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Preserving Mapleton’s Historic Old Towne Square
Mapleton’s Historic Old Towne Square
Mapleton’s Historic Old Towne Square stands on the south side of Mapleton City Park as a tribute to the city’s early settlers and heritage. Originally comprised of the Kendall Cabin (built around 1880) and the Mapleton Heritage Museum housed in the Bird Home (built in 1892), the Historic Old Towne Square now also houses a Relief Society Hall (built in 1888), a blacksmith shop and barn that were constructed in 2020, and a “Unity” statue that was placed in 2021.
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Following is more information about these historic buildings.
Roswell Darius Bird Sr. originally settled his family in Springville, then built this two-story, seven-room, Victorian-style home in 1892 on land his father received under the Homestead Act. The Historic Bird Home stands today in its original location and is listed on the National Registry of Historic Buildings.
It stayed in the family for nearly a century, with generations growing up there. Morris Bird, one of Roswell Darius Bird Sr.’s grandsons, sold the home to Mapleton City in 1991, expressing the family’s wishes for the home to become a museum.
The Mapleton Heritage Museum, located in the Historic Bird Home, opened to the public in 1999. The museum contains pioneer artifacts, records and photographs, and it has featured a variety of exhibits from “Farming & Hunting in Early Mapleton” to “Mapleton’s Military History.”
The Historic Bird Home also houses the Mapleton Historical Society, a group of devoted volunteers (many of whom are descendants of the city’s original settlers) who serve to constantly provide opportunities for residents to learn about and remember Mapleton’s past.
MAPLETON HERITAGE MUSEUM
Located in the Historic Bird Home
KENDALL LOG CABIN
Roswell Darius Bird Sr. and his family outside of the Historic Bird Home
(Photo courtesy of UVU’s Historical Photo Collections)
Levi Kendall was one of the early pioneers who entered the Salt Lake Valley with Brigham Young in 1847. He assisted with the first plowing and planting of Deseret, and he and his wife Eliza were some of Mapleton’s first settlers.
He built the cabin for his family shortly after their arrival to Mapleton in approximately 1880. The Kendall Log Cabin
BLACKSMITH SHOP & BARN
Old Towne Square also contains a blacksmith shop and barn built in 2020. They are furnished with materials from Mapleton residents’ old barns (some dating back to the 1800s). The barn is still under construction, but when completed, both buildings are intended to honor Mapleton’s agricultural history.
The Blacksmith Shop’s interior
(Photo courtesy of Mapleton City)
The Kendall Log Cabin on its original
site (Photo courtesy of UVU’s Historical Photo Collections)
was originally built at 560 W. 1600 North in Mapleton. Morris Bird bought it and moved it to its current location next to the Historic Bird Home. It stands today as a depiction of the way of life at the time. 1190 N. Main #7, Springville, Utah 84663 Contact Karen Young 801-704-5280 KarenY@Notherntitle.net
UNITY STATUE
A bronze statue titled “Unity” was placed in center of Old Towne Square in 2021. In the words of Tyson Snow, the sculptor: “This piece represents a timeless story of husband and wife toiling side by side. Life is not without its challenges, hardships, and turmoil. Sharing each other’s burdens, strengthening and encouraging one another is necessary. A strong wind pushes them from behind, representing life’s abrupt or unexpected difficulties.
“Suffering is designed to help us learn and grow stronger as we work toward a common goal. For a moment, the work stops as the sudden gust hits. He drops the plow with one hand to stop his hat from blowing off.
She leans her head toward his shoulder for support, shelter from the wind, and to keep dust from getting into her eyes. Her hands clasping the top of the seed bag so no seed is lost by the jarring elements. Eventually they plan to harvest and enjoy the fruits of their labors together.”
MAPLETON HERITAGE MUSEUM
Located in the Historic Bird Home
The Relief Society Hall was built in 1888 by the women of early Mapleton, who earned the money to build, finance and maintain it. The 10-foot-by-15-foot meetinghouse was originally located on a Mapleton resident’s property, and the Mapleton Historical Society led the effort to move the Relief Society Hall to Old Towne Square.
It took nearly 100 volunteers to dismantle the building and rebuild it brick by brick, then renovate it and furnish it with artifacts and photographs. It now stands as a tribute to the strength and determination of Mapleton’s women across generations.
Out of the 11 original Relief Society Halls built in Utah Valley, this is one of only two remaining. The other is in Provo Pioneer Park.
