Utah Preservation Magazine - Building on the Past Volume 3, 1999 by Utah Historical Society

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Rehab by Fire: USU's Old Main Utah State University's flagship structure has been restored and improved after a devastating fire. by Wendell Morse

Ft. Douglas: Preserving Utah's Bastion on the Wasatch Front A fascinating insight into the archaeological findings in this 19th-century military fort--as it prepares for the first Winter Olyrnpics of the 21st Century. by Richard Wessel

The Rock House Breaks Its Silence

While converting a vacant house into a writer's retreat, an English professor became captivated by the human history of the place.

by Roger G. Baker

Fruita's Rural Landscape: Scenery With a View on the Past In the heart of Capitol Reef National Park this 19th-century farm village has been preserved and interpreted for the public. by Kathy McKoy

Park City's Historic District: Preservation in the Face of Prosperity How has this historic district held up after 20 years of booming resort town development? by David Hampshire

A Business Partner with a Past: An Old Auto Garage Shifts Careers Rehab of a Sugar House garage as offices boosts revenue and adds soul to a consulting business. by Barbara Bassett and Loren Israelsen

Renovating Memorial House: The Power of Partnerships An innovative partnership brought this city-owned landmark back to Me. by Lisa Thompson

Preserving Antelope Island's Fielding Garr Ranch This unique state park provides an insight into the history of the Great Salt Lake's largest island. by Karen Krieger

Cover Photo: Courtesy USU Media Relations G- Marketing.

"Grandma's House" Photo Essay Winning photos selected from statewide entries in the Utah State Historical Society's photo contest.

Old Buildings Learning to Adapt: Working With the ADA Providing handicap access to older buildings can be done effectively and efficiently. by Tunzd Tully

President

Celeste Gleave* CHA Sandra L. Hudson

Administrative Y,P,

Teresa Zundel

Freelance Editor

Kara Kier

Designer

Published by FYVE+STAR,h c .

Utah Division of State History . . . . . . . . . . . ..(801) 533-3500 (Utah State Historical Society) Director . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Max . J. Evans Associate Director

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Editor Utah Preservation Assistant Editor

. . . . . . . . . . . . ..Wilson G. Martin .

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ..Roger V. Roper

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Kristen . S. Rogers

/-'ran Prsseria;!on is pdbi.sl-.ed annclally by M;EkST4P

Pvlsmlnc , in cc~ijunction~ ~ it ti eh Utah State rstor8calS83cet, iSSr 1 525-08;J be's 2" :?e ssciet; recelve Utah Preservation as a nenef,i of rernbershp Utah ?reservat:or: receiles finanyial sldop3rt f:zm 'rig U-ar ~ Ih!era;enc.: s k F x c e , ncl~ldingtne B d r e a ~'af Lard ?/lanage?ient, Pdarora Park Ser\,'ce I!S F x e s Ser',cs, ano Utah C l ~ , , i s ~ Stare H s i o r j 1: IS also funded ~ t assistance h of a matchng g r a n t - n - a ~from i the Natona Park Ser,;ice Ho,riecier,the ssntsnts anlli m i n o r s 1-3: Qer9ssar8i;rgiect the \/iews or pocies of the Department of the lntericr l o r d ~ e s the me-ton of irade names or :80nrrars~a1o " ~ ' ~ J Y ~ s ~3rslltu:eend3rserneqt or recornvendaton by the Departrrent cf the lnter~cr ?egulati,ms of rhe L 3 Depari,r~entsf ri-G ii:orisr str~,:tlj pr33 r e 3' s?9 S?I b93' "iblt un~a,cful'dlscrlrn narlon on the basis 3 i race, color, national origlr, age or haroizap Any perssn ~ b b?s!:es 1:jpp3r1l,i~t~ Prods?rl:~,inaled aga ?st ? an,/ orogrsm actvt], or facI~t/operate0 b, a rez~pentcf Federsl assslame snoud r,rte 13 C ~ J Z gram. U S Deo: of the Interior, National Park Servica, P G Box 37; 27,$/ashng:nr, G C 2021 3-7127' : : 8

Pl~cshooo j =y",E'3T,AR, nc , ofkc~ngfu-colar oublcatio~sand urlque lnn:var,?e 3dVeq131r1g 3pooliclr +'3st~ b1~sirless9;a173 ;r;ail?at'3r,s i'i I >'31' Dada~mer:Every efiort has been made io ensure the accuracy af rhe informarion in rlur publicarion. Neirher the Urah Srare Hirrar~ralSoclery, nor FWE'STM. Ine., can arrurne responsib~ltryfar errors or omissions.

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honrever, both because of its importance and its coi~~bustible construction, the f i e department is immediately dispatched. On December 19, 1983, nihen the Olil Main alarm sounded, the Logan Fire Department started toward the building thinking it was another practice run. False alarins n7ere so common in Old Main that uhen the alarm sounded only a fear people bothered to evacuate the building. 0 1 1 that day the alarm uras triggered by a dehctive kluoresce~ltlight fixture on the third floor of the north wing. There really \\.as a fire!

hen is a fire beneficial to historic reservation? The December 198.3 ration at Utah State University's Old Main helped acconlplish w,hat years of budget pleas had not: funding to upgrade the aging structure. The blaze sparked a comprehensive, 14-year rehabilitation effort and a renewal of pride in the uni\~ersity1soldest and n~ostdisting~~ished building.

THE FATEFUL DAY When a fire alarm is reported on the USU campus, physical plant enlployees quickly check to determine if it is an actual fire; if it is, they then notify the Logan City Fire Department. When the alarm comes from Old Main,

U T A H

Fire and water b o t h c a u s e d extensive damage to the building.

P R E S E R V A T I O N

Sooil the firefighters were confrollting huge flan~esand intense smoke. For three hours they fought the blaze, pouring on thousands of galloi~sof water that helped subdue the tlames but caused additional darnage as

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well-in fact water damage was more extensive than fire damage. Also, firefighters had to punch holes through all the floors in order to drain off some of the water, which ran u p to six inches deep in the corridors. In spite of the fire department's best efforts, the fire consumed the third floor and roof of the north wing, and water damaged the remainder of the north wing and part of the center wing. Despite the extensive damage, neither the university administration nor the campus planning office considered any course but restoration. Before the embers had even cooled, university planners and administrators had met and formulated a plan to ask for funding to rebuild the north wing. President Stanford Cazier stated it unequivocally: "The flagship of the university must continue to be historic Old Main. "

Luckily, classrooms were empty when the Christmas-break fire ignited.

A LOCAL LANDMARK For many years Old Main was the only major building on the Utah Agriculture College campus. Constructed in phases between 1889 and 1902, it is the oldest continually used academic building in Utah and has housed almost every activity sponsored by the institution from chemistry to physical education. At the time of the fire, Old Main housed the university administration and provided more classroom space than any other building on campus. Stanley Kane of USU campus planning described the building style as "eclectic late Victorian mix, with less embellishment than usual, perhaps more Edwardian

than true Victorian. Some aspects are Romanesque Revival, some are Neoclassical, although the original entrance had Corinthian columns . . . Its grandeur was unmatched. In the original photos, you see this buildmg going up in the midst of pastureland being plowed with horses. Its presence, along with the [LDS] temple and the tabernacle, assured all that civilization had arrived in Cache Valley."

for $2 million in emergency funds to help restore the damaged areas. That money, added to the insurance funds, would provide for a quahty renovation of the damaged areas.

DESIGN/CONSTRUCTION

MOVING FORWARD Within a few days of the fire, on an emergency basis, USU campus planning worked with the Utah State Division of Facilities Construction and Management (DFCM) to appoint the firm of Architectural Design West to prepare estimates and plans for the restoration. The lead architect on the project from Architectural Design West was Scott Theobald. His charge: create a restoration plan that was functional but maintained the character of historic Old Main. - -

Rooftop view of the devastation.

Timing of the fire was opportune since the legislature meets each January and therefore was able to quickly respond to the university and regents' request

A design team of consulting architects and engineers, campus planners, budding users, and representatives from DFCM established criteria for the preservation effort. The team had its work cut out for it, Everyone associated with the building had known for years that the entire building had severe structural problems. And extensive remodeling done over the 80year life of the building had created major fire hazards; in an attempt to 'modernize' the building; some of the ceilings had been lowered as many as five times, leaving several layers of highly combustible materials. The building was also deficient in many other safety and functional ways: electrical and mechanical systems were poor, lighting was inadequate, and emergency exits were unsafe. In light of these problems, the team decided that the restoration of the north wing would be followed by a phased renovation of the entire structure. Nobody involved in the project had any idea that it would take 14 years to complete all of the phases.

preserved as much as possible. Restoration therefore would include preservation and protection of the existing historic facade and replacement of all windows with frames that matched the originals. As part of the roof replacement, design features such as cupolas were to be reconstructed, and existing towers at the north, south, and west corners would be renovated and preserved. Because of cost and seismic considerations, the chimneys would be capped at the roof level rather than reconstructed. An extensive raingutter and downspout system would b e installed to protect existing brick and sandstone from further deterioration.

Work began on the north wing, where crews demolished everything except the structural walls. The demolition exposed many of the building's structural problems: most of the interior walls were rough-sawn fir studs, and the exterior structural walls were unreinforced brick. As the work proceeded, those involved in the project were continually amazed that Old Main had survived the 6.2 magnitude earthquake of 1962, which damaged the nearby Smart Gym enough that the university condemned the building.

PROTECTING HISTORIC EXTERIOR

Administrative and teaching spaces were redesigned and constructed to serve current needs. The plan included state-of-the-art systems for heating and air conditioning, electrical, lighting, and communications; it also called for fire resistant materials and a fire sprinkler system. The renovation project also provided an opportunity to remedy the long-felt need for an appropriate entrance on the back side of the building. Old Main was originally constructed on the brow of Old Main Hill with its primary facade overlooking Logan City to the west. The campus, however, developed eastward, leaving

"Whoevergave the dedication prayer must have done a good job. That can be the only reuson the building is still standing after all these years. " - ~d Allen, stmctuml Engineer FLOOR PLAN UPDATED The committee determined that the historical floor plan for the building would not provide functional facilities needed by the university, so they devised a modified layout that maintained most of the existing hallways but reconfigured other spaces to address current and future university needs. Approximately 25,000 gross square feet was added by finishing attic spaces.

Old Main in an awkward position with its undistinguished back to the "Quad" and the stately buildings surrounding it. The solution was a design for a new east entrance that closely follows the existing architecture in form, detailing, and materials. Used brick that almost perfectly matches the Old Main brick was found and purchased in Utah County. For the first time, Old Main has a gracious entrance from the Quad.

