The Kaysville City Blog

2009-07-08T11:48:00.001-07:00

July 4th 2009 Parade

It gets bigger and better every year.

Fun was had by all thanks to our wonderful Civic Committee for organizing all the events. And thanks to the many sponsors who make it all possible.

Memorial Day Program

2009-05-30T16:51:00.000-07:00

American Legion Post 27 Rifle Squad

Wayne Gessel, William Huber, Ronald Craig and Frank Lennartz

The Kaysville City Cemetery was honored this year to have American Legion Post 27 conduct a program, honoring all Veteran's. They also placed flags on every Veteran's gravesite in the Cemetery. We appreciate all the work that was done by Post 27.

Emily Stewart Barnes - Kaysville Pioneer

2009-04-09T08:32:00.001-07:00

Emily Stewart Barnes

1846-1932

Emily was born on May 3, 1846 in Colmworth, Bedforshire, England. Her father, William Stewart, was a humble shoemaker and early settler of Kaysville. Her mother, Mary Ann Marriott Stewart, was a lace maker. Her mother's ancestors came to England from the town of Marriott in Normandy with William the Conqueror and distinguished themselves in the Battle of Hastings.

In 1850, William, Mary Ann, their two daughters, Susannah and Emily, and William's sister, Elizabeth, sailed from Liverpool, England to America. After arriving in America, they settled for a time in St. Louis. In 1851, the family crossed the plains and settled in Kaysville around 1852.

When Emily was a little girl she could not have known that her school teacher would one day become her husband. John R. Barnes and Emily were married in 1869. John R. Barnes was a member of Utah's Constitutional Convention, the first Senator from his district, and founder of Barnes Bank. He had two other wives. John and Emily had nine children together. John died in 1919.

After her husband's death, Emily took it upon herself to provide a veritable banquet once each month for the directors of Barnes Banking Company in the evening after their meeting. So kind was Emily to Indians all her life that they called regularly at her door for food and clothing. Some of them were daughters and grandchildren of squaws she had known in earlier days.

Emily's versatility and capabilities were so outstanding that she won both admiration and respect. Not only could she, with her own hands and the simplest tools, pluck snagged wool from sagebrush, card it, spin it, dye it, weave it, and make it into a dress, but she could also grow flax, prepare it and make it into table linen. Not only could she tan hides, but she could also make them into shoes. She could gather straw, strip it, dye it and make it into hats. She could make soap and provide the kitchen with salt and soda prepared from the wild lands. She knew everything that grew in the desert, valley and mountain. She gathered chockcherries, service berries and haws for fruit, sunflower seeds for bread, rose leaves for tea, as well as mushrooms, edible roots, and succulent leaves for other foods. She knew every root and herb helpful as a remedy and also how to use and supply them in aid of the sick and afflicted. She could make equally well an apron, suit or wedding dress. She would put up fruit by the hundreds of bottles, make pickles, corn beef and cure hams. Nothing was wasted. Pulp from jelly was made into wine, barley into beer, and even dandelions on the wayside were gathered, their blossoms made into wine and their leaves put into salad. Wild cherries went into delicious pies. Butter, cheese, dried corn, dried apricots, all came within her habit of economy and supervision. Her home, from cellar to attic, was spotless with everything such as old letters and cherished momentos neatly packaged and stored in its place. She could make dozens of distinguished guests feel at home or chat understandingly with Indians at the back door. She was always giving to someone. She preferred to give more than to receive. She always had the urge to learn how to do things. As a cook, she was so famous that several of her recipes have become notable in Utah's cuisine. She learned cooking not from cookbooks but from observation and experiment. She gathered soda and salt from the shores of the Great Salt Lake. Her table, when set as a full course affair, was a masterpiece with every accountrement of silverware, hand-painted china, delicate glasses and fine linen. Her food, especially beef roasts, beef stews, dried corn, bottled raspberries and angel cake, could make the mouth water in memory. The President and Twelve Apostles of the LDS Church were as well-known at her table as her uncles. At one time, the entire Quorum of the Twelve met in solemn conclave in her living room. She could manage a public banquet as well as a private dinner. Never nervous or irritable in her movements, Emily was calm, methodical, confident, unhurried and soft-spoken. She admired ambition, efficiency, honesty, work, resourcefulness, tranquility and culture.

