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Show Volume XXIII Issue I The Ogden Valley news Page 9 March 1, 2015 Brief History of the “Toonerville” in Ogden Valley Bamberger’s Salt Lake and Ogden Interurban: both raced to be the first to build a line up sceLight Rail is not new to Utah. During nic Ogden Canyon. While Bamberger crews were busy surthe heyday of America’s interurban, Utahans enjoyed the best in U.S. rail commuter technol- veying and grading a new line to the mouth ogy. In 1891 Simon Bamberger bought several of Ogden Canyon, the Ogden Rapid Transit, small steam engines and established his Great headed by David Eccles, managed to get Salt Lake & Hot Springs Railroad from down- there first by extending its Ogden local line town Salt Lake City to Warm Springs four miles from the Sanitarium (Rainbow Gardens) on to the Hermitage. north. If it was a Eccles won, modest beginning, his grade never he had big plans: exceeding 4 pernot just a comcent. Bamberger muter line between was forced to Salt Lake and abandon his virOgden but also a tually completed freight line to comroadbed. In 1915 pete against Union he extended it 10 Pacific’s Ogden-tomiles farther to Coalville coal haulHuntsville, where er. The undertaking he himself lived. proved more difThe railroad ficult than he had street car tracks envisioned. The came to the south Bamberger line (as corner of the presit was popularly ent LDS church known) reached in Huntsville Bountiful in 1891 (300 S. 7400 E.). and Farmington Tracks in Ogden Canyon. However, the in 1895 (where main stop was at Bamberger drained Joseph L. Peterson’s store, which was later a marsh and built the Lagoon resort). Not until 1908 did his new, more power- Leon’s Mercantile (200 S. 7400 E.). The old trolley would let visitors off at ful trains begin carrying passengers to Ogden. In 1910 Bamberger’s son electrified the line the store. They then proceeded to the end of to lower costs. GSL&HS’s own substations the line where the present LDS church stands. ran trains at 750 volts, more powerfully than The engineer and conductor would change any other U.S. interurban of the time. The the trolley while the travelers visited in the line’s terminals (one stood where Symphony general store and walked around the center of Hall now stands) had no turning facilities, so the small town, basking in the uniqueness and cowcatchers were installed on both ends of the beauty of its mountains. The trolley switched trains. After his father was elected governor, for the return trip, went back to the store, Julian Bamberger constructed and shared a new picked up the passengers, and proceeded Salt Lake terminal with the Salt Lake & Utah back through the awe-inspiring canyon. There was a huge plank platform, which Company. Electric mass transit had become a Utah fixture. A few Utahans still remember the was level with the street car. Cans of cream quiet, smooth ride from Layton to Salt Lake and milk were loaded from this platform and to shop or to Saltair Resort to dance to the big hauled to the Bamberger station in Ogden, and then hauled bands. to a processN i n e ing plant in years after the Salt Lake City. Bamberger line Around the corbegan, David ner was a small Eccles started stockyard where his Ogden Rapid sheep and cattle Transit (ORT) were loaded. A Company. Within coal yard was a decade, 24 in the vicinmiles of streetity. After the car track combed railroad came Ogden City, with to Huntsville, a branch to the coal dealers mouth of Ogden would have coal Canyon and hauled up on another to hot the railroad. On springs seven one occasion, miles north of a great huge town. lump of coal, ORT eventusome way or ally expanded the other, was west to Plain dumped on the City and north track. It was so to Brigham City. large and heavy While students no one could and adults steadimove it. The ly patronized it, coal dealer said the line earned if anyone could three times as move it, they much by freightcould have it. ing sugar beets Mr. Soren P. and other farm Peterson drove products. his team of In 1910 the Ogden RPID Old tracks were found under Huntsville Town road. This horses, hitched Transit success- picture was taken of the old “trolley street car” tracks located to his wagon, fully waged between 200 S. and 300 S. on 7400 E. They were buried under onto the tracks, down, a miniature the road and were unearthed during the town’s water pipe got picked up the “canyon war” upgrade project. huge chunk of with Simon By Becky Bartholomew, The Ogden Valley News is looking for Ogden Valley and Ogden Canyon historical biographies, stories, and photos to use in its publication. Please mail, email, or call Shanna at 801-745-2688 or Jeannie at 801-745-2879 if you have material you would like to share. Stations of the Cross at 6:30 pm every Friday during Lent. Saturday Night 5:00 p.m. Sunday Morning 8:00 a.m. 10:30 a.m. Tuesday Night 6:30 p.m. followed by The Rosary and Adoration Tuesday 6:00-6:30 p.m. and 7:15-8:30 p.m. or by appointment. Saint Joseph Catholic Elementary, Middle School, and High School Providing a challenging, college-focused education in the proven tradition of Catholic schools, for the families of the Ogden Valley. We want to teach your children! For information on our program, financial assistance, tours, or application, please call 801-393-6051 or 801-394-1515. There were two daily round trips from coal, put it in his wagon and drove home. That was the topic of conversation for quite Ogden to Huntsville. For many years this some time, and was remembered for years. picturesque railway distinguished the Ogden He had the reputation for being extra strong. scene. Tourists, families on outings, holiday The weigh station scales were on the parties, individual sightseers, picnickers, and west side of the general store where the recreationalists of all types used the street car daily as a popular pastime for 5 gas pumps were later located. cents a fare. Farmers could pull up and weigh The people of Huntsville their hay, grain, or coal, as it was depended on the street car to loaded or came off the street car. do their shopping in Ogden, as More than 7,000 head it came right to the center of of sheep were shipped from town. Weber High School stuHuntsville over cars on the dents from Huntsville rode the Ogden Valley branch of the dear old “Toonerville” to the local electric line by Binn Weber High School from 1927 Brothers and T.A. Butterfield. until 1931-1932 when buses Many other sheep men also used Bamberger track crew. replaced it. the branch railroad, including When people began buying their own Lindsay Land and Livestock Company and automobiles, the street car ceased to become Fred Cobabe. The people from Eden and Liberty disem- a necessity, and went out of existence in barked and embarked from the “Toonerville,” 1932. The electric steam car served the valley as the street car was affectionately called, at for about 19 years. a little brick station near Artesian Wells Park. There was also a coal yard close by, a sugar Note: Portions of the above story were taken beet yard, and the Black and Griffin Creamery from LaVerna Newey’s book “Remember My Valley.” conveniently located in the adjacent area. From The Past Valley Students. Front Row: Phoebe Fuller, Ethyl Hogge, Myron Chambers, Detta Montgomery, Burton Chambers, Marvel Fuller, and Mabel Fuller. Middle Row: Lou Jean Clark, Mae Wilson, Jay Bachman, Mae Chambers, Don Thompson, Melvin Eggleston, Lucille Grow, ? Back Row: Fred Robins, Elmer Story, Jim Montgomery, ?, Laura Eggleston, and Una Montgomery. Standing in Back: Virginia Stallings, teacher. If you can identify any of the unknown students, or know the year, please call Shanna at 801-745-2688 or Jeannie at 801-745-2879. Photo courtesy of Ned Clark of Layton. |