Before tackling the renovation, the building team had wisely taken the time to develop design criteria that would guide all phases of the restoration effort and ensure an attractive, cohesive design scheme for the entire building. Early on, they contacted the Utah State Historic Preservation Office, which provided valuable advice on restoration philosophy and techniques. They also made an assessment of the structure "as is," noting several negative modifications made to the building's exterior over the years. These included the installation of many smaller, aluminum frame windows with stucco in-fill above that had been inserted where the ceilings had been lowered on the interior. Several original cupolas and chimneys had also been removed from the roof. After completing its assessment, the building committee decided that the historic exterior of the Old Main should be U

U n s t a b l e brick walls w e r e s p r a y e d with a layer of shotcrete(upper left) t o p r o v i d e seismic strength.

STRENGTHENING THE BUILDING Ed Allen, (Allen and Bailey Engineers) the structural engineer for the project, had extensive experience in strengthening existing buildings, including the monumental Salt Lake City & County Building. H e confirmed that the existing unreinforced brick exterior walls were not structurally sound. After completing an analysis of the building, Allen stated, "Whoever gave the dedication prayer must have done a good job. That can be the only reason the building is still standing after all these years." Allen determined that it would be crucial to strengthen the walls with reinforced concrete. H e also determined that the building's rock foundation could not take additional weight. This necessitated removing the inner wythe or layer of brick before adding reinforced concrete to the walls. Workers then applied reinforced shotcrete, which is a sprayed-on concrete

similar to that used for forming walls in swimming pools. The concrete wall was anchored to the existing brick wall with epoxy-covered "Hilti" bolts. Upon completion, Ed Allen stated, "The reinforced exterior walls are now 100 times stronger than prior to the restoration work." The building also lacked "shear strength," which is the ability to resist twisting and collapse during an earthquake. Plywood was nailed to the floor and interior walls during Phase I to add that strength. The existing floors were uneven, and a partially successful attempt was made to level them. Despite early efforts to save existing stud walls and wood floor joists whenever possible, eventually the decision was made to replace them all with an internal structural steel frame. Most of the original pine woodwork in Old Main had been removed or covered. The renovation included the installation of extensive oak woodwork patterned after

some of the original pieces that had been salvaged. Oak was chosen because it is less expensive and more durable than clear pine.

CONTRACTORS' CHALLENGES Several contractors were involved in the project through its various phases. The major contractor for most of the project was Spindler Construction. Others included Raymond Construction and Darrell Anderson Construction. All of the contractors were extremely careful during the demolition and reconstruction phases. Extensive temporary shoring of existing walls was required. The walls were in such poor condition in some areas that window frames were actually holding up brick arches. Unsupported floor joists were common; wood shrinkage and a slight spreading of the exterior walls had caused them to pull away from their supports. Though very poor structural conditions were found, through some miracle, no areas of the building collapsed

Salvaged original woodwork served as a pattern for new oak trim.

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Id Main was constructed 111 three ph<i\es between 1889 and 1902. The south u,ing, ' designed by C. L. Thompson, was co~nplct ' q d first. The north wing and par-t of t17 section were completed in 1892, under direction of another local architect. Giirl Shaub. The nationwide econoillic panic halted completion of this phase unti . 1902, when the center section, iilcluding tl = -

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tower, war finished Architect of thi final phase was H.H. Mahler of Salt Lakc ty The completed facility cost approximately $102,000 and provided 140,000 gros square feet of space. The building was placed on the National Register of' Historic Places in 1972 in recognition of both its historical and architectural signiticance. -

Like a castle on a hill, Old Main dominates Logan's east-side neighborhoods c.1905.

Stanfield Sl~utterCo. CREATING ELEGANT IDEAS A N D FINE CRAFTSMANSHIP FOR OVER

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during renovation. Gary Stevens from Spindler commented that "the seismic renovation involved some of the most difficult challenges of a construction project in the state of Utah."

COST OF RENOVATION The price tag for upgrading Old Main was, of course, a critical concern. Approximately $16 million allocated by the state legislature added to approximately $2 million provided by fire insurance resulted in

Constructing a new building with the character of Old Main would have cost much more. Old Main is a bargain. a total budget of $18 million for design, construction, and h s h g s . The fished project provides 165,000 gross square feet of floor space. This equates to about $110 per square foot, which is probably a little less than new construction of comparable quality. A myth seems to exist that preservation provides substandard or compromised space at higher costs. The rehabilitation of Old Main is proof that efficient space can be provided at a reasonable cost. Old Main cost no more than a new square-box building of the same size, and constructing a new building with the character of Old Main would have cost much more. Old Main is a bargain.

OLD MAIN TODAY Arisen literally from ashes, Old Main today stands as a monument to the dedication of the original builders and those who were involved in its rehabilitation. This unique and beautiful building still serves as the administrative headquarters of the campus and as its major c~assroombuilding. Many people have ~ ~ r ~ ~ m eon n t the ed importance of the restored Old Main. Current USU President George H. Emert said, "This building is an anchor for both educational tradition and personal memories. Its elegance really does touch you as you walk its halls, and it represents an

U T A H

The 1889 south wing was the first section of the building to be constructed.

always-present visual contact with our community. Old Main is now new-but only in carefully planned ways. The building has been updated, but the architectural integrity of the original facility is still intact in all its grandeur. The magic and grace of age are still overwhhgly Bddmg occupant Joyce Kinkead, Associate Dean of Humanities, Arts, and Social Science, added, "Old Main imbues USU with the kind of atmosphere that a university should have, a

P R E S E R V A T I O N

sense of ritual, eminence, and timelessness. Although my office is technologically up-todate with all the data ports I need to work, research, and teach, the oak woodwork, odd ceiling angles, and rounded walls reflect the architectural integrity of the original building."

Wendell Morse is director of campus planning and engineering at Utah State University.

I ,m often torn," he says, "because I work in a profession which relies on growth. In many ways, my livelihood, and the livelihood of my family depend upon it. Yet growth isn't always a good thing." '6

' e must be vigilant about our architectural heritage," insists Kim Hyatt, who, along with his business partner, Tom Smith, is the driving force behind Smith Hyatt Architects.

"There seems to be a perception in this valley that historic buildings are significant only if, say, Brigham Young lived in them. Nothing could be further from the truth. Even a barn can be a very important structure, historically speaking." Hyatt, whose firm has worked on such prestigious projects as the Ogden Municipal Building and the Isaac Chase House, practices what he preaches, making room in his busy schedule to work on lesser-known projects, like the Tate Dairy Barn in Midway. "It's a beautiful old barn which stands near the upper end of Deer Creek Reservoir," Hyatt explains. "Parks and Recreation intends to restore it as an artifact, which means it will not be used for offices or dormitories when the Olympics come. It will simply be restored to its original state to provide authentic ambience to the site." Hyatt admits that reconciling his preservation ethics with the demands of his career can be difficult at times.

Hyatt, whose ancestors emigrated to Utah with the Mormon Pioneers, and who was born and raised in Utah, laments the loss of the Salt Lake City he knew as a child. "This city used to be about neighborhoods. That is no longer true in the way it once was. I can walk through neighborhoods I knew and loved as a child, and they are barely recognizable. If there was one thing I would like to pass on to my children, it would be that when they grow up, they can walk through Salt Lake City neighborhoods and recognize them; not only recognize them, but also experience a feeling of community, familiarity, and historic significance." Hyatt, whose firm specializes in preservation-related projects, both commercial and residential, notes that religious structures fascinate him. "If I had unlimited funding and could choose a dream project," he explains, "I'd work to preserve our historic church buildings-and I mean buildings of all denominations. We really do have diversity here, for instance, the Cathedral of the Madeleine, synagogues, and historic LDS chapels. The art, the love, and the care that went into these buildings is worthy of respect and preservation." "Preservation," he asserts, "goes way beyond buildings and history. We should be equally diligent in preserving our wild lands. And as an amateur astronomer, I feel the same way about our night sky. I remember a time when you could really see the stars at night. Now you have to drive clear out of the city to see the same sort of night sky our ancestors saw. We must guard these treasures."

V P h I Above: Ogden Municipal Building; projected completion September 2000. Right: Union Station Railroad Museum entrance Exhibit Deszgned by Exhibit Systems, Inc.

PRESERVING UTAH'S BASTION ON-THE WASATCH FRONT by Richard Wessel

n the fall of 1862 a procession of federal soldiers of the Second and Third California Volunteer Infantry arrived at the Wasatch Front under the command of Col. Patrick E. Connor to establish Camp Douglas. With the formal mission of protecting the Overland Mail route, Col. Connor chose a location east of Salt Lake City that afforded him the opportunity to maintain a guarded surveillance on the Mormons. This was during the Civil War and the Union could not afford a secessionist territory in the West. With tensions between soldiers and Mormons high, the soldiers dug in for the winter. Companies erected officers' quarters of adobe and logs. The enlisted men, on the other hand, shared canvas-covered dugouts.

From these humble beginnings began a progression of b d d ing that, over the years, produced one of the country's most outstanding examples of late 19th-century frontier military reservations, one of the few still standing and occupied. As time progressed, the original tent-covered dugouts were abandoned for more permanent structures. Stone and brick replaced adobe and log buildings. The camp population grew, and the camp took on the look of a self-sustainingcommunity with stables, gardens, a hospital, and even a "laundress row" occupied by enlisted men's families. The camp served as an U

important logistical support center during World War I and I1 and a German POW camp in both wars. The fort was designated a National Historic Landmark in 1970 in recognition of its historic and architectural significance. In 1991 the military transferred much of the fort to the University of Utah; the university then began developing plans to convert the fort buildings into offices and student housing. The timetable quickened when Salt Lake City was awarded the 2002 Winter Olympics, and the fort was selected as the site of the Olympic Village. The university readily agreed to the plan because the new housing built for the athletes could be converted to student use after the Olympics. While some of the old buildings at the fort would be restored as part of the Olympic effort, new multi-story apartments adjacent to the older buildings would provide almost all of the housing needs for the athletes. All of this would require an ungraded and expanded infrastructure-water, sewer, electric, and communications lines.

THE PRESERVATION CHALLENGE With the transfer of ownership from the federal government to the state, the University of Utah and the Utah Division of State History agreed to preserve the historical values of the fort. Given the university's development plans for the property, this goal posed quite a challenge. Architects looking to create compatible new architecture had to consider the fact

that several architectural styles had been used at the fort during its various phases of construction. These range from the simple adobe and log structures to the native red sandstone Gothic Revival structures of the 1870s to the brick Classical Revival institutional architecture of the late 19th and early 20th centuries. The later style was selected for the new buildings to be constructed. In addition, the university has made considerable effort to refurbish and reuse existing historic buildings, while maintaining their historic qualities. However, all of this construction and renovation would require grading and trenching by heavy equipment-and beneath the present ground surface lie the remains of the fort's past, foundations of buildings that have disappeared from sight. Perhaps even more important than the traces of buildings are the refuse pits associated with the buildings and their occupants. The contents of trash pits and privies offer the chance to view a relatively unbiased picture of the lifestyle of the fort occupants. As construction began, the p m a t i o n of the archaeological record of historic Fort Douglas now became an issue of major concern.

