Ogden - Weber Museum Proposal & Invitation

By: Robert Cato

A proposal by a diverse group of volunteers to create a museum for the Ogden - Weber County area has been announced. The goal is to establish a depository for items, photographs and information about the Ogden - Weber County and surrounding area. The group hopes to convince both the Ogden City Council and the Ogden RDA Board to allow the Ogden - Weber Museum Inc. (OWMI) to accept responsibility for the old Shupe Williams Candy Factory building at 26th St and Wall Avenue.

The Shupe Williams Building, which has been vacant now for a number of years, would meet the goals and mission statement requirements for the OWMI. The location of the building, next to Union Station and in the immediate area of Historic 25th Street, would add another venue to the attractions available for visitors. Museums by themselves are not large money makers but attract patrons for other business such as restaurants, hotels, antique stores and shopping areas in their proximity. With this in mind the OWMI is in the process of being established as a non-profit (501 c 3 tax exempt) organization.

The need for a museum for this area grows on a daily basis. Many of the residents who are currently in their 80's and 90's are passing on. Many of these individuals have items of a historical nature that they received in their younger years as family heirlooms or curiosities from people in their lives that recognized the importance of such things. Many of the items are not wanted by the heirs of these elderly folks. Some of the items are difficult to move and/or store. Consequently they end up in antique stores or sold on E-Bay and disappear into private collections. Having a local museum here where such articles could be preserved and shared with the public would allow us to keep our heritage available for generations to come.

The Shupe Williams Building is in danger of being lost because of many disputed facts about current structural problems. The Ogden City Mayor, Matthew Godfrey, claims that the building is not worth saving and would like to see it torn down so the land could be used for a parking lot. In fact a structural survey done in November of 2005 by Donald Hartley, a Historical Architect with The State Of Utah Department of Community and Culture, Division of State History / Utah State Historical Society, states that the building can be restored and is of significant enough historical importance that it should be saved.

The Shupe Williams Building is currently listed on the National Register of Historic Places, although not on the “local historic register”. In fact, the cost of demolishing the building, 200 to 400 thousand dollars, would cover a great deal of the expense of stabilizing the building. The OWMI is not requesting funds from the City of Ogden for this purpose. If they are granted use of the building the OWMI will seek grants and donations for this work.

In the past three decades Ogden has lost most of the historical commercial structures that made Ogden a people friendly environment. The current city administration does not recognize the need for historical structures and is promoting buildings such as the new rec center which leave most individuals with a cold uninviting appearance. The new Ogden City Mall as it was originally proposed was designed using a “retro Art-Deco” look that was both pleasing to the viewer and offered a welcoming attitude.

The proposed use of the Shupe Williams Building for the OWMI would allow the building to also serve the community through other purposes including traveling museum exhibits, meeting rooms and archival libraries.

The OWMI Group will present a brief overview to the Ogden City Council on Tuesday January 17th at 5:00pm in the Council Chambers on the 3rd Floor of the Municipal Building located at 2549 Washington Boulevard. Those interested in saving Ogden’s History are invited to attend.

For more information about the proposed museum and how to participate in its inception contact Robert Chugg at (435) 782-6561 or Jason Rusch at (801) 394-6729

And what of our gentle readers?

Isn't this the kind of project that can bring our now-squabbling community together?

Update 1/16/06 5:44 p.m. MT: The address typo noted earlier in the comments section has now been corrected. The true address is:

Ogden City Council Chambers
Municipal Building
2549 Washington Boulevard
3rd floor
Ogden, UT 84401

Be there or be square.

Comments anyone?