Emily died in 1932 and lies buried in the family plot in the Kaysville City Cemetery from which the mountains at the east, the fertile valley and great lake of brine to the west can readily be seen. Nothing more could her heart have desired.

Tradesman's Row

2009-04-09T07:58:00.001-07:00

Tradesman's Row

(west of Angel Street between 200 North and Burton Lane)

When settlers first arrived in Kaysville in 1849 they made their homes and their living in west Kaysville. William Stewart, John Marriott and Robert W. Burton arrived in Kaysville together with their families in 1852 and eventually built cabins just south of Samuel Oliver Holmes (one of the first settlers) near what was a well traveled road along the last level of the lake, eventually called Bluff or Barren Road. Their homes became known as "Tradesman's Row."

Robert W. Burton was a blacksmith who mended farmers tools and made the first nails in Kaysville. William Stewart made and repaired shoes. John Marriott did many things, including the making of a sawpit in which he and Robert Burton sawed the first lumber for the settlers which provided doors, floors and windows. John Mariott is the ancestor of J. Willard Marriott, a wealthy businessman. The University of Utah Marriott Library and the BYU Marriott Center are named after him.

During the winter of 1851-52, before the cabins were built, William Stewart and his family lived in a wagon box. William kept busy in the wagon box making shoes. William's wife would get a tinpail full of hot coals and put in the wagon box to keep the family warm. In March 1852, John Marriott and Robert Burton worked together and built three homes all in a row. William Stewart's home was built with big logs, with a place for the door and a hole left for the window. There was no door or window to put in so they hung rags as best they could. It had a floor and there were open cracks between the logs along the walls. The chiminey was made of big squares of sod put up like bricks. For the roof, they put some large logs across the top, then some rushes they gathered by the creek, and then a big pile of dirt on top of that so that it would keep most of the rain out. A large log was put across the room for people to sit on.

In those days, people made due with what they had or what they could find. They gathered dry greasewood branches and "buffalo chips" for fuel. Many of the early settlers could not get logs to make a home so they built a dugout which was a square hole on the north side of a hill. Emily Stewart Barnes (daughter of William Stewart) tells many interesting stories in her life history about the early days in this community. In 1856, Emily and Susannah (her sister) went to John Weinel's flour mill. Susannah made Emily ask Mr. Weinel if he could give them a little flour. He looked at her and said, "My child don't you wish you was in heaven? I have nothing but a little bran. I will give you that." They were so pleased as they hurried home. The sack had no string to tie it and they spilled the bran, but gathered it up. When they got home with the bran, their mother made a cake, putting it in a frying pan to cook. When cooked, it became bran again as there was no flour left in it. They were so hungry they ate the dry bran.

Stockpiled Dirt at Heritage Park

2009-02-25T14:58:00.000-08:00

600 North and Fairfield Road (looking north)

Dirt will be used here to fill in a portion of the hollow

on the right hand side of this picture.

A sidewalk will then be installed in this area.

This spring you will see dirt that has been stockpiled at Heritage Park removed. The City moved dirt from several different locations last year and stored it on the Heritage Park property so that it could be used for 2009 street projects. It has been estimated that this has saved the City hundreds of thousands of dollars because the City now does not need to purchase dirt for some of the street projects this year.

Some of the material will be moved to:

500 East Street for culvert upgrade and roadway aligning between Crestwood Road and Oak Lane.
Fairfield Road for culvert extension and roadway widening between 600 North and Boynton Road.

Some of the material will remain at Heritage Park to be used for grading and a parking lot.

Kaysville's Snow Horse

2009-02-25T08:29:00.000-08:00

As you look toward the mountain in the spring, the shape of a horse appears as the snow melts. The Snow Horse can be seen from both Kaysville and Layton. Early farmers in this area used this as an indication of how much water they would have during the summer. If the Snow Horse is still visible on June 1, pioneers knew there would be enough water for their crops. Farmers also used this as a guide to determine when it would be safe to plant crops. They would not plant until the Snow Horse appeared on the mountain.

