip and coaxing them on. The sport became a popular event when a number of dog teams and sleds from Ashton and Rigby, Idaho, and other places came to the Valley to compete. Jack Oliver was sponsored by Dr. J. F. Wikstrom and a Dr. Fisher. LaVar Allen and Jack Oliver were the only local men to compete. Sometimes the other men from other places hired lady drivers as an added attraction. These women drivers could please the street-lined crowd with their fancy clothes and attractive looks, and could curl the ears of those near them with their language. An elderly woman, Annie Wangsgard, received a broken leg when Oliver’s dog got away from him and ran into the crowd. The routes they raced varied. Once it was to Botts in South Fork Canyon. This was not the best route, they learned, as those coming sometimes tangled with those going. Another year they went up the north lane and across to the south lane back to the town. They usually made three or four LDS laps around the route to qualify for the number of miles. The most successful year was in 1931 when they left Beckers Hill and raced the loop up past the old cemetery road into Huntsville, an up the Middle Fork road on over to Eden and down the old Spring Town road to Eden and back to Beckers Hill where blocks were set up. Fifty cents a ticket was charged for both events. Those living along the side roads saw the dog race free, but didn’t’ see the finish unless they paid. The depth of packed snow on the road often determined the route. That same year, Hyrum ae a good friend of Ogden’s Chamber Commerce, plowed out a large parking area at his home on String Town Road for residents of Eden to see the races. He also instructed his family to prepare plenty of food in case the races ran over past lunch time. family, total strangers named Sorenson from Sanpete County, had their first introduction to Ogden Valley hospitality at these dog races. Mr. Hyrum Stallings invited them in for a free lunch and they never forgot it. Their son, Leon, later came to Huntsville as a soil conser— and bought a local store. man named Mr. Whitehead bought his dogs from Ashton a month early and housed them in Mr. Stallings’ vacant barn so he could exercise his dogs before the run. The fad of dog racing spread to the younger generation of the day, and every kid who had a dog tried to train him to pull a sleigh. Keith Jensen admits that his greatest ambition at that time was to beat Mark Allen in a race. In conjunction with the dog derby were the famous ski jumps on Beckers Hill at the mouth of now Pineview Dam. The hill was just east of where the caretaker’s home is now, and a jump-off platform was constructed part way up the slope. The old-time cars of that date throttled en masse up the canyon from all over Utah to see Al and Corry Engen, world-renowned skijjumpers from Norway, perform this dare-dev: Of course, the dam was not there then, and the main road was at the bottom of the once wella — wspaper clipping saved by Jim and Virginia Stallings said that in 1933, Governor Henry H. Blood and G. Becker were in attendance. Judges were Ora Bundy, P.C. Richardson, and Mayor Fred Wood. One mild year, a February thaw almost ruined the dog derby and ski event. The roads were bare in spots, and Becker’s Hill left much to be desired for a ski jump. This presented quite a problem but, undaunted, the Chamber of Commerce called on Hyrum Stallings again for help. He, with his Eden crew, used ingenuity and hard work to slide snow from his higher elevations almost a quarter of a mile down the ravine to form a chute or trough above the jump-off point. Snow also was hauled below and packed. The dog races presented an even bigger problem. This was solved by using snowplows in reverse to push the snow road banks back into the bare spots of the road so the sleds could run. After this disappointing year, the dog derbies moved to Ashton, Idaho, and Becker’s Hill and the dog derby moved to the memories of Valley residents. Note: This information was taken from “Remember My Valley,” by LaVerna Burnett Newey. Historical Photo > " “4 Pay rae re es Relief Society Fireside Slated for February 9 FEDERAL RESERVE cont from page 9 11,000 jobs. Construction employment fell by 3,000 jobs in December, while manufacturing employment fell by 12,000 positions. Mining jobs rose by 4,000 in December. Service-providing employment led the way in December with a rise of 178,000 net new jobs. Professional & business services employment rose by 50,000 jobs, while education & health care jobs grew by 43,000 positions. Leisure & hospitality added GALLERY Me wife Joan. Peterson grew up in Weber County, and has served for the church in iy and England during the past five eal The meeting will be begin at 7:00 p.m Community members 18 and older are invited to attend. Refreshments will be served. Come and enjoy a special evening with friends and family members. 31,000 net new jobs in December, government added another 17,000 Other service providers, including trade, added 37,000 jobs. while jobs. retail ” more information, contact Zions Bank’ Eden Valley Market branch at (801) 745-6129. Additional information is available at ww. i _com> Jeff Thredgold,Thredgold Economic Associates Economic Consultant to Zions Bank, (801) 5339663 (c)2006 Thredgold Economic Associates A The Huntsville Utah Stake Relief Society Presidency of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints will host a fireside on February 9 at the Huntsville LDS chapel located at 277 S. 7400 E. in Huntsville Town. The theme for the evening is “Strengthening Home and Family.” Elder Wayne Peterson of the Second Quorum of the Seventy will be the evening’s guest speaker along with his Come visit us for: - Original paintings - Sculpture pieces - Commission work 34-9881 “a local artist cooperative” www.gallery250gden.com 268 Historic 25th Street~ Ogden Hours 10 a.m. - 6 p.m.~ Mon. - Sat. Pritchett sisters left to right: Elizabeth (Betty), Pearl (Teddy), Neta, Rozella. Daughters of early Eden residents Alfred L. and Frances Henniger Pritchett. Photo taken about 1905. Photo courtesy of Ned Clark of Layton, Utah. Celeste C. oe PLLC at Law Attor 2590 Gatien: eae Ogden, Utah 8 a 200 Stine 801 612-9299 Local: 801 791-1092 Email: ccanninglaw@aol.com Meeting the Legal Needs of Small Business and Their Owners FREE Initial Thirty Minute Consultation. Appointments in Ogden Valley upon request. orthodontics Og) BRS a0) ee DY ke:) Vern Iverson S 745-3882 Iverson Family Dentistry offers all phases of general dentistry to you and your family. Nitrous oxide, and stereo and video technology will make your visit to the dentist much more pleasant. Extended hours available. 2627 N. Highway 162, 745-3882 Eden Eden Prof. Center PSD sh ae CST 84310 801.745.2519 ocro Bes toe ear! Specialist in Orthodontics Children and Adults ens@ ei yeere PCRS ere 801.479.9448 OT Resse epee Bm Bs Sica ow tetiae lsh ceed www.shepherdorthodontics.com ie ee a CMa mee RR ae Rescra ysis tases |