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Show Volume II, Issue XIX THE OGDEN VALLEY NEWS Page 19 October 1, 2000 Ogden Canyon Note: This article on the history of Ogden Canyon came from “Echoes of the Past, Liberty Ward” printed in 1982, researched and compiled by Lysle J. and Zella Chard of Liberty. Some of the early chronicles mention that Ogden Canyon was impassable. The roaring river caused damaging floods each year, and the sheer cliffs where huge boulders tumbled into the river made the canyon route dangerous and difficult. In 1848, President Brigham Young sent a scouting party to check Ogden Valley as a possible settlement. The party went up Weber Canyon and over Trapper’s Loop into Huntsville. They reported back to President Young that there were possibilities for a settlement, but Ogden Canyon would prove to be very difficult. In 1858, General Albert Sidney Johnson, head of the U.S. Army, sent a detachment of soldiers, under the direction of Captain Newton, to seek a route into Ogden Valley. The soldiers came down Beaver into Ogden Valley. They camped near Huntsville and then left over the North Fork Divide into Cache County. These tough troopers refused to go through Ogden Canyon. “There is no route desirable through that area.” In 1860, by orders of Brigham Young, a group of Latter-day Saint settlers, along with Captain Jefferson Hunt, founded the town of Huntsville. Access to Ogden Valley was over North Ogden Canyon. In 1857, Lorin Farr, a Latter-day Saint leader of the Ogden area, and Isaac Goodale, an early contractor, went through Ogden Canyon and surveyed a road route. During 1858, construction began on the road and was completed on November 15, 1860. Cliffs were blasted, boulders were rolled down into the river, trees were cut down, and a one-way, rough road was made through Ogden Canyon into Huntsville. This road was known as a toll road. Near the mouth of Ogden Canyon, close to where Rainbow Imports is located, a big, log gate was installed. The gate barred entrance into Ogden Canyon. The first toll keeper in Ogden Canyon was a Mr. Willis Boss. Rates were fifty cents for an empty wagon and one dollar for a loaded wagon. Horseback riders were charged a fee of twenty-five cents. If some of the travelers were short of cash, they would pay with farm produce or wood. Ogden Canyon was a narrow, winding road, six miles long. There were only two places in the canyon where wagons could safely pass. Dogs were trained to run ahead of the wagons and bark if they saw another wagon approaching. The drivers would then guide their horses and wagons to a passing spot. In February, 1882, the Ogden Canyon Road Company deeded the road to Weber County, and it was open to the public. The tollgate was torn down. In 1913, the railway built tracks up the canyon to Huntsville. Cattle were then hauled from the valley by rail to Ogden markets. Also, grain and hay were loaded at Huntsville and Eden Stations. Carloads of coal were brought into the valley, which contributed much to the supply of fuel. With the coming of the freight train and the streetcar, the economy of the valley was improved greatly. The road that Liberty residents traveled, took off from the canyon at the Eden Railroad Station. The road came up north known as Stringtown and on through Eden into Liberty. In 1936, the Pineview Dam was constructed to hold about 45,000 acrefeet of water. This project covered the railroad tracks and the Eden Station. Eden and Liberty residents traveled across the dam and went through a small tunnel to gain access tot he EdenLiberty Road. The dam was raised in 1956. The tunnel was discontinued, and the Liberty-Eden route was slightly altered. Subscriptions available for out of area residents at $15.00 annually. Send payment with mailing address to: THE OGDEN VALLEY NEWS P O BOX 130 EDEN UT 84310 Circa 1946 This picture was taken sometime around the middle of the 20th century. It shows a late autumn scene of the Valley floor from the vicinity of Powder Mountain. Please send us your favorite historical photo. Send photos to: OGDEN VALLEY NEWS P O BOX 130 EDEN UT 84310 Classifieds -For SaleFor Sale: Alpine wood burning stove with pipe & blower, $500.00. Call 745-2568 and ask for Don. For Sale: Firewood – pine split. $55.00 per truckload – approximately ½ cord. Call 745-0658. For Sale: 36 inch front or back steel door with glass view area and casing. Only 3 months old. Only $75. Call 745-2688 or 791-4387. For Sale: Briggs & Stratton engine, 5 hp, model 135232. Excellent condition. Demonstration – nights and weekends. Best offer. Call 745-3811. For Sale: 5,000 sq. foot home with deck, wooded 1-acre lot. Must see! Many extras. Priced under appraisal, $289,000. Motivated to sell. Make offer. Call 801-745-0926 or 775-7511014. -ServicesLooking for someone to help care for elderly parents in my home. Need someone to come in one or two times a week for eight hour shift. The pay is $8.00 an hour. No experience necessary. Call Janet Hoffmann at 745-1339 if interested. Drywall Repair – Convenient – Quick – Quality Guaranteed. Residential or commercial. Licensed and insured. Call 801-745-3035 office or 801-7913714 mobile. Boat and recreational vehicle storage available. Indoor heated and secured facility. Located in Ogden with easy access to Ogden Canyon. For more information and rates, call 745-3347. Julie’s Animal Sitting – Your home or mine. $6.00/day for cows, horses, goats, pigs, dogs & cats. $2.50/day for caged small animals. Very personal service. Call 745-3327. Welch’s Rabbitery: Rabbits for Sale, Several breeds available for show, pet or meat. Hunters don’t go home empty-handed! Call 745-3327. Tractor Service – yard leveling and miscellaneous tractor services. $35.00 per hour. Call Jeff at 745-6228 or 7919178. -WantedCrafters Wanted: Crafters wanted for fall craft fair. Call 745-3018 for more information. Help Wanted: Yardwork for new construction in Huntsville. Weekends. $8 per hour. Call 725-4029. Help Wanted: Teachers needed. Great pay, fun environment. Call Old Firehouse Child Care 745-5600. Wanted: The Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) is collecting supplies needed in the event of a community emergency. The local CERT Program is sponsored by Weber County. If you would be able to donate any of the following supplies, please contact Linda Spencer at 745-0805. Blankets or sheets Fire Extinguishers Generators Medical Supplies Tarps Backpacks Flashlights and Batteries Other Miscellaneous Items Convenient Quick Quality Guaranteed AAA DRYWALL REPAIR Jim Zeleznick 552 S. 8600 E. Huntsville, UT 84317 Licensed, Insured & Preferred Office/Fax: Mobile: 801-745-3035 801-791-3714 |