From Wilson to Ballard - Brief History
Up until 1933, the Ballard area was known as Wilson, after the then current U.S. President Woodrow Wilson. From 1905 to 1907 as the reservation opened for homesteading, many new families began to settle in this area. Jerry Murray had a homestead on the section where the Ballard LDS Chapel now stands and donated a parcel of land on the southwest corner of his property to be used for a school. By 1917 construction began across the road on a larger brick school building. The land for this school was donated by Allie Pickup, who owned the section west from the first Wilson school. The school consisted of six rooms, four classrooms, a library, and a washroom, which was fully equipped with a bucket of water. There were stoves in each of the rooms.
The Wilson area was one of the top alfalfa seed producing areas in the state of Utah during this era. Most of the alfalfa seed was hauled to Price Utah and shipped by railroad to market. In 1926 an LDS Ward was organized in the Wilson precinct. The Wilson school now doubled as the place for church services and other church activities. Around 1929, construction for a new LDS Chapel began across the road where the first little wooden school had stood. The building of this chapel was a great community effort. When the building was completed in 1933, it was decided to name the newly formed ward after one of the prominent LDS apostles of that era, Melvin J. Ballard. Apostle Ballard dedicated the chapel. With the formation of the newly named ward, the area became known as Ballard.
See below for more history on Ballard, UT.
From Wilson to Ballard - Expanded History
After receiving a petition from a large majority of the electors in the Ballard area, Uintah county commissioners officially incorporated Ballard as a Town at the regularly scheduled meeting on August 2, 1976, at the Uintah County Courthouse.
The Ballard area was first homesteaded in the years 1906-1908. Deeply interested in church and education opportunities, the early settlers established a school district and a separate school board. The Uintah County school district at that time had not been consolidated. The first board of Trustees in the new Uintah School District consisted of George Pickup, James Angus, and Jerry Murray.
The first school was held in a log building owned by Ed Heller. It was located near where the Basin Concrete Plant now stands. The next year the school board constructed a two room building where the Ballard Ward Chapel is located. The school was known as the Uintah School.
When Woodrow Wilson was elected President of the United States, Pearl Christensen, a teacher in the school and a staunch Democrat, had the name of the school changed to Wilson. At this time, the voting precinct was also changed to Wilson. This name was retained when Uintah County consolidated the small school districts.
The people in the area were predominantly of the LDS Religion and were affiliated with the wards in Roosevelt until 1926. During this year, President Byron O. Colton and associates of the Roosevelt Stake met with the LDS people of the area. It was recommended that the old Alterra Ward, located on Indian Bench, be consolidated with parts of the Roosevelt first and second wards, and a new ward be established at the Wilson school to be know as Alterra.
The Bishopric was eager to construct a new chapel so the congregation would have a home of their own. Due to an untimely death, the bishopric had to be reorganized, causing a delay in the building of the chapel. The program resumed and in 1929-1930, a new red brick building was constructed. This building still comprises a portion of the present Ballard Chapel.
In 1930, the congregation was still known as “Alterra”. Since this name meant “high land” or “bench land”, the members of the congregation thought that the name should be changed before the dedication of the new chapel. After discussion, prayer, and thought, the name “Ballard” was selected after the LDS Apostle, Melvin J. Ballard.
After receiving a petition from a large majority of the electors in the Ballard area, the Uintah County Commissioners officially incorporated Ballard as a town at their regular Monday meeting on August 2, 1976, at the Uintah County Courthouse. It is anticipated that such incorporation will better serve the residents of Ballard in coping with the problems of growth now occurring in this area.
The Uintah County Commissioners in their action of incorporating the new town appointed a board of trustees. It consisted of Karl Shisler as President of the Town Board, with other members being Lee Angus, T. Golden Collins, Gerald Mitchell, and Jess Miller.
A contract was drawn up with Uintah County for fire and police protection and for road maintenance. The revenues from sales tax and revenues sharing will go to Uintah County under this contract. No mill levy was in effect. The contract was for a two year period. Uintah County’s Zoning Ordinance was adopted. Jess Miller was appointed to serve as Zoning Administrator and Building Inspector, as well as Town Clerk. All officers served without pay.
