Oral History Program Kurt Anderson Interviewed by Sariah Horowitz 25 March 2015 Oral History Program Weber State University Stewart Library Ogden, Utah Kurt Anderson Interviewed by Sariah Horowitz 25 March 2015 Copyright © 2015 by Weber State University, Stewart Library Mission Statement The Oral History Program of the Stewart Library was created to preserve the institutional history of Weber State University and the Davis, Ogden and Weber County communities. By conducting carefully researched, recorded, and transcribed interviews, the Oral History Program creates archival oral histories intended for the widest possible use. Interviews are conducted with the goal of eliciting from each participant a full and accurate account of events. The interviews are transcribed, edited for accuracy and clarity, and reviewed by the interviewees (as available), who are encouraged to augment or correct their spoken words. The reviewed and corrected transcripts are indexed, printed, and bound with photographs and illustrative materials as available. The working files, original recording, and archival copies are housed in the University Archives. Project Description The Ogden Union Stockyard was a key fixture in the largest livestock market west of Denver during its heyday from 1916 to 1971. The activities at the yard brought Ogden national attention as a livestock center; the rise of the livestock shows, auctions, etc. at the site spurred the local and regional livestock industry, physically shaping the development of the agricultural landscape both near and far. This project documents some of the stories of the stockyard workers and visitors. ____________________________________ Oral history is a method of collecting historical information through recorded interviews between a narrator with firsthand knowledge of historically significant events and a well-informed interviewer, with the goal of preserving substantive additions to the historical record. Because it is primary material, oral history is not intended to present the final, verified, or complete narrative of events. It is a spoken account. It reflects personal opinion offered by the interviewee in response to questioning, and as such it is partisan, deeply involved, and irreplaceable. ____________________________________ Rights Management This work is the property of the Weber State University, Stewart Library Oral History Program. It may be used freely by individuals for research, teaching and personal use as long as this statement of availability is included in the text. It is recommended that this oral history be cited as follows: Anderson, Kurt, an oral history by Sariah Horowitz, 25 March 2015, WSU Stewart Library Oral History Program, University Archives, Stewart Library, Weber State University, Ogden, UT. Kurt Anderson March 25, 2015 William Lloyd Anderson circa 1940s 1 Abstract: The following is an oral history interview with Kurt Anderson, conducted by Sariah Horowitz on March 25, 2015 in the Weber County Library in Ogden. Anderson discusses his knowledge and experiences with the historic Ogden Union Stockyards and the memories he has of his father and the Stockyards. Also present is Rachael Haggerty, the videographer. SH: So, give us a little bit of background about yourself. KA: My family’s history in agriculture and with the stockyards, my great-grandfather Bennet Anderson immigrated to this area from Sweden in the late 1800s and homesteaded about 40 acres of land about 10 miles west in Kanesville. At that time, they raised crops and had some livestock. The farm eventually evolved into a dairy operation with 300 head of Holstein cattle and it stayed in the family up through the 1990s. SA: What’s your relationship personally with the stockyards? KA: Our relationship goes back to my great-grandfather and his operation although the stockyards wasn’t there at that time. My grandfather and his brother started what was called Anderson Brother’s livestock company and they had a brand registered with the state of Utah which was an A connected with a B. They raised cattle and other livestock and would sell through the auctions at the stockyards. SH: Do you know what year the company was made? KA: I don’t have an exact year for that. They had several different ventures. My father actually went to work for his uncle John when he was 13 years old, and they had a contract where they were hauling sand in an open, horse-drawn wagon to the 2 stockyards area and the sand would be used to line the stock-cars as they were transported to and from different locations. SH: You mentioned in the pre-interview you wanted to make this more about your father because he has more to do with the stockyards. Could you tell us more about him? KA: Yes. I would like to make it about him because it was his operation, obviously, that I was more connected to. My father purchased 20 acres of land and started a feedlot. Initially, he would raise any kind of livestock, but he realized early on that hogs were the most productive and financially viable because they put on more weight per pound and they’re ready for market faster than almost any other animal. The operation was predominantly to do with hogs. The yard was large enough for as many as 500 head, but usually it averaged around 200 or so because that was what he determined was the most efficient number to raise. SH: What was your father’s name? KA: William Lloyd Anderson. He was born in 1917 and passed away at the age of 89 in 2006. He lived a long healthy life, worked literally 7 days a week, and sometimes 18 hours a day. It was what it took back then to really make a business survive, especially with livestock. SH: Could you tell us about the layout of the stockyards from what you remember? KA: I have memories of going with my father during the summers