New Elementary School

2009-02-05T10:55:00.001-08:00

The Planning Commission recently granted approval for a new elementary school to be built at 1975 South Lake Ridge Drive (west of I-15, north of Shepard Lane, east of Sunset Drive and south of Burton Lane). The School District informs us that it will be ready for occupancy in 2010.

New Years Eve Party

2009-01-06T14:47:00.001-08:00

Kaysville's annual New Years Eve party was a great success. Approximately 1,500 people attended this family friendly event and enjoyed the evening by playing bingo at City Hall, youth games at Kaysville Elementary School, food at the Recreation Center, karaoke at the Senior Center, reading stories in the Kaysville Library, and then welcoming the new year around the clock tower. Thanks to the many volunteers who make this a possiblity.

Winter Walking

2008-12-16T06:44:00.000-08:00

Barnes Park

There are several City-owned properties open for public use during the winter months. The Parks Department will keep the walkways clear of snow during the winter so that the following areas can be used for walking:

Angel Street Soccer Complex (150 South Angel Street) - 3/4 mile of lighted concrete 8' wide sidewalk.

Barnes Park (200 North 900 West) - 3 miles of concrete sidewalks.

Cemetery (500 East Crestwood Road) - 3/4 mile of perimeter asphalt roadways.

City Hall Block (Main Street, Center Street, 100 East, 100 North) - Approximately 1/2 mile - Walk along Main Street, up Center Street, along 100 East, down 100 North and back to Main Street.

East Mountain Wilderness Park (200 North Highway 89 - trailhead adjacent to County Animal Control Facility) - Hike, snowshoe or cross country ski on 1.5 circular trail.

Rotary Club Walkway (50 West Burton Lane) - 1 mile of 8' wide concrete/asphalt walkway.

Note: All restrooms in the parks are closed during the winter months.

Neighbor to Neighbor Response Program

2008-12-16T05:57:00.000-08:00

Kaysville City recently participated in the Neighbor to Neighbor Response Program sponsored by the United Way, the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and the George S. and Dolores Dore' Eccles Foundation. This program is to help struggling Utahns in the midst of economic uncertainty. On December 12 and 13 donations were accepted at the Kaysville Recreation Center which were then delivered to the Family Connection Center in Layton. Thanks to everyone who donated.

Star on the Mountain

2008-12-01T16:50:00.001-08:00

The star on the mountain above Kaysville has been a tradition since about 1950 when it was placed there by the Kaysville Jaycees. Originally it was made with light bulbs which were connected together with extension cords. A generator provided the power. Every night volunteers would travel up the mountain and start the generator. In the 1970's, the star was renovated by a group of volunteers who served on the Civic Committee. In about 2000, a new generator was purchased that held more gasoline. In 2002, following the Salt Lake Winter Olympics, Kaysville was fortunate to be able to acquire the lights and power material from SLOC (Salt Lake Olympic Committee) that had been used to light up the Olympic rings on the mountainside above Salt Lake City during the Olympics. The Kaysville star is lit from late November to January 1. Every night volunteers travel up the mountain on ATV's or snowmobiles (when there is snow on the mountain) to light the star at dusk. The star stays lit until gasoline in the generator runs out. We have been told that airplane pilots can see the star from as far away as Tooele and some private airplane pilots use the star to help orient themselves.

Kaysville Vietnam Veterans Honored

2008-11-13T12:34:00.000-08:00

On Saturday, November 8, 2008, three Kaysville Veterans killed in action during the Vietnam War received special recognition. The war memorial in front of the Library was updated with the names of Captain Paul Albert Meiners, Private First Class Gregory J. Williams and Private First Class Thomas Harvey Schofield. We extend thanks to Kaysville Jr. High history teacher Mike Barton who conducted research and assisted City officials by adding these names to the memorial. All three men gave service worthy of thanks and recognition.

