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Show Volume XXIV Issue X The Ogden Valley news Page 9 June 1, 2017 In Search of Ogden’s Hole: Ogden meets Provo(st)—a first and last encounter On May 23, 1825, namesakes of Ogden and Provo City, Peter Skene Ogden and Etienne Provost unwittingly met on the Weber River near present-day Mountain Green nearly 25 years before Mormon settlers would establish Salt Lake City. A third group of American trappers, led by one Johnson Gardner, also arrived unexpectedly on the scene, making for a less than hospitable encounter. Almost immediately threats and accusations began to fly. Gardner, insistent that Ogden was trespassing in American territory, energetically attempted to entice Ogden’s trappers away with promises of higher prices for their pelts. Before the encounter ended, Ogden would lose half his men to the Americans and a sizable portion of his beaver pelt takings and be obliged to hastily retreat the way he had come. What he gained that day, perhaps inconsequential at the time, would be returned years later in way of larger-than-life historical recognition. Almost immediately, from 1825, the name of Ogden Hole became associated with what has since become known as Ogden Valley. However, within a few short years, in the absence of Ogden’s own clarifying journal entries, hearsay created confusion as to Ogden Hole’s exact location. For reasons unknown, or at least not explored here, the present day vicinity of North Ogden acquired the name Ogden Hole. This historical misnomer would persist for well over 100 years until the discovery and publication of Ogden’s own journals in 1950, which accurately reestablished Ogden Valley as Ogden’s Hole. With the publication of his journals, it became additionally clear that Peter Ogden never actually traveled on the Wasatch New Church Cannery Dedicated: State-ofthe-art facility to process food for those in need Millions of cans of food will be proOther products will include beef stew, beef cessed every year at a new state-of-the-art and turkey chunks, chicken noodle and tomato welfare cannery in northern Utah owned by soup, tomato sauce, cream of chicken and The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day mushroom soup, chili, canned beans and more. Saints. The 45,000-square-foot facility, located Pasta made at the Church’s neighboring pasta in the community of Harrisville, was dedicated plant in Kaysville will be used in the soups. Thursday, May 18, 2017. Don Johnson, director of production and “It reaffirms that we are in the business distribution for the Church’s Welfare Services of caring for people,” said Bishop Dean M. Department, said the cannery has a paid manDavies, first counselor in the Church’s Presiding ager and several staff members, but much of the Bishopric, who dedicated the new facility that work is done by volunteers and Church-service replaces the aging cannery in nearby Ogden. missionaries who help keep costs down. The old building was a 100-year-old canning “It’s not just a Church asset; it’s a comfacility and had undergone numerous upgrades munity asset. It’s located where there’s a hardover the years. working, industrious people,” said Bishop Bishop Davies added that the new can- Davies. “We’re replacing old technology with nery “. . . reflects the pioneer heritage of Utah, a new technology that is more cost efficient and where men and women help one another. They environmentally safe.” harvested together, they raised crops together, The new facility is more efficient and they shared their food with one another, and we ensures continued food safety while providing do that today.” a safe environment for workers. He said the facility stands as a reflection “It’s a great opportunity for us to be able of the moral and spiritual maturity of the local to have a new facility that meets all the USDA Latter-day Saints and other community resi- and FDA food safety requirements,” stressed dents who are willing to serve the poor. Johnson. “Food is more The new canthan just a means nery is one of six of satisfying hunwet-pack facilities ger; it is also a in the United States metaphor for love owned and operand comfort to ated by the Church those who are sufwhere food canned fering,” said Sister in liquid is proJean B. Bingham, cessed for worldgeneral president of wide distribution. the Relief Society. Bishop Davies said “All will feel the Harrisville canthe love of their nery has room for Heavenly Father expansion and is that is sealed up in expected to last up Inside the new LDS cannery. the products proto 100 years. cessed in this facility.” The Church’s first cannery began operating Sister Bingham participated in the dedica- on Salt Lake City’s Pierpont