History of Marriott-Slaterville City Volume XVI January 1, 2015 - December 31, 2015

Val Holley: The truth about Ogden by Cindy Jones You can't live in or around Ogden without feeling the strange magnetism of Historic 25th Street. The time-worn brick facades. shops bursting with antique relics, gourmet aromas floating in the air and lively notes spilling out onto the street arw enough to draw visitors and locals alike. But according to author and historian Val Holley, it's the history — the stories, the legends and the secrets — that keep us coming back. From rumors of quietly paid-off law enforcement, notorious madams, and the sweet irony of having the only black-owned club in the West during the peak of segregation. Ogden's 25th Street has its fair share of intriguing tales to tell. But many of these stories have evolved into urban legend, Holley says. In his book "25th Street Confidential: Drama, Decadence and Dissipation Along Ogden's Rowdiest Road," published by the University of Utah Press in 2013. Holley reveals a wealth of discovered truths about Ogden's most beloved street. In the book's preface, Holley claims that many of our stories are only half-told: "The problem with getting to the historic roots," he writes, quoting historian Richard Selcer, "is that the historical viewpoint languishes, while the mythology is self-perpetuating." Holley, who will visit the city for a hook signing in November, invites all lovers of Ogden to pick up his book. uncover the city's secrets — and some of its most famous myths. Q: You currently live in Washington, D.C. How long did you live in Utah? I lived in Marriott-Slaterville through my youth and went to col- lege at Weber Stale University and the University of Utah. I moved to Washington, D.C, in 1983, and have worked as a law librarian here for 30 years. But I frequently come hack to Ogden. It's a place near and dear to my heart. Q: What did you most appreciate, growing up in Northern Utah? By Cindy Jones I very much appreciated that Ogden had a subscription series of the Utah Symphony. The symphony came and played at Weber State several times every year. The cultural exposure I got was invaluable. I look back at those concerts with fondness and gratitude. I would go so far as to say the symphony helped me survive some of my youth. Q: What is it about history that excites you? I've been digging into history all my life — 1 was fascinated by my family pedigree charts as a child. My dad was a historian and always told us about the history of the area, including Ogden and Weber County. 1 just grew up immersed in it. As a side note, for many years my writing didn't focus on Utah or Ogden history. I don't think I realized I would eventually want to write about Ogden, Now that's all I want to do. Q: During the period you wrote about in "25lh Street Confidential," from about 1869- 24| November 201f&gt