North Ogden
If you haven’t noticed the beautification changes happening in North Ogden City—step outside and take a look around! The Economic Development Committee has been working hard on a development program that will bring custom benches, decorative trash cans, flower pots, vinyl wraps on utility boxes and new bus stops. Also, they are working on future plans for a new “Welcome to North Ogden” sign and decorative street lights. Be watchful of these lovely changes within the City. This program is funded with economic development funds—not residential taxes.
Thank you to all those who supported Cherry Days in North Ogden for the 2016 summer season! Although the festivities are all over for this year, have you ever wondered how Cherry Days in North Ogden came to be? In 1932, a group of civic and church leaders in North Ogden formed a committee to improve the cherry market throughout the Western states. They started an annual community celebration to call attention to the size, color and flavor of their cherries and to acquaint people with the beauty of the area and the high quality of community and family life. Twenty-eight growers from North Ogden and 7 from out of town contributed cherries to an exhibit of 166 cases, believed to be the largest display of cherries ever seen in Utah. Everyone ate free cherries. The first slogan to help popularize North Ogden was: “North Ogden, Where Flavor Fills the Fruit.”
In 1954, the cherries of North Ogden received wide-spread recognition when Mrs. Beverly Erickson won the National Cherry Pie baking contest. In 1955, national recognition came to North Ogden during the July 4th Cherry Days celebrations. Senator Wallace F. Bennett was the guest speaker. He was presented with two boxes of hand-packed cherries. One box was a gift for Senator Bennett, and the other he was to deliver to President Dwight D. Eisenhower. Senator Bennett said that he would personally deliver the cherries to President Eisenhower early the next morning.
Information is derived from: “A History of North Ogden: Beginnings to 1985” by Floyd J. Woodfield.