Football Mini Bowl Champions

2008-11-13T12:30:00.000-08:00

Congratulations to the Kaysville Jr. Midget Brown team for taking the Mini Bowl Championship. The team is coached by Clark Hanson. They had a great season of 11-1 against teams all over northern Utah. The Jr. Midget age group is 12 and 13 years old and the boys are from Kaysville and Fruit Heights.

Ponds Park Playground

2008-10-24T14:26:00.000-07:00

Our Parks Department has removed the big hill and slide at Ponds Park and will soon be installing a large climbing rock. The slide was fun for children, but we hope they will enjoy the climbing rock as much as they did the big slide.

The Old Bowman Building

2008-10-14T12:44:00.001-07:00

The southwest portion of the old Bowman's Market building on 200 North has been renovated recently. Thanks to The Franklin Group and Dick Bowman for this lovely renovation. It looks very nice.

Winter in October

2008-10-14T07:14:00.000-07:00

Joe Hill's corn field (200 North and Angel)

with snowy mountains in the background

View of the storm coming into

the valley from Morgan Elementary School

View of cloud covered mountains

Welcome winter! We welcomed winter to Kaysville this weekend - whether we wanted to or not. I guess when you live in northern Utah you never know when it might snow. So much for a lovely fall season. The only consolation is that it is beautiful - for a little while anyway. I hope this is not a sign of a long winter!

Heritage Park

2008-10-06T12:13:00.000-07:00

Heritage Park (located on Fairfield Road

between Crestwood and 200 North)

All the dirt that is currently sitting on the Heritage Park property (former Clover Club property) is being stored there for use on future road projects. During the past summer, the Public Works Department completed a water project on south Main Street. Dirt from that project was the first to be stored on this site. Now, dirt from the former park and ride lot (on 400 West) is being stored here. The City decided that it would be more economical to store the dirt rather than pay to have dirt brought in next year for road projects. The plan at the present time is to use this dirt to fill in the road dip in Happy Hollow (on 500 East between 400 North and Oak Lane) so that the road does not drop as deeply as it does now into the hollow. This will improve the road structure and safety in that area. Hopefully, that project will be done next year, however, plans could change depending on the economic situation. The City is trying to think of ways to make the best use of your tax dollars and will save thousands of dollars if they do not have to purchase dirt for road projects.

Happy Hollow

(500 East 400 North)

Kaysville Irrigation Company Reservoir

2008-09-17T15:04:00.000-07:00

The dam in the Kaysville Irrigation Company Reservoir, located east of Fairfield Road between Boynton Road and 700 North, is being repaired. This earthen dam was constructed in 1914 and had developed a leak. The reservoir was drained and design and reconstruction of the dam began this year and will cost approximately $1 million dollars. The work on the reservoir will continue into next summer with reconstruction hopefully being completed about one year from now. Next summer crews may dredge the bottom of the reservoir and remove about 14' of silt. Kaysville Irrigation is getting water to all users, however, there may be some limits on operation of ditches. Occasionally, the channel above the reservoir may be dry. When there is water in this reservoir, hundreds of geese fly through this area and sit on the water. That's an absolutely beautiful site and we hope the geese will return when this project is completed.

Cool Cars and Cold Cones

2008-09-10T17:08:00.000-07:00

Gordon Christensen with Mayor Roundy

On September 10, 2008 hundreds of citizens enjoyed the City's Cool Cars and Cold Cones event which was held on Main Street. Every year the City celebrates the invention of the ice cream cone. This tradition was started by Gordon Christensen about 30 years ago. He used to give away ice cream cones at Hods Hollow Park for children in his neighborhood and he would tell them about the invention of the ice cream cone. This event is now a City-wide tradition held annually in September. Thanks Gordon for beginning this event in Kaysville.

H. Arthur Johnson

2008-09-08T15:32:00.000-07:00

Kaysville's 29th Mayor, H. Arthur Johnson, who served as Mayor from 1994-1998, passed away today. We send our heartfelt sympathy to his family. Art was a great Mayor. He deeply loved Kaysville and worked diligently for the betterment of this City. The City staff are glad to have had the privilege of working with him. He had a great impact on Kaysville. He was a firm believer in the City staff and stood by us as we worked through the every day operations of the City. Art was an honest, fair, and upright man. We are better people for having known and worked with him.