Avenue 80 years tion, which was also attended by government ago as part of the Church’s welfare program to leaders, Church representatives, leaders of help those in need during the Great Depression. other local religious congregations and repre- At one point, there were 14 canneries, but the sentatives of the companies that built the new new modern facilities can easily produce as facility. much as the previous facilities with less cost. She continued, “Those who will receive The Ogden cannery was in a building more food produced at this facility will be struggling than 100 years old that had undergone numerwith a variety of challenges: the elderly and ous upgrades over the years. Building a new infirm, widows and widowers, single mothers facility was more cost efficient. and their children, fathers who are temporarThe processed food from the new cannery ily unable to provide for their families, those will be transported by truck to the Bishops’ who may have just lost homes or possessions Central Storehouse in Salt Lake City, where it in a natural disaster, those who are living in a is available for distribution to the Church’s 113 shelter.” bishops’ storehouses worldwide. Pre-packed The new facility was built on 7.5 acres of food is available for purchase at the home storland near the fields where the Church grows age centers at the bishops’ storehouses, which green beans, corn, tomatoes, peaches and other have replaced the old dry-pack facilities. produce and meats that will be canned by staff “Although as a general rule, a bishops’ and volunteers at the cannery and then given to storehouse is to meet the needs of the Church those in need. members, we do open our doors to others to Bishop Davies said the wet-pack cannery in provide foods and other goods to help those Harrisville can produce nearly 16 million cans who have been impacted by natural disasters a year to meet the welfare and humanitarian and other life-threatening conditions,” emphaneeds of the Church throughout the world. sized Bishop Davies. Saturday Night 5:00 p.m. Sunday Morning 9:30 a.m. Tuesday Night 5:00 p.m. followed by The Rosary and Adoration Fr. Ken Vialpando 801-399-5627 After Sunday 9:30 a.m. Mass and Tuesday 5:00 p.m. Mass 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. Front side of the mountains. Notwithstanding, Ogden City and North Ogden had already become permanent landmarks to his legacy. Ogden City, originally incorporated in 1851 as Brownsville, was later renamed Ogden. In spite of its erroneous 1850’s beginning as Ogden’s Hole, North Ogden still retained its Ogden connection, officially incorporating as such in 1934. Though he never made any known acknowledgment, there’s reason to believe Peter Skene Ogden was aware of Ogden Hole’s naming, which superseded his own designation of New Hole. He likely identified the valley as New Hole, since he was convinced, as his journal attests, that no one (nonnative) had previously entered the place prior to himself. He was correct in his assumption. He was the first to describe this portion of northern Utah. Ogden was also, by way of his clerk William Kittson’s journal, first to map and give a written description of the Great Salt Lake, comparing it in size to Lake Winnipeg. Mr. Ogden died in 1854 at the age of 64, and Ogden Hole, though initially misidentified, had already been in common usage for nearly 30 years. Unlike Ogden, Entienne Provost actually traveled in the area of modern-day Utah County. In the company of Provost at the inadvertent 1825 rendezvous with Ogden was a small contingency of Timpanogos Ute scouts. Ogden’s clerk, William Kittson, observed and noted in his journal that “three of them (Timpanogos) whom our men saw, bore the Cross to their necks made of Brass and Silver.” It is intriguing to note that these crosses were likely gifted to the parents and grandparents of these would-be Christian converts by the Dominguez – Escalante Expedition some 50 years earlier. Twenty-four years after that infamous 1825 Ogden/Provost encounter, in 1849, Provo City formally received its name in tribute to Entienne Provost. Provost died less than a year later in St. Louis, likely unaware of the honor. Ogden and Provost would part company that day in May on the Weber River, both ignorant of their coming namesake honors. They would never see each other again, but their competitive rivalry would embody the burgeoning cities of Ogden and Provo for years to come. It is alive and well today. Article submitted by Dave Martin of Eden. From The Past . . . An early scene from Ogden Valley. Photo courtesy of OgdenHole.com. 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. 2668 Grant Avenue, Suite #104A, Ogden, UT 801-612-9299 |