and on other school holidays, going to the auctions at the Ogden Union Stockyards. As I recall, as we’d pull up on auction day, the streets were lined up with semi-trucks. This was the 1960s, waiting to either load or unload the stock that they’d brought in for the 3 auctions and what seemed to me like a hundred or more trucks, it was just a massive sight and was quite interesting to notice as the choreography of them actually handling those trucks in an efficient manner to get the livestock in and out very quickly. The trucks were from all over the region, you’d see license plates from Nevada, Wyoming, Colorado, all kinds of places. Mondays as I remember were dedicated to cattle, Tuesdays were usually the hog sales, and Wednesdays were for sheep. It would take all day long just due to the number of animals that would come through the yards at that time. The stockyards were originally on the east side of the Weber River, and they didn’t have enough land so they went over to the west side of the river and built what I know and what most people would remember as being the Ogden Union Stockyards there. It was oriented from east to west mainly, don’t know how many acres and then north to south. There were loading chutes on the south and on the east. On the very far north-east corner there was a spur for the train cars that was dedicated just for them to load and unload. At the far west end, there was the exchange building. It was an all brick structure that was built in an art deco style. I understand the architect also did other prominent buildings in the Ogden area. One of the interesting things it had was the corners, the cap on the corner of the roof line actually had animal heads in relief that were set in different locations, so it designated it as a livestock facility. Right next to it was the auction barn itself, very busy place. Lots of people, lots of movement in and out. I remember very clearly the main auctioneer was named Ben Tanaka, they called him Benny, and he was from Tremonton. He 4 became a friend of my father’s and he could really keep things going fast, and you really had to listen carefully in order to understand what he was saying. But people would conduct their business in the auction barn and then they’d go next door to the Exchange building to handle the business transaction itself. One of the memories I had was of the lower level of the exchange building there was a barber shop. There was also a small snack counter or a convenience type place where you could buy candy bars and different things. I’d try to hit my dad up for a candy bar whenever I could. And there was a little shop that offered consumer items, gloves, and different things a stockman might need while at the sale. These were all fairly small shops, but obviously offered a good service. Another memory I had of the exchange building was in the main lobby; it was quite large and had a very high ceiling. On the west wall was a chalkboard, and they kept it updated with the current prices of livestock, at the different major exchanges across the country; Chicago, Omaha, Denver and you could see what the prices were that day at those other exchanges around the country. A lot of old timers would come in, they had some heavy oak chairs up against the wall and I remember very clearly, they would sit in those chairs and smoke cigars and visit for hours on end. The aroma in the room and the sounds, they would pipe in the sound of the auction so you could actually hear that over the speaker system while you were in that lobby and it would echo, and it’s a memory that’s burned into my mind very deeply. There were also some brass spittoons in the corners, I didn’t ever see anyone use them. I’m sure they’d been there for a long time. Further memories of the stockyards itself, the layout, I was always 5 fascinated that there was an upper walkway that people could use to get quickly from one end of the yards to the other, otherwise they’d have to constantly be climbing over gates or opening and closing them and walking through the muck and the mire as they went from one place to another. These walkways made it easier for them to get where they needed to be. At different locations throughout the yards itself they had little offices that people would use for whatever paper work and business transactions they had to handle. You’d step up about three stairs and there was, as I recall, a little work platform, a small desk where they could stamp papers and write notes and hand them off to the next group of people. I remember very large concrete feed and water troughs that the animals used. They were probably 8 or 10 feet long, were custom made for that location with a very heavy cast concrete, maybe 3 to 4 feet wide so they could put hay, grain or water for the animals. On the far east end of the stockyards was the Golden Spike Coliseum. It had a covered arena with a dirt floor. There were bleachers on the east and west. The north end had rodeo and roping chutes. The Golden Spike Arena was the home of the Golden Spike National Livestock Show. I was able to work on the last show that was held there in 1978. I contracted with them to obtain sponsorships and sell advertising for the program of that last show. It was a national show, and in its heyday, in the 40s and 50s people would bring livestock from all parts of the west and compete for ribbons and cash prizes. SH: You mentioned, also in the pre-interview, an ice-skating rink by the Coliseum? KA: Next to the Coliseum on the west side, the county built an ice-skating rink, it was 6 open to the public for skating, hockey, etc. I’m sure it was used quite extensively. It was a nice facility. The Coliseum itself caught fire and burned to the ground and was declared a total loss in 1994, and the ice-skating rink went