INCORPORATION
AND GOVERNMENT OF
In
As all community members wanted a voice in the governing
of the town, it became necessary to formulate a system whereby elections could
be held and others could be voted into office.
A
group of public interested men spent many hours promoting the incorporation of
Plain City. Petitions had to be formulated and circulated to gain interest and
cooperation of the townspeople.
A
committee had been chosen to help beautify the Plain City Cemetery. They found
that the only way service could be maintained was to incorporate and thereby
secure money through a tax levy.
On January 13, 1944, the
Articles of Incorporation for the town of Plain City were filed in the Weber
County Clerk's office in Ogden, Utah.
Adoption
of a resolution designating Plain City as an incorporated town was made and action
was taken by Weber County Commissioners, George F. Simmons, Lyman M. Hess and
Joseph Peterson. Appointment of a "President of the Town Board" and
four "Trustees" was made to serve as a governing body until the next
municipal election two years later.
A
nomination was made by L. Rulon Jenkins that Dean Baker serve as President. The
following were appointed to serve:
President of the Town Board
. . . Dean Baker
Trustees
. . . . . . . . . L. Rulon Jenkins Floyd A. Palmer Albert Sharp Fred L. Sinaleton
The
cemetery district was officially created on July 19, 1945.
Town
board meetings were held in the Plain City School.
Formerly,
the county had jurisdiction over road improvement. Now, the town board had to
assume the responsibility or road upkeep and new construction. The state tax
funds, based on the population of the town, could now be secured for
improvement of roads and culverts. Later, it would be used for law enforcement,
public works, recreation, etc.
In November, 1945, the first
municipal election was held in Plain City. In 1946, the following elected men
took office:
President of the Town Board
. . . Elmer Carver
Trustees . . . . . . . . . Floyd A.
Palmer Albert Sharp Elwood "Dick" Skeen Fred L. Singleton, Town Clerk
In
November, 1943, the following elected men took office:
President of the Town Board
. . . Elmer Carver
Trustees
. . . . . . . . . Floyd A. Palmer Lawrence W. Jenkins Clair Folkman , Lewis
Vincenti
In 1948,
the town board directed a beautification project on the Town Square. The
five-acre park was leveled and sodded in the spring of 1949. Dairy Days had to
be held on the school grounds and on neighboring property.
A
granite monument was erected on the Church ground honoring those who had served
in World War II.
In
November, 1948, President Elmer Carver was elected to the position of Weber
County Commissioner. On April 12, 1949, the duties of President of the Town Board
were taken over by Floyd A. Palmer, who was appointed to succeed Mr. Carver to
the post. Meetings were held with three Trustees until a fourth could be
appointed. They met in the home of President Palmer.
On January 1, 1950, the
following men took the oath of office:
President of the Town Board
. . . Clair M. Folkman
Trustees
. . . . . Lewis Vincenti (4year term) Lee Olsen (2year term) Elvin H. Maw
(2year term) Dean Baker (2year term)
Elvin
H. Maw was appointed Town Clerk. Meetings were held at Clair Folkman's home.
Plain
City's assessed valuation for 1950 was $390,220.~.
An
annual celebration was held each year on July 4th. It was called "Potato
Day." A queen and her attendants were chosen to reign over the day. The
affair was sponsored by the Town Board and the Cemetery Committee to raise
funds for the upkeep of the cemetery and other purposes
Walter
Johnson was employed as caretaker of the cemetery
On October
2, 1950, Frank Anderson became the Town Marshall. He served until August of
1951.
In
1951, Plain City joined the Municipal League. It was made up of cities and
towns in the State of Utah. Years later, the name was changed to "Utah
League of Cities and Towns."
The
population of Plain City in 1951 was 829. The elected men of Plain City would
now hold office four years instead of two years.
In
January, 1959, the Trustees elected to the Board were:
Trustees . . . . . . . . .
. Lee Olsen
Earl Hadley
Holdover Trustees . . . . . Elvin H.
Maw, Town Clerk Lewis Vincenti
On
April 7, 1952, Frank Hadley was appointed to fill the unexpired term of Earl
Hadley, who passed away April 4, 1952.
On April
6, 1953, Rulon Chugg was appointed to fill the unexpired term of Lewis
Vincenti, who passed away December 1, 1952.
