For those that have lived in Salt Lake City for most if not all their lives, the story of Brigham Young and the first settlers is one that is passed down from generation to generation – told at Thanksgiving and Christmas time. Thanks to the writings of one Historian Susan B. Day more light can be shed to just what the connection between the American religious leader and the humble beginnings of North Salt Lake City is.

According to Day’s writings, Brigham Young had sent settlers north “to find pastureland for cattle and to establish settlements.” Traveling north these avid settlers soon found various hot springs and ponds still active and it was here that they decided to sow their oats. They began to build their first homes and soon animals of all kinds were being raised and buildings were fortified as the first dairies of the new land.

One such settler, a man named William Lukar created a half way house “a store-restaurant combination,” Day writes, “where travelers could refresh themselves.” In 1916, a meat packing company bought out an ice packing building on what is now North Salt Lake City’s Center Street. “Cattle were shipped in and processed meat was shipped out” all over the world. In 1946, land was purchased to build homes on a hillside with the main source of water coming from the “natural springs that flowed out of the hillside.” These waters were located in an area that was under the ownership of McDuff springs and McNeil springs “located on the hills south on the Salt Lake-Davis County border,” writes Day.

That same year a purchase agreement was made and on Sept. 3, 1946 the Davis county commission granted about 456 acres of land “status as an incorporated town,” and Davis County found itself with a new city. With a new city came a new leader board as a man named Amasa Howard appointed Harold R. Howard, Jack Cummings, Alton Boggess, Harold T. Johnson, and David S. Betts as the new town board. Day’s writings continue to give more insight to the immediate aftermath of the construction of North Salt Lake. “The old Highway Patrol weigh station was purchased and used as the first town hall,” Day writes. “There was only one political party at the time” and in 1949 when the first town election was held, Ray Hatch was elected mayor of North Salt Lake.

With a formal education received from Brigham Young Academy and three law degrees from The National University in Washington, D.C., Hatch bore a love of research and genealogical work. He served his time as first Mayor of North Salt Lake before going on to serve two terms as President of the North Salt Lake town board. He passed March 11, 1999 and his funeral was held two days later. For more information on Mayor Ray Hatch readers can find his obituary on the Deseret News website.

Seventy-five years after the humble beginnings of North Salt Lake, with a population of 20,000 and counting, the city is hosting a celebration to commemorate their 75 years of township in Northern Utah. Complete with a tree lighting, hot cocoa, Santa Claus, a time capsule and fireworks, it’ll be fun for everyone this holiday season.

The city is asking for help collecting stories and photographs from 1996-2021 to update their “50 year Jubilee” addition of North Salt Lake’s history. These stories and photographs will be scanned and copied before being buried in a time capsule that according to North Salt Lake’s webpage will be buried near the city hall. After 25 years upon the 100 year anniversary of the city the time capsule will be unburied for all to witness. So looking for a fun night out? Come join North Salt Lake’s 75 year anniversary celebration Dec. 13, 2021 from 6 – 8 p.m., Veterans Memorial Amphitheater at City Hall, 10 E. Center Street and bring with you your own history of North Salt Lake.