To address this concern, the University of Utah Archaeological Center and Utah Museum of Natural History teamed with SWCA, Inc., an environmental consulting firm, to conduct the investigations. The

to supply its needs, as popular history claims? Given the spectrum of economic classes present at the fort, from officers to enlisted men and their laundress wives, and the close-knit nature of the communi-

The contents of trash pits and privies offer the chance to view a relatively unbiased picture of the lifestyle of the jort occupants. archaeology at Fort Douglas presents a variety of challenges and opportunities for SWCA. The fast-paced construction schedule of the Olympic Village project dictates a rapid and focused investigation of just the areas to be affected rather than a more systematic survey of the entire fort. The primary concern is to ensure that the construction will not harm important historic deposits. Hence we are focusing only on proposed building sites and utility trenches and what lies beneath them. Despite those limitations, the project gives us the rare opportunity to test the validity of the historic record and add to our knowledge of the period. Did the mistrust of the Mormon colonists result in the fort relying entirely upon 'gentile' agents

ty, can we document these classes and how they interacted? To investigate these and other research issues we are looking at a variety of information. Researchers are examining bones recovered from the trash pits associated with the various classes (officers, enlisted men, and so forth), hoping to see patterns in the types of meat consumed: Were there preferences for particular cuts or kinds of meat? What role did wild game play in the diets of the various classes? and so forth. We are also looking at retail items such as glass bottles and ceramics to monitor the degree that Salt Lake City merchants were used compared to eastern or California suppliers.

GLIMPSES INTO THE PAST So far, we have found a variety of irnportant archaeological deposits. We have located a privy associated with the 1864 post commander's residence and one relating to the officers' quarters from 1874. We also have trash pits belonging to the early post hospital and surgeon's quarters. In our search for the original quarters of the district commander, we have discovered his formal garden, providing a rare glimpse into the leisure activities of the commander's wife.

SWCA archaeologists, working ahead of construction crews, try to salvage remnants of the fort's past.

Perhaps the most intriguing discovery is the burnt substructure of one of the original Conner tent dugouts, which may have been converted to one of the laundresses' quarters. What remains was originally taken to be a trash-filled pit, but careful excavation revealed a subterranean room 13 by 20 feet in area and excavated about five feet into the ground. It was faced with milled or rough hewn planks and had a plank floor. No hearth or fireplace was present, so it is assumed that a stove was

winter air. Great care had to be taken to retain the moisture in the structure as it was exposed. Within the trash fill of the structure were a Civil War-era bayonet, a cavalry spur, and a great quantity of ceramic items from the quartermaster corps of the late

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While our data are by no means complete, we can already see results that both affirm and dispute the historical record. In the area known as Laundress Row we have indeed identified a strong JT2i(.ir,. r-,-.,.l,--T7.v s:9.gr7.-.iC-Hr presence of females, which is Excavations uncovered evidence of the district demonstrated by numerous commander's formal garden, shown here c . 1 8 9 0 ~ . dress buttons, a thimble, and other items. In addition, we have toys and used for heating. The charred remains of children's tea sets that argue for the presthe walls, floor, and bunk are evidence that ence of the families of enlisted men. It is a fire occurred. interesting to find the presence of decorative porcelain and fine china/porcelain fisf a a in itself presented a preservation table service here along with bones from challenge, as the carbon layers of the wood premium cuts of beef, T-bone and rib tend to separate from the unburned plank steaks. Perhaps these artifacts argue that core as it dries from exposure to the arid

the different classes were not as separate as they were believed to be. Or perhaps they demonstrate another commonly held belief-that this area also was home to prostitutes, and their services also included those of an inn and eatery.

A less pleasant challenge presented itself as we discovered that vandals had been systematically looting a privy and, over a series of weeks, had destroyed valuable information. In this instance, the motive of private gain superceded the public heritage values. The items looted by the vandals may have brought them some quick cash, but the dollar value is far overshadowed by the loss of a significant element of the fort's heritage. As we continue to move dirt amidst the roar of earth-moving equipment, history unfolds before us at this National Historic Landmark site. Fortunately, the positive challenges of historic preservation overshadow the negative aspects of pot and bottle-hunters.

b Rick W m e l is an his~oricarchaeologzst with SWCA, Inc, environmental consultants.

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tel(801)467-4482 fax [801)466=7162 His Avenues home, purchased on a VA loan 20 years ago, represents his commitment to the

"I picked up a drafting pencil and drew my first line on the paper," he recalls, "and said to myself, 'I'm going to be an architect.' " Despite a high school guidance counselor who told Morgan he'd "never make it through college," Lynn Morgan persevered. He graduated from the University of Utah in the early '70s and has since become one of Utah's premier architects, working on extensive national projects for national corporate clients.

But Mr. Morgan is quick to point out that the smaller, preservation-related projects are his real love.

Single-family homes were run-down and neglected. Our home was a rabbit warren of dark little rooms. The kitchen was atrocious. We had buckets in our bedroom to catch rain that leaked through the roof." More than a decade later, the Morgan's home is a delightful and seamless blend of historic and modern style. "In each restoration job that I do," Morgan explains "my goal is to honor both the past and the present. Homes are meant to be lived in. They are not museums. They are spaces to contain and honor life." tT P M

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The two com~leted projects shown are the Keyser/Cullen house and the JC Penney house.

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was in up to my waist in trash when it occurred to me

that the surgical mask I borrowed from my son-in-law didn't guarantee protection from hantavirus. The virus is spread by wild rodents and causes respiratory illness and kidney failure and was sure to be present dong with the old rotten soup cans, cornParts, 'lothe' and Other Post, bones, engine heads, fetid junk that filled the ancient root cellar I was standing in. It also occurred to me that this cellar, attached to the century-old rock cottage I was repairing, wouldn't be missed much if it were paved over.

Sometimes I came up with from this dig that were interand esting. I recognized the Old Shinola shoe polish a getting for church and to make every-day shoes look like Sunday Best and still be on time. I wondered if the copper bucket was restorable with its dents and holes and imagined the migrant Navajo Indians who worked the sugar beet fields in Gunnison carrying water like all the other residents of this house before me had done. There was no evidence that the place ever had indoor plumbing, just a water tap out back sometime after 1909. And what about a sewer? I hoped I wouldn't hit some antique septic tank as I dug. U

P R E S E R V A T I O N

I found a music conductor's baton in the rubble. I recognized it because it was a little like the baton that belonged to my grandmother, Elise W a t b s Baker, My grandmother's baton had been given to me by my Dad, H~~~was handmade by a friend and had her initials on the hande. l-here were no initids on this baton, I remember what was on KUER at the time of the baton find, but 1remember trying it out by conducting a few bars of something through the duct tape repaired radio that accompanied this through E h e dig. baton felt good in my hands as I Klehe Junk Music, It was a keeper.

The baton made me curious. It started to connect me with the rock house house. Who were these people that lived in a ~ o - r o o m in Gunnison, Utah? Did the baton suggest a level of culturethat 1 hadnatexpected? How strange to find it along side rusted car parts and grocery garbage, As it turned out, the facts I discovered allowed me to write a bit as they spoke to me. The best news to me was that I could write a temporary ending to the history, an ending for me to decide as I have the house for awhile. It will then be for the next residents to decide and the ones after that and after that. We will each have our own ending and our own connection to the rock cottage.

1241

The former owner gave me the name of an "old guy" who might have lived in the place. "I think he had a piano there." Maybe he also had a baton. "Some people say there were parties or dances outside the place." This "old guy" is almost gone from memories. The neighbors around the house don't remember him, and he wasn't on the list of owners I eventually made, and the local school district had no record of hun teaching music in Gunnison. But the baton had made a connection for me. I'd found something in the restoration project that took me in and sent me eventually to the Utah State Historic Preservation Office in the Rio Grande Building in Salt Lake, the BLM office with its trove of maps, the cemeteries in Gunnison and Centerfield, the Gunnison City Office and Library, the LDS Church Family History Library, and the Sanpete County Recorder's Office in Manti. At the time I wasn't much interested in naming the budding to some register of historic places. I'd heard that this limited what I could do to the place (I later found out this wasn't true) and the red tape and the research time and dealing with many government agencies and trips to Salt Lake and county zoning and building permits. . . .

And besides, what's to register? The place was more like a heap of oolite rock than a house with some architectural significance. I could see sky and ground from the inside. The inside walls were beyond repair and one of the walls of the back room had been cannibalized for the rock or the rock just disappeared on its own. The lean-to wooden shed in the back was just a footprint and there were only pieces of window frame here and there. There was evidence of two electric lights in the house that would not have been in place before 1912. And then there were the rodents, pigeons, and spiders that were slowly being evicted but weren't leaving without a fight. And everyone who saw the placed asked what I planned to do with it, and I didn't have an answer. Why restore this place? "Becauseit's there," has already been used.

All I wanted was a constructive distraction for a few years. I figured it would take my budgeted time and money about five years to make a heap of fairly good-loolung stone into a small 850 square foot writing cottage. I planned to call it "Library" and hang a sign on the front door. This would make an honest woman of the English Department secretary who could say "he's at the library today," instead of her usual

P R E S E R V A T I O N .

"he's in a meeting; do you want me to wake him? " The records weren't all that difficult to find. The Sanpete County Recorder's office is used to people who don't know what they are doing, and the folks there patiently retrieved old musty books from high shelves in a damp-smelling room that had a heavy safe-like door and then put them back for me.

I discovered that the LDS Church Family History Library deserves its good reputation for record keeping. I found that many of the cemetery records in the state are on computer and a visit to city offices could tell me all I wanted to know about when people finally find their way to their final resting place. At the State Historical Society I found all the obituaries published in the state's newspapers and US Census records. At the BLM Office I found maps and survey notes. This list of places to look must give a false impression that there are lots of places tolook and that it takes a lot of time and a certain level of expertise. The fact is that even I did it and it didn't take much time, and there was something that kept me at it that I can't explain. For some reason I wanted to know the people who lived in what was now my house. I found people at every way station who were honestly interested in my little project and w h g to help as if I were the most important assignment they ran into that day. So in the end I had a list of names and a few facts:

The root cellar beneath the kitchen was filled with garbage and debris prior to restoration.

The James and Caroline M. Metcalf House, b u 5 c. 1883, is a small, one-story stone house with an original stone lean-to on the rear. The early history of the Metcalf House is a bit vague. The first recorded transaction for this property was on December 20, 1881. [I gulped the first time I read the name Metcalf because that is my wife's maiden name - no relation though. I gulped again when I read the first transaction date. I was born on December 20, sixty years after this first transaction. A coincidence can be God's way of remaining anonymous or it can just be a coincidence.] Though the stone house was apparently built during the Metcalfs' ownership, it is unclear whether

they lived there themselves. James and Caroline Metcalf and their children apparently made their home in Gunnison from the 1870s through about 1893. James was also one of the pioneers in the sheep business in the south part of Sanpete Cozmty. [Another gulp. My grandpa, Henry Jackson, was part of the early sheep business in Fountain Green, the north part of Sanpete County.]