In
May, 1953, a flagpole was installed at the Plain City Cemetery.
The
Town Board discussed the possibility of bringing culinary water to Plain City.
In
January, 1954, the Oath of Office was taken by the following elected officers:
President of the Town Board
. . . Lee Olsen
Trustees . . . . . . .
Merrill Jenkins
Blair
Simpson
Holdover
Trustees . . Frank Hadley
Elvin
H. ~law, Town Clerk
Town
Board meetings were now held at President Lee Olsen's home and at the L.D.S.
Church.
Gordon
Thompson was serving on the Mosquito Abatement District.
Plain
City voted to have supervised control of the town dump. Victor Lund, Ezra
Richardson, Elwin Taylor, Verl Stokes, and later Carston Illum have been
employed as supervisors. Plain City
signed an application for culinary water.
Lights were installed on the town square for night games and recreation.
A dedication ceremony was held and President Lee Olsen threw the switch for the
first time on July 2, 1954.
On
November 7, 1954, the new L.D.S. Church was dedicated. In 1955, public restroom were constructed on
the north side of the recreation hall. On
October 25, 1955, the new addition to the Plain City School was dedicated. A motion was made that the Town Board assist
the Lions' Club in building a water tower.
On January 2, 1956, Elvin H. Maw, Town Clerk,
administered the Oath of Office to the following elected trustees:
Trustees
. . . . . . . Floyd A. Palmer Elvin Maw
Holdover Trustees . .
Merrill Jenkins
Blair Simpson
The
Town Board sponsors and assists the Plain City "Dairy Days" show each
year. Floyd A. Palmer was assigned to
serve on the Board of Trustees in the Bona Vista Water District. Theron Palmer
was Superintendent of Bona Vista.
The
Town Board assisted the Lions Club and the Plain City Ward in building a bowery
and fireplace south of the Town Square in 1957. This was completed in 1958.
Property
was purchased from Llewellyn Hipwell, located west of the Lions Clubhouse for
the purpose of building a Town Hall.
In
January, 1958, Town Clerk, Elvin H. Maw, administered the Oath of Office to the
following elected officials:
President of the Town Board
. . . Lee Olsen
Trustees . . . . . . . .
Kent Jenkins
Glen Charlton
Holdover Trustees . . .
Floyd A. Palmer
Elvin H. Maw, Town Clerk
The Board
signed an ordinance with Bona Vista Water District and construction of a
culinary water system was begun. Surface wells and pitcher pumps would soon be
a memory. The above information was taken from:
1. A
book "A Historical Study of Plain City" by Fern Olsen Taylor.
2. Ogden Standard Examiner
news clippings.
3. Research by Clara Olsen.
In
1958, Lee Carver contracted the building of the 20' x 44' Town Hall. In May,
the new municipal building was completed to serve the Town of Plain City, under
the direction of President Lee Olsen, Trustees: Floyd A. Palmer, Glen Charlton,
Kent Jenkins, Elvin H. Maw, Town Clerk.
Zoning ordinances were
passed.
Work on the Willard Bay was
underway.
On
March 17, 1959, Plain City celebrated its Centennial year. It was observed with
a week of outstanding events. We wore pioneer clothing, walked to church and
enjoyed many programs as we honored our pioneer ancestors. One special feature
was the presentation of a pageant written by a Plain City native, Mrs.
Gwendolyn Jenkins Griffin, called "Sand In Their Shoes." A large cast
of characters, choir, and band members participated. The play was directed by
Lawrence Jenkins. Wheatly and Fern Taylor were program chairmen.
A
large water tower storage tank is now an important new part of the scenery in
the Plain City area.
In
May, 1959, letters were sent to all residents of Plain City, informing them
that they were required to obtain building permits. Walter Moyes was assigned
to be the building inspector.
On
January 2, 1959, Theron Palmer reported that the water was turned into the
Plain City water lines.
In 196D, two newly elected
Trustees took Office:
Trustees . . . . . . . .
Keith Blanch
Dee Cook
Holdover Trustees. . . . Kent Jenkins
Glen Charlton, Town Clerk
The Plain City Ward was
divided June 12.
The
Plain City Town Board is now working with Mountain Fuel Supply Company to have
natural gas piped into the town. The project is to be completed in 1961.