Kaysville Firefighters

2008-09-04T14:58:00.000-07:00

On Tuesday, October 7, 2008, at 7:00 p.m. the City Council will honor Kaysville firefighters who assisted with the tanker fire in 2005 on Highway 89 in Fruit Heights City. What began as a collision between a tanker carrying 13,000 gallons of butane and a van ended in the highway being closed and evacuation of hundreds of homes in the vicinity. The tanker, which was carrying two tanks of butane, flipped onto its side. The main tank cracked during the roll, leaking butane onto the ground and into the air. This was a very dangerous situation for emergency personnel from various agencies who responded as well as for neighbors in the vicinity. We appreciate the firefighters and emergency personnel who handled the situation so professionally. Citizens are welcome to attend this Council meeting and express thanks to the fire crew that assisted that evening.

Village Square Shopping Center

2008-08-25T10:33:00.000-07:00

Have you been wondering what is happening in the Village Square Shopping Center parking lot (where Ben Franklin and the Family Dollar Store are located)? A new water line is being installed and should be completed this week.

200 North Overpass Lights

2008-08-21T08:49:00.000-07:00

A lot of citizens have been asking when the street lights on the bridge will be turned on. The short answer to that question is ... soon. We have been told by the electrician that they will be on sometime this week. We hope that is true.

Update on 9-3-08: Sorry about the delay on this project. We keep getting promises from the electrical contractor, who promises us each week that it will be done that week. Mayor Roundy has decided to personally call the contractor to see if the work can be done immediately. We are all anxious to see how the lighting will look. Hopefully, it will be done before winter!

Update on 9-9-08: Mayor Roundy said, "Let There Be Light." And there was light. As of yesterday, the lights were on. They are beautiful! Good project done.

200 North Overpass

2008-08-08T07:57:00.000-07:00

The 200 North overpass project is now finished and looks great. What a big project that was! It is good to have that done and have traffic be able to move up and over the railroad tracks. We are grateful for the federal funding that made this project possible. In case you have not seen the plaque at the top of the bridge (on the north side), here is a close up look at it.

Declaration of Independence

2008-08-05T15:02:00.000-07:00

Do you want to see one of only 25 surviving "Dunlap Broadside" copies of the Declaration of Independence that was printed on July 4, 1776? Come to the State Capitol Rotunda Friday, August 15, from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. or Saturday, August 16, from 10:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. Free to view and free parking.

Heritage Park

2008-07-30T09:44:00.000-07:00

Heritage Park (200 North Fairfield Road)

You may have noticed some activity on the Heritage Park (former Clover Club) property. Sorry, but the park is not being constructed yet. The Public Works Department is involved in a big waterline project on south Main Street. The dirt on the north side of the Heritage Park property is being stockpiled there temporarily from that project. The big cement culverts, dirt and debris sitting on the south side is from the 200 North/Main Street reconstruction project. Work on that intersection has commenced and will continue through next year. The curb on 200 North (from Fairfield to Main) will be moved north 5' and the intersection at Main and 200 North will be improved.

Utility Abatement Program

2008-07-29T07:36:00.000-07:00

The City Council recently adopted a Utility Abatement Program for deployed military belonging to the National Guard or Reserves in which 50% of the electricity portion of their utility bill (up to $75.00 per month) will be abated. The head of household or spouse will be eligible for this abatement. Anyone interested in participating will need to fill out an application at City Hall and bring in proof of deployment.

How Did Kaysville Get Its Name?

