A few weeks ago I traded emails with a WCF regular, who suggested that I write a piece on the condition of the Ogden Mall-site, before the mall was built. The project has died a slow death, due to our mutual realization that it would probably take a knowledgeable local historian with a long memory to accomplish such a task with even minimal competence.
Last week though, Centerville Citizen, another respected board WCF semi-regular, made a thoughtful comment about his disembarcation from the north-bound bus from Centerville on Saturday, when he decided to check out the situation in Ogden for himself.
As he stepped off the bus he was confounded; and his instincts told him he was in a dangerous place.
His comment jogged my memory; and I'm thus publishing this 1979 photo of the Mall-site before it became a mall.
Comments, anyone? Is there anybody who posts here who can identify any of the businesses which thrived on the west side of Washington Boulevard north of 24th street, before the last band of "young turk" public planners knocked it all down to build a downtown mall?
Does anyone have comments about this?
Image via Union Station Museum Exhibit