I want to know what really went on in my "Library." What did they read? What did they talk about? Where did they sleep? What songs did they sing? What was breakfast and dinner like? What games did the kids play? Who conducted what with the baton? It is for me to change the record of the house by writing what is happening to the

As it turned out, the facts of the matter, despite some holes, were easy to find. People who owned the house lived, married, had children, and died on recorded dates. Transactions concerning the property were duly noted in the Sanpete Country Recorder's office. The place was on maps and the US Census records showed people living in it. But actually getting to know these people is a bit more difficult. The LDS Church records for these Metcalfs end because they were not married in the temple. A look for Metcalfs in the Central Utah phone directory comes up empty. James and Caroline Metcalf, some of the founding pioneer sheep ranchers of Gunnison, built a large house and this small house and left.

the Noyes Building that is being restored at Snow College. I built a wall-hung water closet for the toilet and now it's a thrill when the grand kids pull the toilet chain while seated on the throne from the oldest two-year college west of the Mississippi. . . Mark helped me figure out how to roof the place and Michelle and the kids always seemed to show up at the vight time with lunch . . . The four-legged roll top tub I

The baton made me curious. It started to connect me with the house. Who were these people that lived in a two-room rock house in Gunnison, Utah? house now and recording more than dates and events. Perhaps somebody someday will find some connections in my history:

Jay and Brian helped me run the sewer line and Grandpa Baker watched from the comfort of a director's chair. We argued a bit about how much fall we had in the line and Dad chided us for having fun when we were supposed to be working . . . Jay and Matt helped me liberate an old toilet from

found in the Nickel Ads while waiting for a carburetor to be installed in Brian's truck. It was in a home by the state capitol building . . . Amy likes to take her friends for sleep-overs at the house. Once Pam and I slept over with the grand kids. We sang and played games . . . Jill quilted a wall hanging that looks just like the place . . . Pam hasn't rubbed in my failed wildflower experiment too much . . . And yes, when I'm there I sing a lot. Mainly I sing "watermelon, watermelon" because there aren't any words to the tunes I learned growing up listening to my Dad practice on the baritone and bassoon and perform with the Utah Symphony . . . And my fdumte songs are. . . . And now the little house in Gunnison is on the National Register of Historic Places. There is a plaque on the door frame with some facts that don't seem to matter much unless they somehow connect us to the history. Most of the real facts are written elsewhere in lost memories, but maybe because the home was restored and a sketchy history written, someone in the future wdl know us a little better and sing our songs and beat time with the baton we have passed them.

The simple stone house, depicted here in quilted form, was listed onthe National Register in 1998 as fine local example of vernacular stone architecture.

r&l

Roger G. Baker zs currently Associate Professor of Etzgltsh at Brigham Youtzy Univer.rity and fonner Professor of Etzglish/Educatzon a6 Xnow College. He Lves in Ephraim, Utah, with his wife Pam.

Landscape SCENERY WITH A VIEW ON THE P#ST

by Kathy McKoy

t.!z6-

appy chatter wafts across the orchard on peachperfumed breezes, as children, parents, and grandparents fill their boxes with sweet golden

fruit. Many of the families descended from the Mormon pioneers who settled Fruita in the late 19th century and established these orchards maintain strong ties to the place. They return annually to collect cherries, apricots, apples, pears, and peaches from Fruita's verdant orchards (now in Capitol Reef National Park). They proudly point out their ancestors' signatures inscribed on the redrock cliffs, pose for photographs at the old schoolhouse where grandparents attended class, and hold reunions in picnic areas where homesteads once nestled. To these families, Fmita is not simply a tourist attraction nor a fading relic of the past. Its buildings, fences, ditches, fields, and trees are their living heritage and an ongoing, important part of their lives. Its landscape is part of their identity. Fruita's landscape is also an integral part of Capitol Reef National Park. The tiny village had been continuously occupied by seven to ten families from the 1890s until the late 1950s, when most sold their property to the National Park Service and moved on. Fruita then became home for a small community of park service employees. Its history, quaint buildings and structures, and ties to other local Mormon communities intrigued park staff. They interpreted for visitors the old buildings and established museum and outdoor exhibits about life in turn-ofthe-century Fruita; they collected historic photographs and conducted oral history interviews with former residents. Also, in the early 1990s, the park initiated a study to determine if Fruita qualified for the National Register of Historic Places. The 200-acre site was found to be eligible and on March 25, 1997, was listed on the National Register as the Fruita Rural Historic District. Unlike typical historic districts in cities, which are comprised primarily of just buildings, rural historic districts include a broader range of features: outbuildings, ditches, fences, roads, fields and so forth, along with the landscape's natural terrain and vegetation. Intact "cultural landscapes" convey how humans have both adapted to the natural landscape and used the natural resources. They also reflect cultural values and traditions. Identifying the character-defining features within a landscape and understanding them in relation to each other and to significant historic events and persons allows us to read the landscape as a comprehensive historic document. Mu U

I When visiting Capital Reef National Park, the visitor's first level of awareness is almost always of the larger landscape itself. The park includes a variety of spectacular geologic features, including the Waterpocket Fold, which rises more than 2,000 feet above the surrounding land. Deep, water-carved shear-walled canyons, slickrock wdderness natural arches, bridges, and domes now attract visitors from all over the world. This scenery was less alluring to the early Mormon settlers who sought to establish homesteads and feed their families. Some recorded in their diaries and journals that they viewed the country as harsh and alien. Nevertheless, they created their own landscape-within-a-landscape, a pocket of lush pastures, fields, and orchards along the water courses (the Fremont River and Sulphur Creek) that cut through this rocky wilderness. While the agricultural character most evident today in the Fruita Rural Historic District is rooted in events of the last century, there is ample

archaeological evidence of prehistoric use of the area. Previous occupants include members of the Desert Archaic Culture (8,500 to 2,000 years ago), the Fremont peoples (1,500 to 700 years ago) who cultivated this narrow corridor of land, and, in more recent times, Paiute and Ute Indians who hunted, fished, and gathered plants along the streams. An archaeological survey of the park, currently underway, is revealing a wealth of structures, artifacts, and rock art associated with these -groups. Additional analysis is needed before firm conclusions can be drawn about these early phases of the park's cultural landscape. Such human use of the landscape continued into recorded history, with the arrival of Mormon farming families in the early 1880s. It is this layer of history which is most obvious today in the character that defines the Fruita Rural Historic District. The settlement of Fruita represents an important chapter in the history of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (Mormon or LDS church), which relocated to Utah in 1847 and eventually established over 400 towns. The Wayne County region, which includes Fruita, was among

the last to be settled because of its inaccessibility, limited water, and high altitude. It was poorly suited for farming, so the majority of settlers opted for cattle or sheep ranching instead. The river valley where Fruita itself lies, however, was ideally suited to a system of agriculture based on irrigation. Its lower elevation and more moderate temperatures allowed for a longer growing season and wider variety of crops than could be grown in thc upland communities to the west. Between 1896 and 1904, all of the arable land at the juncture of the Fremont River and Sulphur Creek was claimed and owned by four settlers. Their holdings were soon divided among other Mormon families, who cultivated small orchards, vineyards, and vegetable gardens on the warm, well-watered valley floor. The boulder-strewn hillsides that embraced the valley provided grazing for family horses, cattle, sheep, and other livestock. Although some residents considered their home to be an "Eden," economic success did not come easily to them: it took cooperative effort and backbreaking labor to turn their rocky desert into productive farms. By

1900, their hard-won abundance supported 46 individuals, including 32 children. The success achieved by these settlers was due largely to the productivity of their orchards, watered by flow from the nearby streams. The community, in fact, was initially named "Junction," after the confluence of those streams, but the growing importance of their orchards led villagers to rename the place "Fruita" in 1900. Not only the trees, but virtually all cultivation in Fruita required irrigation. Field ditches channeled water from both the Fremont River and Sulphur Creek to orchards, gardens, and fields. Irrigation was labor intensive, requiring cooperation among families to divert water, clean or redig ditches in the spring, and clear debris from the channels after frequent summer floods. Serious floods have also been a significant part of the town's history. Cora Smith, who was born in 1908 and lived in Fruita for over 50 years, recalled how floods affected people's farms during the early twentieth century: -

A lot of them, it just washed them away . . . . Floods would look like dirt rolling, it was so full of clay. Wouldra'tlook like water. . . . What you'd get with floods is they'd wash a dam out. You always have to have a dam to turn the water into the ditches to take it higher. These would have to be replaced after floods.

Rebuilding the dams was a cooperative effort, just like everythmg else. Cooperation was a hallmark of Mormon culture. The large a amount of land cultivated in F ~ t during the historic period attests to the effectiveness of their cooperative ideal and the importance of water in the arid landscape.

World War I coincided with a period of orchard expansion in Fruita. The first attempts at large-scale commercial production of fruit were made possible by improvements in automotive transportation. Along with commercial production began a trend away from the small, "hodge-podge," mixed-variety orchards planted by early homesteaders. Instead, single-variety orchards were planted in a straight-line, block pattern for easier maintenance and more efficient harvesting. Residents also planted walnut, pecan, and almond trees. Several properties changed ownership during the World War I era, resulting in the concentration of orchards in the hands of a few individuals. Fruita reached its peak of development about this time. The population totaled 108, a figure that remained stable during the 1920s. A post-war agricultural depression in Utah, however, resulted in many farmers attempting to sell their lands, and Fruita was no exception. In 1922 and 1923 the Utah Gazetteer advertised acreage being offered for sale by eleven landowners in Fruita. Miles from the nearest paved road and without electricity and telephones until after World War 11, Fruita was a close-knit isolated Mormon community.

which included Fruita within its boundaries. Soon after, a stub camp of the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) was established just west of Fruita to help develop the new monument for tourism. Between 1938 and 1942, the CCC built a handsome, sandstone ranger station (now used as the superintendent's office), and made a number of road improvements in the area.

The depression of the 1920s also coincided with the birth of auto touring as a national pastime. Because tourism offered the best hope of reviving depressed local economies, civic organizations and Utah politicians in 1921 decided to boost tourism by establishing a state or national park in Wayne County. Their focused effort was eventually rewarded on August 2, 1937, when President Franklin D. Roosevelt established Capitol Reef National Monument,

Tourism ~romotionstarted in the 1920's. and ~ i c k e dUD after the a k a was designated a national monument in 1937.

U T A H

P R E S E R V A T I O N

The creation of the monument had little immediate impact on the farming activities of Fruita's residents, as most of the land was retained in private ownership for two more decades. After World War I1 many residents continued to farm, while takingadvantage whenever possible of opportunities to benefit economically from increased tourism and uranium mining that took place in the monument. Both activities created a demand for meals, lodging, and automotive services, to which locals and entrepreneurs responded by renting cabins, erecting a lodge and motel, gas stations, and cafes. During this period, a handful of "outsiders" bought property and built homes in Fruita, primarily attracted by the beautiful scenery and remote rural setting. Several earlier homes were heavily modified and new ones were erected. Between 1945 and 1955, the trend toward private development of facilities to serve tourists, as well as the building activities of new residents, added the first modern layer to the cultural landscape.

