Cherry Days History

In 1932 a group of civic and church leaders in North Ogden formed a committee to improve the cherry market throughout the Western states.  They started an annual community celebration to call attention to the size, color and flavor of their cherries and to acquaint people with the beauty of the area and the high quality of community and family life.  28 growers from North Ogden and 7 from out of town contributed cherries to an exhibit of 166 cases, believed to be the largest display of cherries ever seen in Utah.  Everyone ate free cherries.  The first slogan to help popularize North Ogden was “North Ogden, Where Flavor Fills the Fruit.”

 

In 1954 the cherries of North Ogden received widespread recognition when Mrs. Beverly Erickson won the National Cherry Pie Baking Contest.

 

In 1955 national recognition came to North Ogden during the July 4th Cherry Days celebration.  Senator Wallace F. Bennett was the guest speaker.  He was presented with two boxes of hand-picked cherries.  One box was a gift for Senator Bennett; the other he was to deliver to President Dwight D. Eisenhower.  Senator Bennett said that he would personally deliver the cherries to President Eisenhower early the next morning.

 

Other guest celebrities at North Ogden Cherry Days include:

• 1957 – President David O. McKay, President of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints; and

 

• 1976 – Robert Redford, famous actor and founder of the Sundance Film Festival.

 

Cherry Days has been held for 90 years and continues on in the great traditions of the people of North Ogden City.

 

Information derived from: “A History of North Ogden:  Beginnings to 1985”, Floyd J. Woodfield, Empire Printing, Ogden, Utah.