History of Holladay

The settlements outside Salt Lake City were established in the same manner but land allocation did not begin outside the city until 1849. On February 16th of that year four wards (settlements) were created in the county: (1) Canyon Creek Ward – located on what became known as Parley’s Creek (later known as Sugarhouse); (2) Mill Creek Ward – located on Mill Creek; (3) Big Cottonwood Ward – located on the Big Cottonwood Creek (including the tributary Spring Creek); and (4) South Cottonwood Ward – located on the Little Cottonwood Creek (later known as Murray).

There are a number of communities (including Holladay) that have made claim to the title of being “the first” settlement (city) outside of Salt Lake City, based primarily upon accounts of dugouts or cabins that were built shortly after the pioneers arrived in the Valley. However, since research, including the entries in The Journal of History, seems to indicate that it was a four-way tie. If, in fact, the title rightly belongs to any one city, it surely could be that Holladay is that.

The areas that comprised the Big Cottonwood Ward and the South Cottonwood Ward became known as “The Cottonwoods” and most of the early settlers in “The Cottonwoods” were southerners that were known as the “Mississippi Company.” Most of this group took a southern route from Monroe County via Pueblo Colorado and Fort Laramie, Wyoming to join the other pioneers who came from Winter Quarters, Nebraska. Two of the leaders of the “Mississippi Company”, John Holladay and William Crosby, also directed the settlements of Big Cottonwood and Little Cottonwood, respectively.

John and “his group of ten” settled on the banks of a small stream that they named Spring Creek, a tributary to the Big Cottonwood Creek. A plat of the area was surveyed in 1849 and was called the “Holladay Field Plat” and this part of the Big Cottonwood Ward soon became known as Holladay’s Burgh.

The Holladay/Cottonwood area was not only one of the first to be established outside Salt Lake City, it was the last of the four initial county settlements to become developed. In many ways, the area retained its “out in the country” character until the 1960s. It was common for the “city folks” to drive out to the “country” to get a chicken or some fresh unpasteurized whole milk or to fill water jugs with the clear, cold water from the roadside spring that was located on the west side of Highland Drive at about 4700 South.

Holladay - Cottonwood Books

There are five books that we are aware of that have useful and interesting history and stories about the Holladay-Cottonwood area:

(1) Holladay-Cottonwood Faces and Places, Stephen L Carr, Editor

(2) Cottonwood Early Days, Mary Faulkner, Compiler-Researcher

(3) Cottonwood Recollections, Doris Salmon, Compiler-Researcher

(4) At the Foot of Mount Olympus, Churchill Junior High Gifted and Talented Students

(5) The Lady in the Ore Bucket, Charles L. Keller

(1) Holladay-Cottonwood Faces and Places, Stephen L Carr, Editor. This is a compilation of history and stories put together as part of the Nation’s Bicentennial celebration by the Holladay-Cottonwood Historical Commission. The book is compilation of stories and events that occurred in the pioneer community that was initially known as “Big Cottonwood.” More than 120 persons and organizations contributed to the project so it is a goldmine and provides wonderful glimpses into the past. However, it is not, and does not purport to be, a researched or an all-inclusive history. This book is out of print but we are happy to announce that the Historical Commission has been able to acquire copies of this book that have been in storage in a basement for many years. Those will be sold on a first come, first served basis for $10 each. Please contact Sandy Meadows (801- 277-2857) or Lyman Losee (801-277-1957) to get a copy.

(2) Cottonwood Early Days, Mary Faulkner, Compiler-Researcher. This is a carefully researched work but is limited to the area that remained as Cottonwood after the Community was divided into Holladay and Cottonwood in 1913. This book is out of print but should be available in the Holladay Library. This book has been digitized and you can get a copy from Lyman Losee (801-277-1957).

(3) Cottonwood Recollections, Doris Salmon, Compiler-Researcher. This book is an extension of Cottonwood Early Days (above) and was written by the editor of the former book. It also is out of print but available in the Holladay Library. Digitized copies may be obtained from Lyman Losee (801-277-1957).

(4) At the Foot of Mount Olympus, Churchill Junior High Gifted and Talented Students. This book covers the entire school area served by Churchill Junior High that includes the area known as East Millcreek, an area that was initially included as part of the Big Cottonwood Community. It includes some pictures and history of the latter area that are of interest to those studying the History of this tri-canyon area. It also is out of print but available in the Holladay Library. Digitized copies may be obtained from Lyman Losee (801-277-1957).

5) The Lady in the Ore Bucket, Charles L. Keller. This is a well-researched history of the tri-canyon area of the Wasatch Mountains. All three of these canyons (Millcreek, Big Cottonwood, and Little Cottonwood) were accessed through the community known as Big Cottonwood. It is focused on the lumber, mining, and hydropower industries built from the natural resources of the canyons and tells fascinating stories about the pioneers that explored, harvested and developed these resources. The book is available for sale at Amazon.com