Other significant changes to Fruita's landscape occurred in conjunction with the rerouting of Utah State Highway 24 through the Fremont River gorge east of Fruita and with the National Park Service's implementation of its Mission 66 program at Capitol Reef National Monument in the early 1960s. Mission 66 was a ten-year, nationwide effort to improve park facilities for the rapidly increasing number of automobile tourists. The park acquired most of the private lands in Fruita at this time and removed a number of existing structures. Some of these were newer tourist-related structures, which were incompatible with the valley's rural character, while others were older structures which, unfortunately, were not considered to be of historic or architectural significance at the time. Under National Park Service ownership, the orchards continued to be maintained and the fruit made available for sale to the public. While the furrow method of irrigation was continued, portions of the open-ditch system were converted to underground pipe in the 1970s. About one-half of the historic ditches are still in use. Land use activities still remain

focused on agriculture with park service administrative facilities, residences, and visitor services located in several concentrated areas of the district. Of the approximately 112 acres under cultivation in Fruita in 1940, about 66 acres of land remain in agricultural use today. Approximately 2,500 fruit trees located in seventeen primary orchards

which continue to be planted in alfalfa and pasture grasses as they were historically. The documentation compiled during the study of Fruita demonstrates that the agricultural activities of Fruita's residents are still clearly evident in the landscape today Typically, each family had a main residence with one o r more agricultural outbuildings (such as an animal shelters, a

Although some residents considered their home to be an "Eden,"economic success did not come easily to them. now yield apricots, peaches, nectarines, pears, plums, cherries, and several varieties of apples. For nearly twenty-five years, the orchards have been managed as a historic resource. A small, mixed-variety orchard was planted in the 1980s on part of Nels Johnson's homestead (site of the Capitol Reef Lodge) to enhance the visitor's understanding of how agricultural practices in Fruita have changed over time. Historical documentation indicated that this site was the location of one of the earliest orchards in Fruita. In addition to the historic orchards, there are three fields

The "mail tree" was a traditional center of the community.

fruit cellar, or a smokehouse), as well as an orchard, crop land, pasture land, vegetable garden, irrigation ditches, fencing, and corrals. Two farm complexes retain these major components and remain sufficiently intact to enhance our appreciation and understanding of how early Fruita residents lived. In addition, Fruita's fields, pastures, and orchards continue to strongly define the character of the historic district. Besides the two farmsteads, the old Fruita schoolhouse, an implement shed, fruit cellar, two lime lulns, and the CCCbuilt ranger station are also still preserved. A two-mile portion of the narrow, winding Scenic Drive that passes through Fruita also contributes to the rural character of the district. A number of other landscape features remain, including extensive lengths of dry-laid volcanic rock walls (built at the turn-of-the-century to contain livestock), and hand-finished sandstone walls (associated with the Holt house and barn, built c.1895). Archaeological sites from the historic period also contribute to our understanding of the cultural landscape, as in the case of a distillery site along the Fremont River, where liquor was produced clandestinely by a few individuals during Prohibition. In addition to cultivated lands, a number of introduced ornamental plants mark the sites of early homes and thus also have interpretive potential. A century-old cottonwood affectionately known as the "mail tree" is located at a bend in the Scenic Drive. It once had mailboxes affixed to it and was the site of mail delivery and pickup for as long as pastresidents could remember.

Recognition of landscapes as significant cultural resources has fully emerged only in the last decade. We are just now beginning to understand and appreciate the complexity of landscapes and to develop techniques for documenting them. One of the keys is to have a multidisciplinary team of cultural resource experts. The exact makeup of the team may vary depending on the particular characteristics of a given landscape. In the case of Fruita, a landscape architect, historian, and historical architect conducted the fieldwork and data analysis. In addition, the park archaeologist contributed knowledge of the valley's prehistoric use and its historic archaeology. The park's long-time orchard manager, the late Kent Jackson, provided valuable records and information about changes to the orchards and the operation of the irrigation system. Oral history interviews with former residents or their descendants and ethnographic work added yet another dimension to the documentation of the Fruita landscape.

In 1993, after completion of the cultural landscape study, the park contracted a professional anthropologist to examine the historical and cultural ties that may exist between contemporary people and Fruita. He found that those with family roots here still cherish "their" Fruita, visit regularly, and are deeply interested in its management. They nourish similar interest among their children by holding family celebrations in Fruita, pointing out places of family significance, and recounting stories set here. This ethnographic work adds an additional dimension to our deeper understanding of Fruita-one that shows the place to be more than just an outdoor museum, to be still living and vibrant. In general, professionals of different disciplines tend to view the landscape through their own "lens" of expertise. This can often create a bias toward the types of resources with which they are most familiar. For example, an earlier assessment of the Fruita landscape by an architectural historian concluded the cultural landscape lacked integrity U

P R E S E R V

because there were not enough remaining buildings from the historic period. Because this person's primary focus was on the built environment, his study gave less weight to other landscape characteristics, such as adaptation to the natural environment, land use patterns, archaeological resources, cluster arrangements, and cultural traditions. Fortunately, as historians, architects, anthropologists, and landscape architects are given the opportunity to work together on documenting and evaluating cultural landscapes, their individual perspectives often are permanently broadened. Involving an interdisciplinary team in the evaluation process from start to finish helps insure that the full range of cultural resources and their associated values will be identified during the course of any cultural landscape study.

character-defining features presents a considerable challenge to the National Park Service, especially since visitor services are concentrated in the Fruita area, though the park itself is much, much larger. As the need for additional camping spaces grows, for example, should an adjoining field or orchard be sacrificed to meet demand, or should some other, more arid area outside the district be explored for campground development? (Of course, campers are naturally attracted to the same lush types of environments that Native Americans and early settlers were drawn to.) If conserving natural resources means abandoning the old flood-irrigation system and switching to a more modern sprinkler system, how does this impact the historic character of the district? These are just a few of the of difficult questions that park managers will have to address as a complex set of resource issues are weighed and as the public's need for services continues to grow in the years ahead. The Fruita Rural Historic District has a fascinating story to tell, one which cannot be adequately conveyed by its buildings alone. The unique history and character

HE FORMER HIDEAWAY FOR H CASSIDY and the

Wild Bunch is now a haven for explorers of green mountain peaks nd red rock deserts. Come and discover what Butch found so attractive about tah's least crowded nd most surprising National Park.

CAPITOL REEF COUNTRY P.O. Box7, TEASDALE, UTAH84773 http:Ilwww.capitolreef.org e-mail: info@capitolreef.org

of the area are wrapped up in the larger landscape itself and expressed through the full range of its features. It is this landscape which imparts a strong sense of time and place to today's visitor. The task of the park is to now share this new insight into Fruita's rural landscape with park visitors and to preserve it for future generations.

Kathy McKoy i,a National Park .Service hi.~torian, lnfert7zountain Field Regzon, Denvrr Support Office, b c a ~ e din Denver, (,'olorado.

700 NOR1.. LO0 W SLC, UTaY 84103

that there should be room for examples of good architecture from all eras. "Our present is also part of our history as a people, and we must find a way to preserve great architecture in whatever time frame it happens to be found." an we keep the very best architecture of a period and allow the rest to be

answer," he says, "should be yes." An architect for more than two decades, Cooper draws from his years of experience to comment on the state of preservation in Utah. "I don't think we're doing enough," he states. "I don't think we're showing enough respect, either for the architectural periods that came before, or for the one we live in now." Cooper believes that changes brought about by growth and renewal are an important part of the equation that keeps historic preservation relevant. "There is a healthy and dynamic cycle that needs to be respected. This cycle keeps us from becoming so inflexible that we enhance the past in idealistic and unrealistic ways. Sometimes I think we're trying to freeze-frame our historic districts," he says, "and thats a big mistake." Cooper believes

Park C I ~Gatev~aj S Center

Founded in 1976, the nation's bicentennial year, Cooper/Roberts Architects was the first firm in the Intermountain West established to specialize in historic building architecture. Although still the firm's forte, this depth of background in restoration and renovation has given Cooper/Roberts a broader architectural vocabulary from which to draw in its new building designs. Diverse in its approach, CooperlRoberts believes in contextual architecture and has never designed in just one style. This philosophy helped the firm win a recent competition, the design of two major intermodal transportation terminals in Park City. The firm has completed 50 previous projects in Park City, most of them in the town's Main Street Historic District. Park City's Gateway Center is among the firm's recent examples of successful new design in an historic context. From its recent restoration of the Logan Tabernacle to its expansion and re-imaging of the Bryce Canyon Visitors Center, the firm's influence spans the state. The Farmington Bay Bird Refuge Visitor Center, Utah Botanical Center, and Central City Senior Citizen's Center are other current firm projects. Cooper compares the firm's two new transportation center projects in Park City with Salt Lake City's two historic railroad depots: "When the massive Union Pacific and Denver & Rio Grande depots were built in 1910, they introduced monumental new building types and urban architectural styles that changed the face of the city. Both buildings are now listed on the National Register of Historic Places and are excellent candidates for restoration and adaptive re-use. Likewise, the transit centers in Park City will be new building types. Because they will be built within or near historic districts, their design will be contemporary and compatible. If we design the Park City buildings to be highquality products of their own time today, they may become the historic buildings of tomorrow."

PRESERVATION IN THE FACE OF PROSPERITY by David Hampshire or about a decade, Hal Compton was a fixture on Park City's Main Street. Several times a week, Compton would assume the persona and dress of former city justice James Don to guide visitors on a walking tour of the street. Compton was part historian, part actor, engaging his audience with a banter of information and anecdotes gleaned from his work as researcher for the Park City Museum.

In the late 1950s, Park City seemed destined for the same fate as many other western mining boom towns-extinction. Historians George A. Thompson and Fraser Buck said that by 1959 the rest of Summit County had apparently written off the community that had paid more taxes than the rest of the county combined. "Perhaps the county was ashamed of the boarded-up buildings that lined Main

Then, in the fall of 1998, Compton abruptly called it quits. Historic Park City had lost its charm, he told the Park Record, the city's twice-weekly newspaper, and the city's plans for the area would further contribute to the demise of the area. "I tell people they're going to walk through a historic district . . . then I have to start apologizing," Compton said. "The city is not protecting and preserving." But city officials countered that Compton's criticisms were off base, and they advised local residents not to expect Park City's historic district to remain frozen in time. "There has never been a conscious decision we were going to turn Main Street into a living museum," Patrick Putt, Park City planning and zoning administrator, told the Park Record. If Putt was surprised at Compton's comments, he shouldn't have been. Compton was simply rekindling a debate that has smoldered in Park City for at least 25 years. U

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Lady Bird Johnson, flanked by Salt Lake Tribune publisher John W. Gallivan and Sen. Frank Moss, toured Park City's Main Street in 1964 just as resort development was starting.

