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O
n June 7, 1905 the
Secretary of the Interior directed the Commissioner of Indian Affairs to select one or more tracts of land suitable for townsites, so they might be reserved as such under the Statutes of the United States. A month later President Theodore Roosevelt approved the selections and declared these lands reserved as Townsites. 
These
sections are what we now know as Myton, Duchesne, and Randlett. In the fall of this same year the Basin was thrown open for homesteading. People from all over the world flooded into the area. Myton, being the first town of any size, was expected to be the hub of the Uintah
Basin. The first homes and businesses were built on the banks of the Duchesne River near the Bridge.
I n the early days, the " City Center" was located on the banks of the Duchesne River, near the place the old wooden bridge crossed the river.
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1.First
Bank, 2.Odekirk General Mercentile - Hay and
Grain, 3.The Community Building, where both
churches met, school was held and anything else
that went on took place there.
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Ball game
in Old Town Myton, early 1900's |
A nd this bridge stood like a giant tunnel across the mighty Duchesne river. The river ran freely and was not checked by dams or reservoirs. This bridge was constructed by the Government troops
T he first people to come to Myton built their homes and businesses right on the banks of the river near the bridge. Several times the community was flooded in the spring time when it was high water time.
S o
until the next bridge was built you had to cross
the river like this:  |
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T he loss of the old wooden bridge left everyone, including the Indian Department, virtually marooned from their activities unless they were brave enough to ford the river.
Abig dedication program was planned for September 10, 1910.
The future looked bright for Myton in the early 1900s. We were the largest town and
I n the early days, Myton offered a variety of entertainment to the general public. Horse racing and rodeo’s, bridge parties and dancing were among the activities that kept the
This three story building erected in 1909, was the second bank to be opened in the Uintah Basin. It served the community and surrounding area until August 1922, when it closed its doors during the depression.
D o you believe in Curses ? I don't. But some folks believe that Myton did not continue to progress as expected because it was one of the few non-Latter Day Saint (Mormon) settlements in Utah, and its citizens refused to let the Church buy into the town. It was rumored that an angry church official stormed out of a meeting in which Myton council members refused to let the Chuch buy into the bank. "You'll see the day" he is to have hissed, "when Jack Rabbits and tumble weeds will be the only things rolling down Myton's main streets!!"
T his picture of Myton,
taken in 1920, captures the beginning of the end of a
community's dreams and expectations of grandeur. The
names of the town's conquerers: War, Fire, Drought,
Depression...and, of course, the Mormon Curse.
I n the early days, before Myton became an incorporated Town, we had neither a water system nor a fire department. Consequently many fires were fought to no avail and the buildings were lost. After a devastating fire in early 1915, in which an entire block of the business section burned to the ground, the Town Council and other business owners decided it was essential that we have a water system.
A ccording to an article in the Myton Free Press on April 22, 1915, "A water system is in the not far distant future. Perhaps the most important need of Myton at this time is a Water System. The question was brought up at the meeting of the Town Board on Tuesday night and thoroughly discussed. It seemed to be the consensus of opinion that the property owners of the town will vote in favor of bonding the town (for a water system) if an election is called."
A bond election for $10,000.00 at 6% for twenty years was called for and took place on June 19, 1915. After many setbacks and changes in plans it became apparent to the Town Board that it was going to cost more to finish the system than they had planned. So in September of 1916 they bonded for another $8,000.00.
T he system consisted of an elevated tank, erected at the corner of "E" Street and West Boundary Street. The tank held 50,000 gallons of water , which were pumped into it from a well located in the northwest corner of town, near the Duchesne river. The water that came into the well from the Duchesne river was not of the highest quality. The water pipes used in this system were made of wood; repair and maintenance were constant problems. There were very few, if any, inside hookups. In general, the water ran into an outside hydrant of central location, which made it very hard to bill for.
