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Show Volume XXIV Issue IV The Ogden Valley news Page 9 December 15, 2016 Being Proud Note: Information for this historical account of the life of John Thompson Ritter came from the book “From Swineville to Stringtown: Life in Eden, Utah for the family of Hyrum Stallings and Nancy Ritter” that was compiled by Ray Wilmot. The setting is from the early 1900s in Ogden Valley. For more information about the book, you can contact Mr. Wilmot at Rpwilmot@ hotmail.com> This is a continuation of the story from the last, which ran in the November 15, 2016 issue of “The Ogden Valley News,” and was written by Maude Stallings Folland about her experiences growing up in Eden. In 1920, the water system was completed, and our schoolhouse was remodeled. A large two-story addition was built on the back, a classroom on top and toilet downstairs. Happy day! Now we didn’t have to go outside and wait to use the stinky privy. What an ordeal Picture of the early Eden schoolhouse attended by Maude Stallings. that had been. The new restrooms had eight beautiful private stalls, nice clean toilets, and washbasins with hot water. There was even a drinking fountain. The upstairs classroom was for the 9th and th 10 grades. Some of these students came from Huntsville, and some from Liberty. Both classes were large and did many interesting things. The boys had excellent baseball, football, and basketball teams, and the basketball team won a county championship. Howard was one of the players. The girls had volleyball and baseball teams, and a debating team that also won a county championship. I was a member of that team, which debated the child labor law of that time. After two exciting years at Eden Junior High where we were leaders, we went to Ogden High School where we were just ignored. As the country kids, we didn’t really have an opportunity to participate in much. We took the Pat on the Back - Writing this story about streetcar to and from school. my life and growing up during the Depression Weber County didn’t have a high school, so years has made me laugh and cry. Chuckles they were paying Ogden City to educate us. No one liked that arrangement, so the county built its own high school on 12th Street and Washington Avenue (Blvd.) in Ogden (Located on the northeast corner where ShopKo is now situated.). We started school there in 1926, in a building not quite finished. Some of the doors and window were not in yet, and workmen were still Weber High School, when it was located on 12th and Washington Blvd. hammering and sawing, in Ogden. but we didn’t mind. We were so happy to have our own school, we just have alternated with lumps in the throat. In has ignored them. Our students seemed to excel at been like sharing secrets. I had intended to end everything, especially when the competition my story here, but the other night I got an inspiwas Ogden High. ration from a television commercial. There was We had a good principal and many good a picture of a child’s feet. That image brought teachers and advisors. We organized the stu- tears to my eyes, and a thousand memories to dent body, and I was elected vice-president. I my mind. I had forgotten an important part of was mighty proud of that. I didn’t’ know what my life. was expected of me, but I managed to muddle Our mother was a “patter.” She patted us through somehow. We had a great year. Howard when she tucked us into bed, and when we and I both graduated in May of 1927, the first graduating class of Weber High School. The next year we started school at Weber College, a church school (originally). We rode on the streetcar, until one day, Dad drove up in a car he had bought for us. It was a wonderful surprise. My cousin Myrle rode with us. We named the car Eloise, after a funny car we had seen in a show. After two exciting years at Weber College, we all graduated and parted. Myrle and I planned to teach, so we applied to Weber County. Howard went to the agricultural college in Logan, now known as Utah State. The state also took over Weber College, and it became Weber State, a four-year school. Time to Choose - We were in the Depression, and jobs were hard to get. The only choices for a girl were marriage, teaching, nursing, or secretarial work. Gertie had become a bookkeeper and had a good job in Salt Lake City. I decided on teaching because of Beulah. She was already teaching, and was very good at it. She did so many interesting things that I wanted to be like her. I copied many of her ideas. So, if I was successful, it was due to her influence. I got a job teaching at the Taylor School in the third and fourth grades. My salary was $760 a year. were sick, she rubbed and patted us. When she had buttoned our coats and tied our scarves, she would pat us once or twice. I’ve done that many times myself. I often see people hug one another and pat one another on the back. It seems to mean, “I wish you well,” or “You’re a good friend,” or even, “I love you.” Sometimes a pat on the back is a good as a reward. I often patted my students for doing their work well. One day, I was walking down the aisle of my third-grade class checking papers. Most of the students got a pat on the back. They knew what it meant, and would look up and smile. One little guy was just dreaming, so I passed him by. Shortly afterwards, he came up to my desk with his work all finished and said, “Now can I have a pat on the back?” One day, after a drive from Ogden, I stopped for gas. As I turned off the motor, I heard a strange hissing sound. The attendant came to the window and said, “Did you know you had a flat tire?” I got out and looked. Sure enough, I had a flat. Call me crazy if you like, but I patted my car. There was a song about the pat on the back that went, “Give yourself a pat on the back and say to yourself, ‘I’ve had a good day today.’” Now I’m going to stop and give myself a pat on the back, for I’ve had a good time writing these memories. From The Past . . . Green Lights for the Holidays Customers participating in Rocky Mountain Power’s Blue Sky program have turned holiday lighting projects in Utah green— green with renewable energy that is. Blue Sky customers are supporting 367 megawatt-hours of western region renewable energy on behalf of the following displays and celebrations in Salt Lake City, Ogden and Moab: City Creek Center, Gallivan Center Holiday Lights, Hogle ZooLights, Downtown Alliance Eve Winterfest, Ogden Christmas Village, and Christmas Tree Lighting and Light Parade. “For more than a decade communities have joined with the company’s Blue Sky customers to minimize the environmental footprint of their events and holiday celebrations,” said Steve Rush, Rocky Mountain Power’s regional business manager. “By ‘greening’ this year’s holiday lighting displays, Blue Sky customers are supporting renewable energy equal to the electricity used to power them. In addition, it helps promote the year-round benefits of supporting green power.” The greening of this year’s events began as early as November 19 and will continue through the end of December. Collectively, these efforts are equivalent to planting 3,834 trees or taking 31 cars off the road for a year. In addition to these projects many communities are using hundreds of thousands of LED bulbs that use much less electricity and last far longer than the traditional incandescent bulbs. Rocky Mountain Power’s Blue Sky program provides an easy, convenient way for its customers to support renewable energy in the West. For more information on how you can join more than 48,000 customers who are greening their homes and businesses year round, check out the company’s website at <www.rockymountainpower.net/bluesky> 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 be willing to share. Saturday December 24th Christmas Eve Mass at 5:00 p.m. Sunday December 25th Christmas Day Mass at 9:30 a.m. Saturday Night 5:00 p.m. Sunday Morning 9:30 a.m. Tuesday Night 6:30 p.m. followed by The Rosary and Adoration Deacon Terrance (Terry) Waiss 801-845-9196 or tn3awaiss@qn.com Tuesday 5:30-6:30 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. Student Body Officers 1966-67 Pictured from left to right are Ron Buhrley, Vice-President; Rex Lund, President; Diane Gillespie, Historian; and Lucy Ellis, Secretary. Photo from “The Many Faces of a Bulldog” compiled by Kera Erickson. 2668 Grant Avenue, Suite #104A, Ogden, UT 801-612-9299 |