Street and the rows of empty houses whose broken windows, like empty eye sockets in a bleached skull, stared at its deserted streets," Thompson and Buck wrote in their classic local history, Treasure Mountain Home. "Little wonder that Salt Lake City newspapers were calling Park City a ghost town! "

while a few think it's an Alpine village. The town must adjust; if it doesn't, the economic advantage of having a unique history will become lost and it'll become just another ski resort."

The turning point came in December 1963 with the opening of Treasure Mountains, Park City's first major ski resort. O n e by one the boarded-up buildings were revived as restaurants, bars and souvenir shops. Modest miners' cabins became convenient crash pads for ski bums.

A significant piece of that history threatened by ski-industry development was the old (1904) Miners Hospital building. It was located at the north end of the Park City Resort parking lot and had been turned into a flophouse for skiers. In 1974, local artist Marianne Cone led a campaign to prevent the building from being demolished and replaced with a condominium complex.

In 1967, the town adopted a master plan that, among other things, discouraged architectural styles that were not compatible with the old mining-camp character. However, by 1973 there were already complaints that Park City was ignoring those guidelines. "Many tourists don't get the idea it's an old mining village at all," Stanford E. Demars, assistant professor of history at Utah State University, told the Salt Lake Tribune. "They're confused. Some think it's an old Mormon town.

The threat of demolition was still hanging over the building four years later when it was nominated to the National Register of Historic Places. That nomination came out of a larger effort by the Utah State Historical Society to inventory Park City's remaining historic mining-era buildings. "We wanted to identify what was left of Park City's mining heritage," said Phil Notarianni, then Historical Society preservation historian. "I literally took a photograph of every building in Park City,

old and new. That way you could understand some of the intrusions. The homeowners almost always thought I was the tax assessor and that I was trying to reassess their property. They would come out kind of angry." Notarianni said one purpose of the survey was to help the current residents of Park City understand their surroundings. In many cases, he argued, the interior of the buildings was as revealing as the exterior. "Part of what we tried to do was create an awareness in people. The buildings tell you something about your surroundings, and they tell you something about yourself, too."

In 1977, the city gave a qualhed endorsement of the survey, although council members sought assurances that the survey would not interfere with the proposed new route of State Road 224 into Deer Valley. Standing in the way of the highway were two modest miner's cabins, one dating from 1891. The council paid little attention to Notarianni's plea that the buildings be moved rather than demolished. "Maybe they would make good firewood," one councilwoman suggested. Before the cabins came down the city did give Notarianni time to sketch the buildings and explore for artifacts. In the walls of one budding he found old newspapers that had been recycled as insulation. "Attesting to Park City's cosmopolitan past, there were fragments of the Sun Francisco Examiner, New York Times, Denver Post and Salt Lake Tribune, all from the year 1904," the Park Record reported.

In the spring of 1978, the Main Street commercial district was nominated to the National Register of Historic Places, along with several individual buildings outside the district boundaries. These included the Miners Hospital and the Silver King Coalition Building, which once served as the lower terminus of the Silver King aerial tram system, collecting ore from the mine and loading it into waiting train cars. "Park City's commercial historic district represents the best remaining metal mining town business district in the state of Utah, exhibiting unique historical and architectural qualities," Notarianni said in a document supporting the nomination.

Designation of these buildings to the National Register made them available for certain tax credits if the owners restored them. But at that time the economic future of Main Street was still in doubt. A story in the Park Record in August 1978 reported that banks were reluctant to make loans, particularly for new construction. "Right now I can't see anybody being able to economically justify building on Main Street," one landowner said. The owner of the Miners Hospital, however, felt the time was right to pursue his plans to develop the property. Despite the recognition of National Register designation and the promise of tax incentives for restoration, he wanted the building out of the way. However, in a concession to local preservationists, he offered to move the building to another site and donate it to the city. And in September 1979, the 400-ton brick building was lifted from its foundations and trundled to a new home east of Park Avenue, at the entrance to City Park. "When the [Silver King] Coalition Building burned [in July 19811, the Miners Hospital became the symbol of Park City," Notarianni said. Perhaps the most important result of National Register designation was that it created momentum for the city to establish its own framework for preservation. That momentum got a boost in November 1979 when Park City voters elected a new city council. Among those sworn in the following January were Mayor Jack Green and councilwomen Tina Lewis and Helen

Alvarez, who made preservation a priority of the new administration. In the early 1980s, the council created a historic district, adopted guidelines governing both new construction and existing buildings, and appointed a historic district commission. The commission established a matching-grant program to encourage the restoration of historic buildings. An early test of the community's support for preservation came in the spring of 1981 when citizens were asked to vote on a bond issue for municipal improvements. The ballot included four separate issues. Only one passed-a proposal to spend $750,000 to turn the old Miners Hospital building into the new city library. And that vote was far from unanimous. "It was extremely difficult," Tina Lewis recalled in a recent interview. "People didn't want

less sentimental about the town's older structures. "To me it was the number one priority," Lewis said, "to save this almost perfectly intact Main Street and the homes in the historic district of Park City, and that people would come to understand the importance of it. But it was a hard sell. It's hard to explain that to people now. People say, 'Oh, you're kidding! Wouldn't there have been this great ground swell of support? Everyone would have known this was the thing to do."' As the population changed and merchants began to grasp the value of Park City's mining heritage in attracting visitors, support for preservation grew. At the same time, banks became more willing to lend money for new construction. Buildings began sprouting on Main Street lots that had been vacant for years. One of the most conspicuous and controversial was the Main Street Marketplace mall.

As the population changed and merchants began to grasp the value of Park City's mining heritage in attracting visitors, support for preservation grew. to see tax money used on the preservation of that building. People said it should have been bulldozed and that we could have put up a nice metal building for hardly any money at all." At that time, the old mining families still had a significant voice in Park City elections. And those voters tended to be

As it wound its way through the city's approval process in 1982, the mall became a lightning rod for conflicting opinions on the role that "in-fill" new construction should play in the historic district. "I believe that the best architecture that you put next to historic buildings is good new architecture," Lewis said. "I have always been against replicative architecture because I think it's an insult to the real architecture on the street." Reflecting that philosophy, the city's historic district commission rejected the mall architect's first "gingerbread" design in the spring of 1982. It was more than just a question of taste, according to one commissioner. She said that replicative architecture could jeopardize Main Street's standing on the National Register. -

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Ultimately, the city approved a contemporary design incorporating generous amounts of glass and dark red brick with timber accents. However, at the last minute the mall developers asked that the exterior be changed to a tan-colored

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brick. The historic district commission reluctantly agreed. "I have reservations about the brick, but the design functions well," Commissioner Nina Macheel told the Park Record. As the mall approached completion in the fall of 1984, public debate intensified. One opponent expressed displeasure by asking the question, "Is this historical?" with spray paint on the side of the new building. The design of the building was one issue; the mass was another. To make the mall more friendly to pedestrians, the developers had rejected a proposal that called for the building to mimic the traditional streetscape by stepping down the street. Architects tried to conceal the building's boxy outline by brealung up the Main Street facade into segments. However, homes overlooking the rear of the building from the Park Avenue side were left with a clear view of the box, interrupted only by the heating and cooling system. As real-estate values continue to soar in Park City's historic district, they bring new pressures to replace modest miningtown buildings with boxy mega-structures designed to make the maximum use of

The 1985 demolition of Art's Hardware was hard-felt by many long-time residents.

every square foot of property. The seeds of that trend were planted 35 years ago with the 56-unit Treasure Mountain Inn, which broke ground in the summer of 1964, only a few months after the opening of Treasure Mountain (now Park City Mountain Resort). The trend is expected to continue as Park City scurries to prepare for the 2002 Olympic Winter Games. Historically, the widths of most Main Street buildings were defined by the size of the lots-typically only 25 feet wide by 75 feet deep. The narrow storefronts, following the steep terrain, stepped down the street like an uneven set of stairs. A century ago, Park City builders often used false fronts to make their modest structures look more imposing than they really were. Today, architects struggle to break up the facades of massive new structures to make them appear less imposing than they really are. Among the most recent examples of this dilemma is the Marriott Summit Watch project, which looms at the bottom of Main Street, dominating an area once anchored by the Union Pacific Depot and the Utah Coal and Lumber building. Architects who worked on the project in

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the early 1990s had to deal with a difficult set of parameters. O n one hand they had to answer to the developers, who not only wanted a good return on their investment but also insisted that the timeshare hotel rooms conform to the standard layout established by their other resort properties. O n the other hand they had to answer to a set of historic district guidelines that called for the buildings to repeat some of the elements of the town's historic structures without duplicating them. Did they succeed? The new buildings did contain enough "historic" elements to satisfy proponents of traditional architecture on Main Street, though they drew criticism from those who favored more contemporary designs. "[This] was an opportunity to do the perfect example of contemporary architecture complementing-respecting-Main Street, but of its time," noted Tina Lewis, "and, in my opinion, it was not done." Some local residents also scoffed at the attempt to conceal the mass of the large buildings behind superimposed facades. Strictly from a financial standpoint, the city's efforts to revive Main Street have been "hugely successful," according to Alison Child, a member of the city planning staff in the 1980s. "The street is vibrant. The businesses are still there. The historic district is the heart and soul of the whole town . . . . I think what has saddened me is that what's inside the buildings doesn't have a local flair to it. It's merchandise that you can find anywhere." When Notarianni conducted his survey in 1977-78, Main Street's businesses included two newspaper offices, a grocery store, city hall, a hardware store, a variety store, a recreation center and a post office. Today, all but the post office have closed up or fled to lower-rent districts. Main Street is now dominated by businesses that cater to visitors-art galleries, restaurants, bars and specialty shops. To many local residents, the most p d loss was that of Main Furniture and Hardware, better known as Art's Hardware. Owner Art Durante was known for the playful invective with which he greeted every customer and the chaotic jumble of merchandise that only he could decipher. But in 1983 Art sold the property and

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a,' an authentic old-west mining Lwn in explicit design guidelines, and a district commission to regulate or new construction been in dace for

ACCESS TO:

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AN OLD AUTO GARAGE SHIFTS CAREERS usiness was changing: our consulting firm in the natural products industry was experiencing tremendous growth. During the past few years we had leased space on a traditional "by-the-square-foot" basis. Now it was time for a change. But what started out as merely a search for a larger place transformed us into learning more about the value of historic buildings, and it has actually made our business more profitable. In January 1997, we began our quest for a new space by driving around Salt Lake City. As we drove through an eclectic part of Sugar House, we saw an intriguing old automotive garage that was somewhat modest in size but bold in stature. This building made us stop, get out of our car, and look a little closer. As we stood there making our acquaintance with this wonderful but weathered old structure, we knew she had stories to tell. At first we thought her exterior appeared to be somewhat boxy and utilitarian. But upon closer inspection we realized she had character and charm. Large symmetrical windows, eyes to the outside world, afforded her a watchful view of the changing neighborhood around her. A large roll-up garage door beckoned us to come inside. We ventured in and stood in the belly of this neglected old beauty. Her strong, black bowstring trusses arched overhead with dignity. Oversized terra cotta-colored bricks revealed errant scars and showed where former piercings had held ornaments of the

past. O n the surface of the pocked concrete floor were stains and tattoos etched by people who had used her over the years. Later, we found out that her birth date was in 1947 and that she had originally housed the Mountain States Telephone & Telegraph Company. Then Verl Stark had his automotive garage here from 1956 until he retired in the early 1990s. Verl told us that back in the old days friends would come from around the neighborhood for the 10 a.m. "cracker-barrel" break to exchange stories and connect with each other. The b d h g then changed hands a few more times, each owner performing minor surg 3s he passed through.