Ithe water tank system, was not going to serve the t was clear right from the start, that City adequately. But the town was stuck with it and in debt for it. It was depression times and the whole USA was in financial trouble. Both banks in Myton went broke. A man would work for ten hours a day for $2.00. The City was having a hard time paying their bills and the dillemma involving the water system's upkeep became critical. So by 1925 the City embarked on a search for new solutions. The 1930s came and with it came the Federal Relief Programs such as P.W.A., W.P.A., and the EDR. Through taking advantage of these new resources Myton secured part of the funds for the property on the North Bench for a reservoir, and for shares of Dry Gulch Water. WPA workers scooped out our first reservoir and the organization paid for the pipe to bring the water to town and for the chlorinating plant and as early as 1942 people were hooking on to the system. During W.W.II the Water Tank was sold for scrap iron to help the war effort for the sum of $230.00. As the years went by, many problems with this 2nd water system surfaced. One of the main problems was the quality of water at certain times of the year when the water in the reservoir became low. In the mid-1970s we were given a "No Hook ups until you have a State Approved Water System " ultimatum by the State Board of Health. So the City plunged in debt, way over their heads to bond for a State Approved System, hoping to receive benefit and growth from the "Oil Boom" that the Uintah Basin was enjoying at that time.
W e
finished the State Approved Water Treatment Plant in 1978
just as the Oil Boom was receding, so we did not receive
the growth that we expected from it. Between 1980 and
1988 the City received three grants to replace the old
water lines all the way through town. The Purification
Plant was very expensive to operate and maintain so we
were almost relieved when we were forced to abandon the
plant during the drought of the late 80s, when there was
no Dry Gulch Water available. Fortunately, we had been
included, by the CIB, in the Johnson Water line through
Bridgeland and points east. When our reservoirs dried up
we had only to notify Johnson Water and turn on a valve
to bring Starvation Water to our lines.
I n the year 1913 it became possible to obtain electricity in the Town of Myton. It seems there were two companies that were vying for the right to service Myton. One was the Myton Electric Light, Water and Power Company (MELWP) and the other the Uintah Power and Light Company (UP&L). The following are excerpts from the minutes of 1913-14 of the Myton Town Board.
Oct. 24, 1913: Ordinance was read for the second time. (Putting the cart before the horse )
Nov. 3, 1913: Both companies were given permission to begin work on setting pole's, etc. (then after the fact)
Dec. 16,1913: An ordinance to regulate and control, Electric Light and Power, Telephone and Telegraph Companies was read for the first time and passed to the second reading. Also a request was made by Fred Pack and Wm. Gentry to install telephone lines in Myton and was granted.
Dec. 22, 1913: Ordinance to regulate Power and Light Companies was read for the second time. The Uintah Telephone Company asked for a permit to set poles and wire on the south side of the streets which run east and west and on the west side of the streets that run north and south. Request was tabled until the next meeting. The request from UP&L was read again but no action taken.
Dec. 29, 1913: Power and Light Ordinance read for the third time and passed on to legal council for examination.
Jan. 02, 1914: Communication from legal council Thomas McDonnell, stated that a Town of Myton's class could only follow State laws concerning granting of franchise. The Board proceeded to pass a two page Resolution regulating utilities within the Town.
Jan. 5, 1914: UP&L was granted a permit to set poles and string lines on the North and West sides of the streets for three years.
June 2, 1914: MELWP was granted a permanent permit to set poles and run lines on the South and East sides of the streets.
Sept. 4, 1914: Board agreed to rent from UP&L, thirty, 8 candle power street lights, at the rate of .75 cents per light per month. Contract to extend to 1/1/15. A committee was appointed to place the lights " to the best advantage of all citizens".
D idn't
find any more about MELWP.
N aomai and Lionel Babcock, Warfield Munz, and Hazle and R.E. Waugh, sitting on the water line at the Uintah Power and Light power plant dedication.
W hen Myton was first Incorporated there was already in existence a Volunteer Fire Department of sorts.
I n June of 1912 an offer from the Fire Department to turn over the "Apparatus" and headquarters, was recorded in the Town Minutes. The offer was accepted with thanks for their effort to create a Fire Department for the town.
I n December of 1914 the Town Board ordered a Chemical Fire engine.
I n September of 1920 the Town acquired a hand pumped hose wagon.