Plain
City board members are organizing a "zoning Board."
A
Plain City Improvement Council for community development was organized with
executive committee members as follows:
Mayor, Lee Olsen Merrill Jenkins
Rulon Chugg Carl
Taylor
Lyman Cook Clair
Folkman
Mrs.Rosella Maw
In
1961, it was decided that the 40yearold Recreation Hall would be renovated.
Many hours were spent by dedicated men and women on this project.
The
Plain City Town Board considered purchasing property from Bernard Poulsen for a
park. It was voted down.
The
population of Plain City now is near 1,500. (Standard Examiner)
The 1962 elected officials
for this term were:
President of the Town Board
. . . Lee Olsen
Trustees . . . . . . . Kent
Jenkins
Glen
Charlton
Holdover
Trustees . . Keith Blanch
Dee
Cook
The
Town Board approved an ordinance governing subdivisions. The board is stressing
enforcement of building permits.
In
January, 1964, Trustees were elected to the Board:
Trustees . . . . . . .
Keith Blanch
Dee Cook
Holdover Trustees. . . Kent
Jenkins
Glen Charlton
Cherrill Knight became the
City Recorder.
In 1965, George Fisher was hired
as the Plain City Chief of Police, Later, Howard Zeigler was hired as a deputy.
In 1966,
the following men were elected and took office in January:
President of the Town Board
. . . Keith Blanch
Trustees . . . . . . . Kent
Jenkins
Vernal Moyes
Holdover Trustee . . . Dee Cook
Rulon
Chugg was appointed to fill the unexpired term of Keith Blanch.
The
Town Board is supporting the Summer Recreation Program, and Junior Posse
activities.
George
Weatherston was the first Justice of the Peace in Plain City. He resigned in 1966,
and Keith Daley was appointed to that office.
On
June 3, 1967, Plain City received a proclamation signed by Governor Rampton:
"wherein
Governor Rampton did declare Plain City a City of the Third Class."
The
former title of "President of the Town Board" will now be changed to
"Mayor". Keith Blanch was the first to be officially called 'Mayor of
Plain City."
The
title of "Trustees" will be changed to "Councilmen". There
will now be five councilmen instead of four.
In
April, 1967, the recently renovated recreation hall was destroyed by fire.
In
1958, three new councilmen were elected and installed. The Oath of Office was
administered by Keith Daley:
Councilmen . . . . . .
Rulon Chugg
James E. Brown
Lynn P. Folkman Holdover Councilmen.
. Kent Jenkins
Vernal Moyes
In
November, 1968, Plain City approved the "Sewer Bond Issue" by a 228
to 69 vote. Plans for the project are underway with work to be completed in
1969.
Mayor
Keith Blanch became the manager of the Plain City-Farr West Sewer System.
"Mans First Trip To
The Moon" July, 1969.
In
January, 1970, the following officials took the Oath of Office:
Mayor . . . . . . . . Keith
Blanch
Councilmen . . . . . Kent
Jenkins
Melvin Cottle
Vernal Moyes
Holdover Councilmen . Lynn
Folkman
Rulon Chugg ~
Cherrill
Knight resigned her position as City Recorder and Lucille White took her place.
Plain
City annexed 57 acres of land bordering on the South of the town to become
"Pioneer Village."
A
railroad line was constructed along the north side of Plain City extending to
Little Mountain where the Great Salt Lake Minerals and Chemical Corporation is
located.
On
November 27, 1971, the new Bank of Utah was dedicated in Plain City.
Two
newcomers and one incumbent won elections in 1972. Keith Daley administered the
Oath of Office to:
Councilmen . . . . .
.Darwin Taylor
Wayne Cottle
Lynn Folkman
Holdover Councilmen.
.Vernal Moyes
Kent Jenkins
On October
23, 1973, the council asked for bids and plans for new restrooms to be
constructed west of the concession stand on the Town Square. They accepted the
bid of Verl Rawson for $5,000.00.
In January
1974, Keith Daley, Justice of the Peace, administered the Oath of Office to the
following who were elected in November, 1973:
Mayor . . . . . . . . . Lee
Olsen
Councilmen . . . . . .
David Thomas
William VanHulten
Holdover Councilmen . .
