Today is the fulfillment of a dream and an effort that began over a year and a half ago. Parley Oleson had felt for sometime that there should be some marker that would tell people who the Romrells were and why this park is given their name. He contacted the reunion committee and suggested that we make this a part of the reunion and give all family members an opportunity to contribute .

At that time we of the committee agreed that it was a good idea but we had no idea how much money could be raised and whether it would be enough to purchase a suitable marker. We began by thinking sma11, but as interest was indicated and checks began to come in, we began to see that a lovely monument could be purchased that would truly do honor to these beloved pioneer ancestors. We have been most grateful to Jerry McKean of the City Parks for his willing and generous help, and to all of his crew for the exceptional work they have done in making the park beautiful for our reunion, to Mayor Mecham for granting permission for the monument, and to Dave Bott for his work in acquiring the monument.

By way of a brief background. In 1855, just 4 years after the first permanent settlers had come to Ogden, Francis and Mary Romeril and several of their children arrived here in this valley and settled in the 2- year- old, Bingham's Fort. The fort involved the land to the west of us on both sides of 2' Street, beginning just east of Wall Avenue and continuing west for several blocks. It covered a large area and as many as 730 people lived within its walls. Francis eventually purchased a large piece of land in and around Bingham Fort, after the fort was disbanded, and sold lots to his son- in- law George Pierce and others. The Pierce home is still standing and in use.

In September 1861, George Romrell and his soon- to- be bride Patience, arrived here. Winter would soon be upon them, so George made a dugout in a hill in the neighborhood of this park area where they spent their first winter. It was here their first children, twins, were born and died.

In the following years George purchased 25 acres between Washington and Wall, and built a cabin, which according to the information we have would have been in the middle of 4th Street, just west of Washington Boulevard. Over the years, with the growth of the family, additions were made, an adobe kitchen and another bedroom. George and Patience took great care in making their home beautiful with whitewash and flowers, shrubs, vines and trees.

George had been trained as a ship's carpenter. However, since there were no ships in the Ogden valley, he turned his skills to building furniture. He made chairs which were sold for $1.00 a piece in the early days. Later they sold them to Boyle's Furniture. He also made tables, chests, and other fine pieces of furniture.

George, however, was an enterprising man, not content with the status quo. He hauled logs down from the mountain and built one of the first molasses mills in Weber County, selling numerous barrels of molasses each year. When the railroad came, he ordered strawberry plants. When they began to be successful, he planted more. The children did the picking for 1 cent a cup and George sold them for $3.00 a case. Not a bad profit for the time.

Before long he was able to build a beautiful new seven bedroom home just north of the first. The old home was torn down when the city divided the blocks and 4' Street came through.

George also ordered fruit trees from the East and planted a large orchard, which again was very successful. He was among the first in Weber County to raise peaches, apples, plums, blackberries, strawberies, and raspberries.

The last home George built is the one now standing just to the east of the park.

It is not clear at this time, just how the land came to the city, however, we do know that George gave parcels to each of his daughters.

In 1979, through the efforts of Mildred Hardy, a grand daughter of George, the name of the park was changed, fittingly, to Romrell Park.

The Romrells are representative of many of the early families of Ogden. We are grateful today to honor their name and heritage. May we carry on in the spirit in which they began.