with it. They just ended up tearing down what was left. SH: What kind of impact do you think the stockyards had on the local economy through the years? KA: The stockyards not only had the auctions but the Golden Spike Coliseum had horse shows, rodeos and other agricultural and community events. It was busy through the year. I also remember the auction ring being utilized twice a month on a Friday night for horse sales and to sell horses and tack. It was an evening event versus the daytime auctions. The facility was used every day of the year whether livestock was awaiting sale or to be transported out to the various destinations for market or other feed lots. I read in the “History of Ogden” that at one time it was estimated that $80 million a year was the impact on the local economy. I don’t know what year or the conversion in today’s dollars, but I would imagine it was a major economic force in Weber County and Ogden City. There were also several other businesses located within just a few blocks of the stockyards, a lot of feed type of operations. You could buy hay, grain, and other supplies. There were several major grain elevators that are still in operation, and all of them were within a few miles of the stockyards. So agriculture in general was a major force in Weber County and Ogden City’s history. SH: You also mentioned the Swift Packing Plant. Could you tell us about that? 7 KA: Swift had their own buyers that would be at the auction and they would purchase a certain amount of livestock, cattle, hogs, and sheep. Immediately following the auction they would be processed, the transactions handled, and they would move those to the east end of the stockyards. Swift had a meat packing plant, which was located just across the river, directly east of the stockyards and the animals would be taken over there and slaughtered and then shipped out to the market place. SH: So, any other memories that have come to mind since we’ve been talking? KA: There was a small café that was located right across the street from the stockyards on exchange road called Stockman’s Café. It had a counter with stools and had several tables. It could hold maybe 50 people at a time. I’d go there with my father and I’d order a hamburger, French fries, and a 7Up. That was my treat for the day, plus if I got a candy bar from the exchange building. A lot of fun memories. SH: Nice. Did you ever go to the café in the exchange building? KA: As I remember, it wasn’t much of a café. To me it was more of a convenience store. They might have served some sandwiches, but it really wasn’t big enough that I recall being able to handle many customers. RH: You told us there was a ballroom where they had dances. Can you tell us about that? KA: The Golden Spike Coliseum had a dance area. It was actually an open room upstairs that they used for dances. I’m sure they used it for other things as well, but it was up in the upper level as you came in the main doors of the Coliseum. 8 There were stairs on either side that would go up, they were wooden with wooden handrails and a set of doubled doors. I remember it having a chain with a padlock on it, nothing fancy at all. It was a room maybe a hundred feet long, and probably 20, 30 feet wide is all. And it had a kind of makeshift stage area where a band could play. SH: Earlier we talked a little bit about the sand bringing operation. Could you go into more detail? KA: Yes. My father’s Uncle John, with my grandfather, were quite the entrepreneurs and had several other business on the side besides Anderson Brother's livestock. They contracted to haul sand from what eventually ended up becoming the Weber County Landfill, it’s just a big sand hill and my father at 13 years old in this open, horse-drawn wagon would use what he referred to as a number ten 10 grain scoop, a big, D-handle shovel and he would drive his team of horses up the hill to the sand, load the wagon and then turn around and drive it back down to the rail yards. I imagine he had to unload it as well into the rail cars. He talked about it but didn’t give a lot of details other than he would convince the rail workers to take rags and actually soak up the grease from the axels on the train and he would put them into a bucket, light it on fire, and set the bucket on the floorboard of the wagon in order to try and keep warm. It’s all he had, but he was a very hard worker, even at 13. SH: Oh nice. You mentioned an experience with your grandfather’s company with horses and opium dens. Could you tell us that one again? KA: Grandpa was a quite an entrepreneur and another side venture, he and his 9 brother John also had Anderson Brothers Construction Company. And this was a time I imagine in the late 20s early 30s, when people were doing anything they could just to survive. And at that time there was quite a bit of construction going on in downtown Ogden. Two of the things that they were working on there was a Lyceum Theatre and there were many of those around the country, they were mostly vaudeville type of theaters, large stages with, as I understand it, these clam shell lights that were gas lights and actually fueled by natural gas and that’s how they lit the stage. During the construction of the Lyceum Theatre on 25th street, Grandpa told the story and I have no reason to doubt that it was true, using a team of horses that would pull a steel blade, they called it a scraper, in order to excavate the ground for the theater and his story was that the team of horses literally fell through the ground into what he called an opium den. There were a lot of Orientals that worked on the construction of the Transcontinental Railroad and when that was completed in Promontory in 1869, many of them relocated to other places, and some ended up in Ogden. As I understand the stories, they