West Bountiful strikes out on its own
West Bountiful strikes out on its own BY BOB MICKELSON Clipper Staff Writer
City. The early 1900s brought a string of techWEST BOUNTIFUL — People nological changes to the have resided in the area known today area: phones in 1903, as West Bountiful since 1848, but it street lights in 1908, the wasn’t until a century later the com- first concrete sidewalks 1909, the Bamberger munity officially became a city. Today, this one time farming town Electric replacing the is taking its place as a major player in steam engine in 1910, and the first south Davis County’s gasoline economic growth. A stand in massive new commer1914, the cial development, the same year Commons of West war began Bountiful, anchored by in Europe. Costco, is now growing Steady alongside Gateway progress Crossing. At the same, large scale residential followed into 1929 when construction is bringing more people West Bountiful, like all into the community, testing its ability communities in America, to provide the services they require. slipped into the DepresIt’s a problem city leaders hope the sion. Things did start to new commercial-retail development, get better as the 1930s and its accompanying tax receipts, will waned, then employment opportunities were given help remedy. Aside from Native Americans and, a major shot in the arm in later, white fur trappers, the first peo- 1940 as war loomed ple to spend any time in the area that again. Hill Field, as became known as West Bountiful remains the case today, a leading West Bountiful features graceful historic houses, above, but is also were James Fackerell, his wife Amy became and son James Jr., Mormon pioneers employer for area resi- home to key industries such as the Costco development and Holly Oil. dents. who camped on the site in 1848. Another big employA log school house was built the came in 1949, West Bountiful official- was adding $30 million in EPAfollowing year as more families began er,Wasatch Oil and Refining, was purly joining the ranks of Utah cities and required improvements to remove moving into the area. By 1870 the rail- chased in 1947 by the Phillips Petrolesulfur from gasoline. Investments of towns on Jan 28. road arrived and settlement really um Company. Though only a modest that magnitude don’t exactly signal an The arrival of Costco into the facility at the time, expansion and began to take off. area’s business community in Novem- eminent departure. West Bountiful became a separate modernization soon followed. For years, city government strugNot long after the end of World ber 2005 was indeed a major boost to community, though an unincorporatgled to provide basic services to its West Bountiful’s economy. The dised one, in 1895 when it and South War Two, local men began meeting to populace, while it was growing appearance giant’s count warehouse Bountiful separated from Bountiful discuss incorporation. The change has increased interest in the RDA crammed into a building smaller than project area, now known as the Com- single-family family home. That West Bountiful moved to this spacious new City Hall in 2005. mons at West Bountiful, and a num- changed in May 2005 with the openber of new businesses have moved in. ing of a new, modern and spacious city The change has not been an easy hall facility. That event may have also signalled one as many existing businesses did not want to step aside for new devel- a change in direction for West Bountiopment.Among those was Carr Print- ful. As sales and property tax reving, one of the oldest businesses in enues began to increase, city leaders Davis County. Carr was able to work have looked to make up for some the out a deal, but a number of other busi- skimping of the past. Improvements nesses moved out. A few even closed. to roads, sidewalks, recreation faciliMore change had occurred in 2002 ties and more are being considered. when the merger of Phillips and New projects are being planned, while Conoco forced the former to sell off others are under way. A revitalized Arts Council has its Woods Cross refinery. Houstonbased Holly Oil bought the facility made its presence felt, as has a dedifrom Phillips for approximately $25 cated, and vocal, Historic Preservation Committee. After all, now that million in December of that year. Fears the plant might be shut West Bountiful appears on the verge down in the near future were allayed of securing its future, it doesn’t want when Holly announced in 2005 that it to lose track of its past.
18 Clipper 115th Anniversary
Davis County Clipper
City. The early 1900s brought a string of techWEST BOUNTIFUL — People nological changes to the have resided in the area known today area: phones in 1903, as West Bountiful since 1848, but it street lights in 1908, the wasn’t until a century later the com- first concrete sidewalks 1909, the Bamberger munity officially became a city. Today, this one time farming town Electric replacing the is taking its place as a major player in steam engine in 1910, and the first south Davis County’s gasoline economic growth. A stand in massive new commer1914, the cial development, the same year Commons of West war began Bountiful, anchored by in Europe. Costco, is now growing Steady alongside Gateway progress Crossing. At the same, large scale residential followed into 1929 when construction is bringing more people West Bountiful, like all into the community, testing its ability communities in America, to provide the services they require. slipped into the DepresIt’s a problem city leaders hope the sion. Things did start to new commercial-retail development, get better as the 1930s and its accompanying tax receipts, will waned, then employment opportunities were given help remedy. Aside from Native Americans and, a major shot in the arm in later, white fur trappers, the first peo- 1940 as war loomed ple to spend any time in the area that again. Hill Field, as became known as West Bountiful remains the case today, a leading West Bountiful features graceful historic houses, above, but is also were James Fackerell, his wife Amy became and son James Jr., Mormon pioneers employer for area resi- home to key industries such as the Costco development and Holly Oil. dents. who camped on the site in 1848. Another big employA log school house was built the came in 1949, West Bountiful official- was adding $30 million in EPAfollowing year as more families began er,Wasatch Oil and Refining, was purly joining the ranks of Utah cities and required improvements to remove moving into the area. By 1870 the rail- chased in 1947 by the Phillips Petrolesulfur from gasoline. Investments of towns on Jan 28. road arrived and settlement really um Company. Though only a modest that magnitude don’t exactly signal an The arrival of Costco into the facility at the time, expansion and began to take off. area’s business community in Novem- eminent departure. West Bountiful became a separate modernization soon followed. For years, city government strugNot long after the end of World ber 2005 was indeed a major boost to community, though an unincorporatgled to provide basic services to its West Bountiful’s economy. The dised one, in 1895 when it and South War Two, local men began meeting to populace, while it was growing appearance giant’s count warehouse Bountiful separated from Bountiful discuss incorporation. The change has increased interest in the RDA crammed into a building smaller than project area, now known as the Com- single-family family home. That West Bountiful moved to this spacious new City Hall in 2005. mons at West Bountiful, and a num- changed in May 2005 with the openber of new businesses have moved in. ing of a new, modern and spacious city The change has not been an easy hall facility. That event may have also signalled one as many existing businesses did not want to step aside for new devel- a change in direction for West Bountiopment.Among those was Carr Print- ful. As sales and property tax reving, one of the oldest businesses in enues began to increase, city leaders Davis County. Carr was able to work have looked to make up for some the out a deal, but a number of other busi- skimping of the past. Improvements nesses moved out. A few even closed. to roads, sidewalks, recreation faciliMore change had occurred in 2002 ties and more are being considered. when the merger of Phillips and New projects are being planned, while Conoco forced the former to sell off others are under way. A revitalized Arts Council has its Woods Cross refinery. Houstonbased Holly Oil bought the facility made its presence felt, as has a dedifrom Phillips for approximately $25 cated, and vocal, Historic Preservation Committee. After all, now that million in December of that year. Fears the plant might be shut West Bountiful appears on the verge down in the near future were allayed of securing its future, it doesn’t want when Holly announced in 2005 that it to lose track of its past.
18 Clipper 115th Anniversary
Davis County Clipper