Wayne Cottle
Darwin Taylor
Lynn P. Folkman
In 1974 Kelly Hipwell was
hired as full-time
"Public
Works Director" for Plain City. Walter Johnson and Elbert Moyes have
served as Public Works' employees. Carston Illum is presently "Plain City
Public Works" employee.
Lucille
White resigned and Diane Taylor became the City Recorder.
Plain City endorsed the
Mass Transit Proposition.
The
new Weber High School was dedicated March 28, 1974 in Pleasant View. Plain City
students attend Weber High School and Wahlquist Junior High School.
England
Builder's Lumber Company was heavily damaged by fire on April 6, 1975.
The
Lions building was restored by the Plain City Lion's Club. The building was
formerly the Episcopal Church built in 1877.
Residents
of Plain City were asked to post "House Numbers".
Ground
breaking was held for the new "Pioneer Park" racetrack in the
northeast part of Plain City, in 1975.
"The
Bicentennial Year" 1976 three new councilmen were elected:
Councilmen . . . . . . . .
. . . Ralph A. Taylor
Delmar L. Tanner
Dr.
Carl R. Saunders
Holdover
Councilmen . . . . . . David Thomas
William VanHulten
In
July, 1976, the assessed valuation of
New subdivision ordinances have
been formed.
The property of Bernard Poulsen
was purchased for a park. The 20 acres will be developed for posse drills and
future recreation.
The
Utah Transit Bus Service was initiated in
The
population in March of 1976, was approximately 2,300.
Those
now serving on the Plain City Planning Commission are:
Boyd Parke, Chairman
Frank Hadley
Paul Knight
Farrell gingham
Those
now serving on the Plain City Board of Adjustments:
Orlo Maw, Chairman Lee Painter
Garry Skeen Farrell gingham
Archie Hunt
The
above information beginning in 1959, was taken from the Ogden Standard Examiner
newspaper articles and the Plain City Council minutes.
The town
of
During
World War II (with the help of scouts) Dean gathered scrap iron from all over
the surrounding area, hauled it to Plain City and piled it in the town square,
to help in the war effort. According to a letter he has from the Governor of
Utah,
Dean
Baker helped organize the first Plain City cemetery District in the State of
The
Plain City Lion's Club was chartered May 11, 1948 with 65 charter members. Dean
Baker was chosen for their charter president. The history of the Plain City
Lion"s Club is an inspiring one of unselfish service to the community.
Some
years ago, Dean was asked (in an interview concerning the Lion's International)
how he felt about his Lion's Club activities? His answer was, I.. I've enjoyed
everything I have ever done in the Lion's Club and was always well paid in the
satisfaction that comes from doing something for others. But the Lion's have
done more for me than I ever did for them. when I was seriously ill and
recovering at home after some major surgery, the Plain City Lion's came down to
my place and harvested over 20 acres of corn for me. They showed up here with
over 20 trucks, tractors and corn choppers, harvested my crop, hauled it to the
pits and put it away. Then they all went home and harvested their own crops.
But mine was the first crop harvested. You ask me what I think of the Lion's
Club? Mister, I love 'em." and great big tears rolled unashamed lythe guy
really meant it. The Lion's Club has done this for many other people. The
Lion's Club is the largest service club in the world.
Some
years ago Dean Baker acquired the old
The
Lion's have completely remodeled the building several times. They now have a
beautiful clubhouse, which they have turned over to the Town Board for use as a
Dean
Baker was an Air Raid Warden in
Dean
was chairman of the first Potato Day Queen Contest Celebration, which was held
for many years thereafter. At this celebration there were well over one hundred
horses. They held horse shows, children's races and parades The celebration
committee gave away horses and saddles and other prizes and still made $1,000
or more for the town. This was one of the biggest events of the year and
everyone participated. There were wrestling matches. Flag raising ceremonies to
start the day off. Later in the day, Dean held a Rodeo in his pasture just west
of the town square by his barn. Many of the young boys and girls riding calves.
Horse races were also held. Everyone had a great day.
Upper right hand picture:
The old Singleton Home, and is presently owned by a daughter, Art and Florence
Singleton Simpson.
Lower right hand picture:
Picture of Merlin England Milk Truck in front of the Cream O' Weber Dairy
located between 25th and