. -. . - .

this old beauty. A host of workers and artists turned blueprints into physical forms, and our office was completed within several months. We created a conference room table out of old automobile parts, purchased the best lighting and sound systems we could find, scoured the town for "gently used" furniture, and had our friend Pete Johnson, our "metallurgic magician," create a few new pieces of artistic adornments for her interior. The new, centrally located kitchen turned out to be the heart and soul of this building, and it pulses with subtle energy and excitement as each day begins.

Our business is sometimes perceived as "unconventional" because many people don't understand "botanical sourcing, galenical development, phytomedicines, and mergers and acquisitions." We felt this "unconventional building" would make a great business partner and help people better understand who we are. But this partner required that we listen. We had to listen to the lifeforce within her and respect the wisdom she had acquired through aging. so we threw a blanket on the floor of the empty cavern, sat dam, and began to listen. She wallred to be

what she was. She needed simple, but classic adornment; routine remodeling just wouldn't do. When we learned that sizeable tax credits are available for historic buildings> we decided to let this building reach her potential. The first thing we did was hire MJSA architects, together with a general contractor, to hear our dream of creating a space that would be Our "home," an international art gallery, a place for interesting and productive work, and an oasis for our friends and clients. We wcre also very dedicated to preserving the original features of

Even though our clients come from Japan, India, Europe, and around the globe, whenever they visit the pattern is usually the same. Clients scramble out of their taxi, look at the building, and pause. Immediately they sense that something will be different. They scratch their heads as they look at the old Stark Automotive sign that still hangs in the courtyard. They furtively glance at sculptural metal patio furniture that was created for outdoor meetings. As they walk through the door, they are greeted by the sound of tranquil water flowing from a fountain made out of old musical instruments, an African weaving that dances on the wall, and the smell of orchids and exotic flowers that permeates the lobby. They loosen their ties or scarves as they listen to the music floating throughout the building. he^ take off their jackets.

he^ ditch their briefcases in

the comer. The exploration of the building begins as nre tell stories of Dogon doors from Mali, intricately carved figures, and a simple \x7eaving of a lion created by a child in Uoli\iia. Guests then settle into comfortable chairs that surround a sandstone high-rise table. The smell of popcorn rises from hand-throam ceramic bowls as tea is ceremo~liously served. "Business" will now begin. What nre experience is that clients are more open to "out-of-the-box" thinking, and defenses are removed when they come

to meet with us here. As discussions unfold, clients relax and sometimes slip off their shoes as the environment gives birth to creative new ideas. Everyone longs to "be home," but new office buildings-by their very design and material-are not home. Bright fluorescent lights, prefabricated cubicles, and lifeless spaces somehour stifle the process of forging relationships and negotiating contracts. But this building immediately conveys a sense of comfort, stability, and professionalism. It says that we listen. It

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says that we care about detail. It says that we value long-term relationships. The unique environment our "building partner" creates has definitely translated into increased reveliues. But. more important, we are happier with how nre conduct business, and nre truly enjoy each day this building shares wit11 us.

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THE POWER-OF PARTNERSHIPS by Lisa Thompson tockton and Malone. Watson and Crick. Gandhi and Nehru. The Wonder Twins Great partnerships succeed by generating a critical mass of talents and resources that exceeds the reach of any single individual involved. Sometimes the power of a partnership can be the key to overcoming an historic preservation challenge.

The rehabilitation of Salt Lake City's historic Memorial House offers an excellent model for a successful public-private preservation partnership. In 1994 Salt Lake City Corporation and Utah Heritage Foundation (UHF) joined forces to transform the vacant, deteriorating Memorial House into a center of community social life. Neither the city nor UHF had the resources to renovate the building alone. Both have continued to benefit in their ongoing partnership to operate Memorial House. And, through this project, both have helped achieve a larger, mutual goal-revitalizing historic Memory Grove Park. U

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FROM BARN TO BALLROOM

Memorial House is one of the oldest buildings remaining in the City Creek Canyon neighborhood, which is just a few blocks northeast of the city center. The building began its life circa 1890 as a stable and equipment storage shed for the P. J. Moran Asphalt Company. Contractor Patrick J. Moran, well-known for paving many of Salt Lake City's streets, operated both a large asphalt plant and a gravel pit in the mouth of City Creek Canyon. In 1902, Salt Lake City acquired the land in lower City Creek Canyon and set it aside as a park. The city waterworks department took over the P.J. Moran barn and used it as a barn, tool shed, and blacksmith shop, but the city never really developed its new park. After World War I, a patriotic women's organization called the Service Star Legion successfully petitioned the city to dedicate the park in City Creek as a "Memory Grove" then led the effort to transform the unkempt park into a beautiful veterans memorial.

In 1926, the Service Star women, with more plans for civic improvement in mind, leased the old P.J. Moran barn from Salt Lake City. They hired prominent Salt Lake architects Hyrum Pope and Harold Burton to design a new facade for the building. Elements of the new design, such as the broken scroll pediment above

DARK DAYS FOR MEMORY GROVE The partnership between Salt Lake City and the Service Star Legion to maintain and operate Memorial House was long and successful. By the 1970s, however,

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the door and the pilasters on either side of it, give the building a Georgian Revival flair. As part of the remodeling, the brick building was covered with stucco, six rounded dormers were added to the roof, and the windows on the east wall turned into French doors. Under the management of the Service Star Legion, Memorial House became a center of Salt Lake City social life. The building's elegant grand hall and beautiful park setting made it a popular venue for weddings, receptions, sorority/fraternity functions, and luncheons. It seems almost everyone who lived in Salt Lake City from

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the members of the Service Star Legion were aging, and the organization was in decline. Because the legion could no longer provide watchful stewardship, both Memorial House and Memory Grove Park began to deteriorate. By the early 1980s, the problems with the building and park had become severe. The Service Star Legion could not maintain Memorial House, and Salt Lake City was forced to close it. The park had a reputation for being unsafe and a magnet for crime. Canyon Road resident John Jansen recalls, "There was a traffic jam in the park every Saturday night, and

the park was covered with trash and beer bottles every Sunday morning. Speeding on Canyon Road was a major problem. The neighborhood stopped using the park. Nobody wanted to be there."

the 1930s to the 1960s has a story about an event they attended at Memorial House.

It seems almost evervone who lived in Salt Lake Citv from the 1930s to the 1960s has a story about an event they attended at Memorial House.

Prospects for Memory Grove Park started to improve in the late 1980s. After repairing the damage to the park caused by the City Creek flood of 1983, the city focused on improving the appearance of the park and making it, once again, a place all city residents could enjoy. Under the leadership of Salt Lake City Parks and Public Facilities director Rick Graham, neighborhood residents and city staff formed the Memory Grove Oversight Committee (MGOC) to develop a comprehensive plan for upgrading the park in 1990. The M G O C realized that Memorial House would play a critical role in revitalizing the park. Rick Graham explains, "We knew that the activities in the park had to change and that finding the right use for Memorial House would be integral to bringing in new activities." The city funded the renovation of the exterior of Memorial House. But given its finite resources, the city could not fund the interior renovation or operate the building alone. The city needed a partner.

SEARCHING FOR CINDERELLA

The main hall serves as a premier reception and social center, just as it did in 1939 (lower right).

Finding a partner to meet the needs of the building, the park, the city, and the neighborhood proved difficult. The city issued a request for proposals for potential Memorial House tenants in 1991 and 1992 but could not close a deal with any of the applicants. Part of the difficulty stemmed from the condition of the building. After standing vacant and receiving little maintenance for most of a decade, the interior of Memorial House was in An investment of poor condition. approximately $250,000 was needed to make the building usable. Most private organizations willing to commit this kind of funding required a long-term lease on the building to recover their investment. As a matter of policy, however, the city does not enter into long-term leases.

The city and the City Creek neighbors also wanted to ensure a sensitive use of Memorial House. Being a public entity, the city wanted a tenant who would allow public access to the building. The neighbors were concerned about traffic patterns; after their work in convincing the city to close the park to traffic, they did not want a Memorial House tenant that would generate large volumes of traffic throughout the day. Many neighbors also wanted to see a non-profit organization in the building. Two years after the city's search for a partner began, Memorial House remained boarded, vacant, and slowly deteriorating.

THE PERFECT MATCH Just when the search for a Memorial House tenant seemed to reach an impasse, a new candidate stepped forward. In 1993, Utah Heritage Foundation hosted its annual historic homes tour in the City Creek neighborhood. UHF received permission to open Memorial House and include it in the tour. It quickly became apparent to UHF's executive director, Michael Leventhal, and the board of trustees that by renovating Memorial House UHF could solve the city's tenant

problem and advance its historic preservation mission. "Utah Heritage Foundation believed we could serve as a catalyst for historic preservation and a model for historic property stewardship by locating our offices in an historic building in a neighborhood which needed stabilizationor revitalization,"notes current UHF executive director Lisbeth Henning. Since the 1970s, UHF's offices had been in the historic Quayle House on west Capitol Hill. UHF's presence in the Quayle House, combined with improvements it had generated in the area through its Revolving Loan Fund Program, had

literally worked at a desk in a closet. The second floor of Memorial House had the potential to be a wonderful office space. In addition, by operating the main floor of Memorial House as a reception centerlike the Service Star Legion had-UHF could generate a source of revenue to support its preservation programs. The City Creek neighbors strongly supported UHF moving to Memorial House. Jane Erickson, a member of the MGOC and UHF board of trustees, explains, "The neighbors wanted a non-profit in Memorial House, and everyone agreed Utah Heritage Foundation would bring a

Memory Grove is now known as a j rather than an incubatorfor mme. helped transform west Capitol Hill from a "slum" into one of Salt Lake City's most desirable neighborhoods. Now UHF saw a chance to be of service to Memory Grove and the City Creek Historic District by renovating Memorial House. The project also had a practical appeal for UHF. Its offices in the Quayle House had become cramped; one staff member

d of the city

positive presence to the park." The reception center concept appealed to the neighbors because of its fixed traffic patterns. "We liked this restrained use. With a reception center, people would come to an event at a particular time and then leave by a certain hour," notes neighbor and MGOC member John Jansen. UHF was also able to meet the city's needs. UHF committed to raising private funds to rehabilitate the interior of Memorial House in return for a multi-year, no-cost lease on the building. Because it is a non-profit, UHF was able to raise the necessary funds from a variety of foundations, corporations, and individuals not accessible to a private business or government agency. Moreover, because its mission is preservation, not profit, UHF could accept a shorter term lease than the private entities had required for the building. UHF's preservation expertise gave the city confidence that it would renovate and maintain the building in an historically sensitive manner. In addition, Rick Graham says, "The Foundation was wilting to experiment with a variety of public functions and programs to determine what worked best for the building, park, and neighborhood."