2008-07-29T05:13:00.000-07:00

Kaysville was settled by Mormon pioneers in 1850. This city has a rich history with the distinction of being the first city incorporated in Davis County and the 27th city incorporated in the Utah territory. Kaysville was incorporated on March 15, 1868. Hector Caleb Haight can be claimed by two towns, Kaysville and Farmington, as their first settler. Shortly after the pioneers entered the Salt Lake Valley on July 24, 1847, Hector Haight was sent north to find grazing for the stock. On a beautiful stream in the Kaysville/Farmington area, he soon built a log cabin and brought his family to live there. In the fall of 1849, a spot not quite two miles north where two streams joined, was chosen by settler number two, Samuel Oliver Holmes. Two of his friends, Edward Phillips and John Hyrum Green, who were living in Salt Lake, decided to travel north to Brown's Fort (Ogden) to find a permanent place to settle. When they reached the "sandridge" (later known as Hill Field) the snow was so deep and crusted that their horses were unable to carry them through. The men returned to the cabin of Samuel O. Holmes, spent the night and decided the next morning that this was where they wanted to locate. They spent the winter in Salt Lake and then brought their families here to settle. The next day their friend, William Kay and his family, arrived. On January 27, 1851 Brigham Young and Heber C. Kimball came to the Phillips home for the purpose of organizing an LDS Ward. Edward Phillips was asked to be Bishop, but feeling unworthy he suggested William Kay, who was appointed. It was not until September of 1852 that the Ward formally began to function with Wiliam Kay as Bishop, Edward Phillips as first counselor, and John H. Green as second counselor. This little settlement soon became known as Kay's Ward. Little really isn't the word to use because the settlement covered a great deal of territory at that time - from what is now Farmington on the south to the Weber River on the north. In 1856, William Kay was called on a mission to Carson Valley in what is now Nevada. The Kay family later moved back to Utah and are now buried in the Ogden City Cemetery. After Bishop Kay left, there was a desire on the part of some of the people to have the name of Kay's Ward changed to Freedom. The request was presented to President Brigham Young and when he bluntly asked, "When did Kay's Ward get its Freedom?" his reply was taken as disapproval and the matter dropped. Eventually people began calling the settlement Kaysville and when the city was incorporated in 1868, Kaysville became it's official name.

William Kay

Boondocks Fun Center is coming to Kaysville

2008-07-24T15:35:00.000-07:00

The future location of Boondocks.

Boondocks has recently purchased 10 acres of property at approximately 500 South Deseret Drive (between Old Mill Lane and Burton Lane just west of I-15 and south of Tri-City Nursery). This recreation facility will be open year round, seven days a week. At this time, the plan is to offer indoor and outdoor attractions such as bowling, an arcade, a laser tag arena, pizza center/grill, max flight, miniature golf, go-carts, a rock wall, bumper boats, a kiddie cove, and batting cages. The owners have constructed the same type of family entertainment center in Colorado, Oregon and Draper, Utah. The outside attractions will be located between the building and I-15 to reduce noise impacts on the surrounding residential neighborhood. The plan for this facility is to have 330 parking stalls, employ about 150 people during the summer season, and about 100 during the off-peak season. A room in the building can be reserved for meetings, birthdays or family parties. This should be a fun addition to our community and provide tax dollars to the City.

Cemetery Expansion

2008-07-24T15:11:00.000-07:00

The new "west field" expansion area.

A section in the west field being prepared for sale.

A new section in the west field opened in 2008.

In 2007, the Kaysville City Cemetery crew began work to expand the Cemetery to the west. In April 2008, one section in the west field was ready for sale. Spaces can now be purchased in this new area for $500.00 each (up to four per household). Three more sections are being prepared. The next section will be ready in 2011, another section in approximately 2018, and the last section will be ready in approximately 2025. Visit City Hall if you want to purchase spaces.

Main Street's New Look

2008-07-22T10:19:00.000-07:00

Main Street before construction.

Main Street during construction (July 2008).

Main Street after construction.

There is a new look on Main Street this week. Take notice as you drive by. New street lights have been installed on the west side of Main Street between 100 North and Center Street. New trees (seedless Sunburst Honey Locust) were planted along that same area today. The same type of street lights will be installed along 200 North in the future (when money is available and approved by the City Council) so that the look on Main Street will tie into the look on 200 North. The trees along Main Street were dying so they were removed and new trees (that have a different root system) are being planted. Hopefully, those trees will grow better in a confined space. A few benches will be added later along with arms on the street lights so that banners can be attached in the future.

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