The Office of Board of Trustees ended and Carl Shisler became the first Mayor in June 1976 with a population of 538. His council members were Verden Heaton, Orlan Cook, Keith Haslem, and Bob Abercrombie.
Ballard Town’s second Mayor Verden Heaton was elected and was sworn in January 1980. Karl Betts was the 3rd Mayor in January 1987. 4th Mayor was Lloyd Meacham in January 1990 with Vaughn Parrish put in pro-tem on May 26, 1992 and being sworn in as the 5th Mayor in January 1993.
The 6th Mayor in Ballard Town is Thomas N. Nordstrom who was elected on January 2006. Council Members in 2010 was Bob Abercrombie, Ace Davis, Mark Reidhead and Tammy Meacham.
On July 10, 1997, Ground was cleared for the new Ballard City Park (Serenity Park) Ned Mitchell got the bid for the clearing. With the new park brought a tax hike to help maintain the park along with more police patrolling in the Ballard area.
On Sept. 1998, another tax hike was voted unanimously. This was to help with the cost of running the town.
From 2000 - 2010 Ballard Town has sponsored an Annual Ballard Clean-up Day every spring. This has helped in keeping our town as litter free as we can. K & K Sanitation has been a big help in our efforts with free dumping for that day. This has even brought neighbors out to help other neighbors of the community. Current Mayor Thomas N. Nordstrom has presented beautification awards to both residents and businesses for their help in keeping Ballard a beautiful place to live.
In July 2001, a public hearing was held for the annexation proposal for Union and UBATC. This was held at the Roosevelt City Council Chambers. The proposal would give Roosevelt jurisdiction throughout both schools. In August 2001 Ballard Town Council approved a boundary adjustment ordinance releasing the two schools from their jurisdiction.
On June 10, 2002, Ballard Town’s Mayor Vaughn Parris accepted a large four by nine foot banner signifying the town’s awesome accomplishment to become a 21st Century Community. Being a 21st Century Community program challenges rural leaders to look to the future and to develop a game plan for community prosperity and success. Efforts on assessments were in transportation, tourism, telecommunications, local government, the planning process, housing, health care, economic development, culture, heritage and recreation.
September 2006, saw some changes to Uintah County with four new Special Service District Boards. The boards will be funded through Mineral Lease Money paid to the county from development of natural resources. These boards include, Fire SSD, Animal Control SSD, and Economic Development SSD, with the Health SSD being modified.
Ballard Town has been involved with all of the SSD Boards. Some improvements to Ballard have included new playground equipment and a pavilions at both Serenity and Ballard Park. The Economic Development SSD helped with the hiring of a City Planner for the revamping of Ballard Town’s General Land Use Plan.
Ballard Town was faced with a demand for municipal services and voted to raise the town’s property tax rate by 271 percent. This generated enough funds to secure contracts with the Roosevelt Fire Department and either the Uintah County Sheriff’s Department or the Roosevelt Police Department. The New rate went into effect in November 2006.
Beginning January 1, 2007, Roosevelt Police Department will provide 20 hours of patrol per week and emergency response whenever necessary. This was the agreement that was signed at a Ballard Town Meeting held in December 2006. The new tax hike is what helped fund the contracts with the Police Department.
In May 2007, Utah Department of Transportation construction crews widened a section of US Highway 40 from 1500 East to 2500 E. in Ballard. This project added a center turn lane to improve safety for motorists making left turns in the area. They widened shoulders and removed a Ballard Landmark irrigation flume going across the Highway.
2008 – 2009 brought us many changes with a remodel of the Ballard City offices that took place at the end of 2008. The remodel included an expansion of the offices and a new floor and bench in the outer hall. After a year of public meetings regarding Ballard Town’s General Land use plan, an ordinance implementing the amendment to the Ballard City Land Use and Zoning Regulations went into effect on Feb 2009. In the spring of 2009, a new maintenance shop was erected to house the dump truck, backhoe, and other city maintenance equipment needed for the city.