I n March of 1926 the Town sold the wheels off the hose wagon to pay a debt of $4.75.
I n November of 1942 the hose wagon was given to the Government for scrap metal.
I n 1946 the young men from town began a drive to raise money to buy a fire truck. That that year they collected $124.00.
I n 1950 the Lions Club offered to help. The City Fire Committee had located a good used truck and were going to bid on it. They had $532.50 to work with at that time. Their bid was accepted and the truck was purchased. It was a 1943 Ford. We still have it and the City plans to restore it and use in parades.
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| Calvin
Monks, Neil Murray, Roy Mott, Winnie Mott, A.C.
Tolboe, ?, Bill Harris |
I n the early 1980's, with the help of the County we obtained a 1957 Coast with a 1000 gallon water tank. We had to remove the cab before we could get it into our fire house. So in 1984 we
T ransportation in the early days took many forms. The first two horse power Motor Home, used extensively in the early days was not just used as a recreational vehicle. |
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I n time, however, stage coaches were usurped by stage cars. This is the first such vehicle used in Myton. |
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I n 1906-07 school was established in Myton by the Wasatch County Board of Education.It was held in the Community Building that was used for all Community functions.
S oon more space was needed and the Board of Education built a 2 room brick building. A few years later a 3 room frame building was erected facing D street. In about 1937 a new building was built to accommodate grades K-7.
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I n the late 1970s all three of the old school buildings were demolished to make room for a new school. The new school is a 10 classroom building to accommodate K-5.
Also located in Myton is the Con Amour School for special children. This facility was built in 1977 and is the only school for handicapped in our area.
A bout five years ago the Presbyterian Church, in conjunction with the K-3 Program, opened the Learning Center to tutor area children at the request of schools or parents.
T he Myton Free Press published it's first edition on April 8, 1915. While it was not the first news paper published in Myton, it was the first one with Myton in it's name.
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A fter the Presbyterian community
B y 1969 the church built in the 1930 was no longer big enough to serve the congregation and so the new church was built and dedicated in September of 1970.
E xcerpts from The Myton Free Press dated April 8, 1915:
"T he Myton Community Presbyterian Church is a structure 55 X 30 feet with a tower, 12 X 12,
R everend George Sloan was Pastor at this date and also teacher in the Myton Academy. Reverend Dr. W.H. Kearns from Minneapolis, who was the administrator for Presbyterian work in
T he
Free Press in Volume 1, Number 1, gave half
the front page and almost all the back page to the report
on the Academy Banquet on Saturday night and the
dedication of the Church on the following Sunday. It went
into great detail about how the money had been raised for
the building of such a fine church in a town that was
struggling with so many enterprises that required money.
It named names of most of the contributors and gave
thanks to them. " A pencil schetch, found among the
papers of Rev. C.S. Rice, former Pastor of the church,
furnished the motive. The builder, M. Knudsen, worked out
the plan. As it stands it revels that the desire for
beauty also found a place in the plans as worked
out."
M ost everyone has read the account of the airplane landing on the South Myton bench, either from the 1975 story in the Uintah Basin Standard by George Stewart or the 1996 retelling by
F or over two decades the Myton City Fathers tried to promote and generate interest in an airport in Myton, and although they tried every possible avenue it did not happen.
W hile
gambling, as we most often think of it, is illegal in the
State of Utah, every year thousands of Utahns bet
everything they own against the most unpredictable,
heartless and clever adversary in the world. These
gamblers are independent, hardy, unique individuals, who
refuse to call anyone "Boss". Their common name
is farmer or rancher. Year after year they bet their life
on whether it will snow enough in the mountains to
provide water in the summer for their crops. They bet it
all on the chance that there won't be a hail storm to
wipe them out, or an infestation of bugs to ruin their
crop, or on the many things that can go wrong on a ranch
and ruin them. Each year they gamble with Mother Nature
to see who will be the winner. The Uintah Basin has many
of these Gamblin Men and Women. Many fortunes have been
won and lost in the uncertain field of agriculture.
FORT MYTON has been a favorite stopping place for many years.
