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Show of Ogden City and had served that purpose several years. It is understood, a flourishing business was carried on at the mill for a number of years until men with money, who established and operated larger milling concerns in Ogden, offered greater inducements to farmers than the small privately-owned local mill could meet; so the farmers, anxious to enhance their selfish interests, did their milling business in town at the expense of closing a prosperous local concern. Years after operations at the mill were discontinued, the vacant building was one of the last landmarks to remind older residents of achievements in the early development of Slaterville. To the younger children and youth at that time, the structure was the habitation of ghosts and goblins; to children today has become a legend. Almost three quarters of a century ago, about 1896, a man named Joseph Welsh, originally from West Weber, but hailed here from Idaho, leased a small plot of ground from Alex Bowns on which he erected a small store, the first place at which residents could do even a limited business locally after stores owned by Messrs. Bowns and Holley closed many years previously. The small store continued to do business under the management of Mr. Welsh until about 1902 when lease on the land terminated, and he sold his accumulations there to Norton and Lavern Bowns, brothers, and sons of Alex. The business operated under supervision of the brothers until about 1908, at which time, they dissolved partnership, when Lavern took over Norton's interests in the business and erected a new and larger building near his residence, now owned by Julian Powell, which he operated until his death in 1941, February 1st. During the early part of 1896 milk producers on farms in Slaterville and on those of surrounding communities, Hooper, Plain City, West Weber, Marriott settlement, Warren, Harrisville, Pleasant View, and Willard, made a historic move to associate themselves in a dairy organization which was given the name, Slaterville Creamery Company. Object of the company, as set forth by its promoters, was to encourage production with increased sales and improved prices by expanding markets through supplying them with finished, high-quality products. Because of the effect the organization exerted in relieving an immediate, perplexing situation and the latent possibilities it possessed for solving dairy problems in the future, place it among the great achievement instituted for the benefit of our people. (See Fig. 10-2,3,4) The regular porcedure in perfecting an organization was invoked. A board of Directors was elected, the greater number of which were men from Slaterville, among them were Heber and Alvin Hudman, William G. Smout, Robert Cowan, and Ben Chadwick Sr. These men, together with Thomas Etherington of West Weber, and John Allen of Marriott settlement, constituted the directorship. Heber Hudman, the leader and foremost advocate of such an organization, was, in connection with being a member of the Board, unanimously sustained as General Manager of the company. A sufficient amount of money accrued from sale of stock in the company, issued at $10 a share, to erect what was termed at that time an up-to-date creamery building. Aim of the company, naturally, as set forth, was to manufature and supply markets, as far as possible, with high-quality dairy products, which, if accomplished, would require the services of one versed in the technique of transforming the raw whole milk into a finished quality commodity. -120- Article in "Industrial Utah" 1902 THE SLATERVILLE CREAMERY. The Slaterville Creamery. The Slaterville Creamery company was organized and incorporated August 11, 1896, and its business is the manufacture of butter and cheese. The halftone cut herewith presented shows up the plant of the company to good advantage. There are few people who fully realize the importance of this industry to the farmers of Weber county outside of those who are directly interested in the business. When it is stated that $70,000 is paid to the farmers of Weber county for the cream used la this plant alone some idea of the magnitude of the business may be gained. At its own expense the creamery company gathers the milk from the farmers' homes, extracts the ream and return the milk to the farmers in their cans. This work alone requires thirteen teams added so the force in the creamery makes quite a pay roll every month. the creamery company exercises the greatest care in seeing that all cans and vessels used in the handling of milk are kept in the best condition, that nothing bo allowed that would tend to taint the product. The company has established a reputation of producing an article that has stood the severest test as to quality and purity, thus securing for its product the highest market price. In fact the creamery has a demand for all it manufactures without employing the usual method of drumming up trade. The officers of the Slaterville creamery are: Thomas Etherington, president; H. H. Hudman, secretary; M. J. Bartholomew, treasurer. Board of directors: Thomas Etherington, Robert Cowan, Wm. Smout, A. P. Paulson, S. M. Cook, A. J. Hudman, W. Cragun. (Fig. 10 - 3) Slaterville Creamery (Fig. 10 - 4) Creamery Business Card (Fig. 10 - 2) -121- |