had built underground dens, tunnels under 25th Street and that’s where they would gather, socialize and perhaps use opium. He also, after the Lyceum Theatre, they were contracted to work on Peery’s Egyptian Theater which was on Washington Blvd. between 24th and 25th streets. Utilizing the same technology to excavate the angle for the seating, he tells the story of as they were digging down with this apparatus that the ground was very wet and marshy, and as I’ve read in later accounts over the years, I guess all of downtown Ogden was, it is very low lying and so a lot of water would accumulate there and it was 10 very marshy. The area that was, that is, the Ogden Municipal Park all of that at one time was just swampy ground. But Grandpa told the story of when they hit this, what he called kind of quicksand-like, that they went back and the engineers had to come up with some ways to drive the pilings into the ground before they could pour the footings and the foundation for the Egyptian Theater. The Lyceum Theatre, as I read also later on, it was a place where people like Vaudeville performers like W.C. Fields and just many other famous names actually would come to Ogden and perform. SH: Obviously one of the major connections with the stockyards is the railroad; do you have any memories of the railroads? KA: The railroad was another major contributor to the economy of Ogden. I remember going across the viaduct as it was called, it’s the 24th street viaduct and looking down at row after row after row of train cars. Some of them passenger trains and the majority were freight cars just constantly going 24 hours a day and 7 days a week. Everything I remember was diesel pulled trains but Ogden Union Station was massive. I can remember going in there, and, the ceiling is very high in that facility, so it echoes a lot with tile floors. Had these massive oak benches and I can remember the people sitting there waiting for their trains with their luggage by their side. There were still signs unfortunately, on some of the water fountains that said “whites only” in reference to a time when the blacks were discriminated against and couldn’t use the same facilities as white people. Ogden was a very diverse town. 25th Street was famous and infamous. It had a reputation all around the country. Ogden was a hub of 11 economic activity that stretched worldwide in many instances and has produced some major names with major accomplishments that people any place in the world would recolonize. The Brownings, the Marriotts from the Marriott hotel, many others. It’s been the kind of a place where much good has come from. The stockyards were a really kind of a hub for that as well. SH: Any other memories since we’ve started? KA: Agriculture was such a major force of life and the economy of this area as well as the State of Utah. One time agriculture was the number one economic driver in the state followed by mining, and then business. And so during the 30s, 40s, 50s even into the 60s agriculture and the agricultural spin off interests, business that relied on that probably accounted for 80 or 90 percent of the economy of the state. When the National Golden Spike National Livestock show was held downtown, businesses would hang banners and even the chamber of commerce would have special events welcoming people who were coming into town and from out of state. It really was a big deal. The stockyards, it’s sad to see the transition and see it go, but it will also be exciting to see the new version as it rises up, as they say, out of the ashes of what once was. It’s a good thing that Weber State, with Ogden City is conducting these interviews so that people have an oral history as well as visuals of what it was like in its day. RH: You mentioned how animals would come through on the railroad. Could you tell us about that? KA: Ogden, when the Transcontinental Railroad ended in Promontory in 1869 that linked the East and the West coast of the United States, which immediately 12 changed everything about how this country grew and how it developed from that point forward. The Mormon pioneers had already settled the Salt Lake Valley, but there was a lot of discussion as far as how the trains would route, whether they would come through Salt Lake and then go to the west coast or vice versa or what would actually be the direction they would take. There was discussion about the town of Corinne which is about 30 miles west of Brigham City and north of Ogden, about that actually being the rail hub. But as people talked about it, railroad, government, and the State of Utah thought about it, they determined Ogden would probably be the best location for the direct route which went from Omaha, Nebraska through Wyoming and Evanston, down Weber Canyon with a major hub in Ogden which trains could then be routed north and south and west. Ogden became known as “The Cross Roads of the West” for that reason. Obviously, any livestock that had been raised in any area provided quick transportation, either to buyers for feeding or to ship to market for slaughter, and then eventually used by consumers. So livestock traveled through Ogden continually, from the time that the rails first joined in in 1869 and up to this day. RH: Is there anything else you want to tell us about the stockyards that you haven’t told us? KA: I don’t know if there are other memories, I’m just grateful that the stockyards were there, I’m grateful for the opportunity that I had to witness it first-hand and be a part of it because of my families, my ancestors and the history there. My father, this was really to honor him and I just am grateful for all of his efforts. He was the hardest working man I have ever known. 13 SH: Well, thank you very much for meeting with us. It’s been really helpful. KA: Thank you.