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Show Volume XIV Issue XVIII The Ogden Valley news Page 11 July 1, 2007 The Day the Windows Blew Out in Huntsville By LaVerna B. Newey Note by LaVerna: The facts for this story were told to me December 1978 by Archie Thurston, who had the related to him by Merlin Brown, a former resident and one of the participants. The story, however, is retold in my own words. “I wish someone would wake up this town on the 4th of July,” was the wry comment of a bored elderly native. Two young men, Charlie Shupe and Merlin Brown, standing nearby that July of about 1928, perked their ears, sidled off by themselves, and began their elaborate plans to literally fulfill that native’s casual wish. Intensely they fashioned a home-made bomb; a clumsy looking artifact, but none the less workable, made of a stick of dynamite wrapped in a sheep hide, tied with wire, and positioned in a bucket with fuse exposed. The contraption was lugged out of its secret hiding place and hauled gingerly over the earthen streets to the town square the morning of the 4th. They fastened it to a metal basketball hoop, lit the fuse, and hastily retreated to their homes, laughing merrily at a job well done. The morning sun, peeping over the eastern crimson mountains contributed to the effect of the boom, resounding and loud, which rattled like an earthquake, the dishes on the shelves and shattered the windows of nearby homes, businesses, church, and school houses. The sleepy town residents scrambled out of beds to peer in all directions. The town sheriff, Arthur Grow, and his aides, were “on the ball” in minutes. Like the movie sleuths, they followed the tell-tale tracks in the dusty road to the pranksters’ homes. The culprits, exhausted from their early morning shenanigans were sound asleep. They were rudely awakened, questioned into confessing, and, as punishment, were made to pay for all the broken windows. Fifty years later in 1978, Merlin was back in town for a visit. Charlie had passed on. Merlin retold this event to friends gathered at Max Grow’s—son of the former sheriff. In LaVerna Newey’s “Remember My Valley,” we learn about other Independence Day celebrations in the Valley (210-211). The Fourth of July and other celebrations have always played a big part in the Valley entertainment. In Liberty, early Fourth of July celebrations included Thomas Atkinson who would set off a home-made cannon ball that could be heard all over town. The band serenaded. There was a parade that usually included a float loaded with children that said, “Utah’s best crop.” This was followed by a patriotic program and then a noon lunch of fried chicken, home-made bread, and pies and cakes. In the afternoon there were foot races, sack races, tug-o-war, three legged races, horse races, greased pig, and ballgames. There were a home-made merry-go-round, swings, and fish ponds. David Chard remembered they had at the side of the school house a bowery. He was usually “roped” into turning by hand the gallons of ice cream which they served in dishes. Along with the ice cream, they sold gal- lons of pink lemonade. Mrs. Jennie Neils’s job was to wash, squeeze, and cut up rinds and pour hot water over them and then add it to the lemonade which gave it a most delicious flavor. Homemade popcorn and candy were also sold. Harvey Burnett remembers one parade in Eden about 1910. His grandfather, Bishop Henry Fuller, had said the ward had a few financial setbacks and wouldn’t be able to put on a celebration. Harvey’s father, Matthew, said, “Let me handle the parade. I’ll make it a success or stand the financial loss.” So he got the business houses in Ogden to donate the prizes for the games. They had a band wagon which awoke the town. This was a special wagon made for hauling coal. It was always used on the Fourth of July because it was the only one big enough to haul the town band. Of course it was decorated with blue and white bunting. The parades in those days didn’t have a “Miss America” theme. They always depicted scenes of the Pioneers. This particular parade he remembered because it was particularly “pioneerish.” They hooked a cow and a horse together to pull the wagon. Their large family on the wagon were all dressed as pioneers. A very real-looking Indian, bare to the waist, swooped upon the wagon and demanded biscuits of his mother who handed him some and he went off in the crowd with a “whoop.” Harvey, just a little fellow, thought it was for real. Needless to say, the Burnetts received the prize for the best float. Historical Photo First/Second Grade circa 1937. Top row left to right: Donna McKay, LuJean Allen, Ramona Hansen, Leon ???, Keith Barrett, Mary Lou ???, Teacher Mrs. Jensen. Second row: Jay Stromberg, Dale Berlin, Charlene Montgomery, EmmaJune Jensen, Jerald Engstrom, Jerry ???, Maughan ???. Billy Harris, Moyar Grow. Third row: Joanne Felt, Bonnie Collard, Gay Felt, Shirley Gibson, Sherman Johansen, Beverly Winter, Norma Allen, Dorothy ???. Bottom row: Delyle Muir, Wayne ???, Wesley Wilson, Duane Grow, Bobby Colvin. If you can provide any of themissing names, please call Shanna at 745-2688 or Jeannie at 745-2879. Photo courtesy of Beverly Winter Hirschi. Celeste C. Canning PLLC Attorney at Law 2590 Washington Boulevard, Suite 200 Ogden, Utah 84401 Local: (801) 791-1092 Office: (801) 612-9299 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. |