The city transformed the one-time gravel p ~ lnro r a vemanr park, anchored by Memorial House (c.1930~photo).

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With their complementary goals and resources, the city and UHF successfully negotiated a lease for Memorial House in

March 1994. U H F began an extensive interior renovation while the city put some final touches on the exterior renovation. In July, U H F moved into its new (partially finished) offices. The Memorial House reception center began operation in December.

FIVE YEARS LATER

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After almost five years, all the parties involved agree the partnership between Salt Lake City and U H F has been an unmitigated success. "It's been marvelous. Everything we wanted the project to be, it has become," exclaims Rick Graham. Thanks in part to UHF's watchful eyes in the park, Memory Grove is now known as a jewel of the city rather than an incubator for crime. Families, downtown workers on lunch breaks, joggers, classes of school children, and the surrounding neighbors all frequent the beautiful park. During the first two years of operating Memorial House, UHF worked with the neighbors to identify the type and size of events most compatible with the building and the neighborhood. Today, Memorial House is receiving the kind of public usage envisioned by the city, and it's generating revenue for UHE Each year, thousands of people enjoy the historic atmosphere of the building as they attend events ranging from weddings and receptions, to business meetings, to film screenings. Memorial House, a significant historic resource, has also benefitted from the ongoing partnership. The city continues to maintain the exterior of the building while UHF invests in maintaining the interior. Moreover, the people who visit the building for functions gain a greater appreciation for the value of historic preservation.

A MODEL FOR PUBLIC PRIVATE PARTNERSHIPS The groups involved in renovating Memorial House speak of one factor crucial to the success of the project-they all shared a fundamental interest in doing what was best for Memorial House and Memory Grove Park. "It was the key to starting and sustaining the effort," says Jane Erickson.

through - Public awareneqs,

The classically proportioned Meditation Chapel, part of Memory Grove Park, was restored in 1998.

As the Memorial House project demonstrates, partnerships between public agencies and preservation non-profits are well-suited to solving some of historic preservation's thornier challenges. Since both are driven by a public mission rather than a profit margin, they are often willing to take on renovation projects unattractive to a private developer because of sensitiveuse issues or investment needs. A single public agency or preservation non-profit, however, may lack the resources to complete the project alone. Sometimes it is only through the combined resources of a partnership that the special needs of an historic building can be met so it can be put back into productive use. Rick Graham explains, "Without a partnership with a non-profit group with resources, Salt Lake City would have had a very difficult time renovating Memorial House. We certainly wouldn't have been able to do it in one year. The project is proof that the public and private sectors can work together to benefit the public?

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National Preservation Award Winner A 1998 Honor Award was presented to Gastronomy Inc.,for its work in the renovation, restoration, and adaptive use of historic structures.

Ford Motor Building - N m Leasing Fire Station No. 8 9 New York Building Pierpont Building 9 Salt Lalie Hardware "Thisis preservation at its best." t

P E R . . -

Richard Moe, President-National Trust

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M A R K E T

S T R E E T

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The Utah State Histotical Sockty We're a team of preservationists, historians, educators, enthusiasts, students, archaeologists, policymahers, and more. We're old, young, and inbetween; we may be trained or untrained- but we're always learning. We live in every corner of Utah, all around the United States, in Canada, and in Europe. No matter who we are or where we live, we have one passion in common: a love for the past. And we share one goal: to preserve Utah's past for the present and for the future.

Join us. For only $20.00 you'll receive Utah Preservation, Utah Historical Quartedx Beehive History, and the news of history happenings in the state. But more important, you'll be part of a stellar team.

Historical

by Karen Krieger

esl I~~IOU'II perlia1.1~for its hccd c\i ueady 700 hison, breathtaking vi.st.as of the Great. S21t Lake and Wasarch Mountains, and its challeng~il$bike trails, Ailrelope Island State Park is also th.e scene $(>I: one of Utah's cs1,dest 1j.vest.ock opc~atiotls-the Fieldilly Garr Ranch. The. ranch is located ( j ~ the i easleril shore of Alitdope Islaiid! xvhicl? is connec~eclto tlie rnaia.land b!: a se\:eli-n~decauseufay.'l'ho~~gb ies: ~ h a ol.3 133jl.e~from Salt Lake City: as the cxou: flies, the Garr Raach is a ~~rorld apart from, aiid a century behind, the fast-paced urban life oi the c i ~ y

)Id farm eauiwnir

U T A H

P R E S E K V ~ T I O W152

MMjrrnonmnvei-t who emigrated to Utah from Nnui 0 3 ,Uli~iol;,in 1847 D~ulrrgthe jourrter, he was put in charge of (be cattle o,zncd b) the LD5 ihi~rcl-,:r J brought them wmt, along \x:lih b ~ i \~ m nhend C3nce m TJtch, he P," p a c d the potential of Antelolie Island ~ , srdngeland 2nd e9tilbLt~hecir, ranch headquartets there in 1848 H e b~rdr. adobe j,,orzss icy htc { n d y of seven and h e r added ail adot)? D u n k h o ~ ~s et m t sp&g house, and adobe blacksmith shop, 111 1849, Brt~hatni'ova.g aked k. to rnthe & d s tithing herd, w h c h 1~s:kept rn the tsIand ~~rrial 1871. tl& them chucch also itbested m sdJ,ns hrwd rn*m that wetg allowcxl to I odln J o o ~en e r j ~ er,,lmd Frelcl~i~g G r r

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$,her the M o r n ~ nclirsrch gali'~:up ?A htetcsts cm &e is!ailJ ranch i~ the rid-187Os, seveiaI L~~fe.~c-';i+e.n,.t r;tncl.lcrs took ewes g5zln.g animals ih.ere ~11ltJ.1884: %hen Salt Lake basfntssmnu Juiin Doo1.e~ ,ior!~~ed tire &7kii~.dJmprocemtrr~co~rrtprlr~p znd twik tmmer:;hip of the property. TIir Isiani! h~prc,u-r~r,m.t C o m . p a ~ ~raised. y tcatile. h e p , horses, and biscm on t h e isIz~nc!for d.nc~sc90 ye2rs. During h e 1.'2;?0s, ratlcl-1 hands b d r stables, a sheep shearing barn, a grain. rilo, cosrak, a Puinp liouse, 311d a T C S E I ' V O ~ a~ t the ranch k~ertdiiuarter:s 3'he.y alsci faced several of ,&r orign:alFielaimg Chrn adthe bu:din%s xitb udhi'iewaslled con.creee block in, rJx 1940s 7b.c ,krtscb.~itz Carpoi-ruioti purchased rhe ranch in lY72,r2isin.g Yivestock. there unr3 ii~iiieState oi' Utah botjght ~ h Isnd r f:>r a srai-e park in 1481.

When the state acquired the Garr Ranch, it recognized the layers of historical significance on the site. The ranch's extant structures, material culture, and cultural landscape vividly reveal how ranching in the Rocky Mountain West has changed over time. But the historical significance of the place goes far beyond the ranching era; people utilized the site's life-sustaining springs prehistorically as well. Humans have been in the region for over 10,000

materials from various time periods, the derelict machinery of different types, and huge trees obviously arranged and planted by human hands. It is a site that has grown and changed over time, with the handiwork of each succeeding generation-from American Indians to Mormon pioneers to Reagan-era cowboysthere for all to see. It is with this authenticityin mind that park planners set about to preserve and protect the site and make it ready to host visitors.

Though less than 15 miles from Salt Lake City, as the cravpies, the Garr Ranch is a world apart from, and a century behind, the fast-paced urban life of the city. years, and the eastern shore of the Great Salt Lake was heavily used during Fremont (ca. AD 600 - AD 1300) and late Prehistoric (ca. AD 1300 - AD 1600) times. During recent excavations, archaeologists have found evidence of humans using the Garr Ranch site and other sites on the island. Beyond its sheer beauty as a lush springfed oasis on an otherwise dry landscape, the most striking characteristic of the Garr Ranch is the obvious evidence that this site was used continually for a very long period of time. The visitor is instantly struck by the range of structures and building

I PLANNING When the ranch first opened to the public in 1993, public interest was high, especially since the island had been inaccessible during the 1980s due to high lake levels. The ranch had changed little since its purchase by the state, and visitors saw it virtually as it was when occupation ended in 1981. Even though access to the site was limited that first year, visitor impact was noticeable. Managers realized that, in order to continue offering public activities at the ranch, they needed to develop a plan that would ensure sensitive use and development.

P R E S E R V A T I O N

The park staff began by collecting all available information about the site. They engaged architects and historians from the State Historic Preservation Office to prepare site surveys and building condition reports. State Antiquities archaeologists, Utah Statewide Archaeological Society volunteers, and the University of Utah Anthropology Department conducted archaeological surveys. Archival records were searched and studied, and interviews with people who had lived and worked at the ranch were recorded and transcribed. Visitor surveys were conducted as welland revealed that visitors valued the authentic ranch flavor very highly. Lastly, a Visitor Experience and Resource Protection Program (VERPP)was begun to assess the visitor impact on the site and to gather data for setting visitation carrying capacity. In addition to collecting data, the park formed a team to outline interpretive and site design issues. Team members included several Division of Parks and Recreation staff members along with "outside" architects and historians, an archaeologist, a representative of the Friends of Antelope Island, and a former ranch resident, Max Harward. Using the collected data, the group developed a plan for preservation and interpretation that accounts for both visitor needs and for site preservation. As a guide to all development, they prepared the following mission statement:

The Fielding Garr Ranch is a time-capsule that remains very much the same as it was when occupation ended lia 1981. Development should be spare and theflavor of the site maintained. Interpretation should concentrate on changes in ranching over 140 years of ocnrpation, the natural environment and its aaffect on human activity, and Native American use of the site.

The c.1848 adobe ranch house is perhaps Utah's oldest settlement-era structure in its original location.

Using this mission, a site development committeeand an interpretive committee set out to find innovative ways to host visitors and to preserve this unique site. The combination of their efforts resulted in a document that gives clear direction for parking, restroom and access improvements, and interpretive messages and methods.

DEVELOPMENT Since Antelope Island State Park reopened in 1993, the Garr Ranch site has been to the public On a limited basis. Visitation has fluctuated between 30,000 - 40,000 visitors annually, while the island as a whole receives over 320,000 visitors each year. In 1997 the Utah State appropriated $3.6 million to pave the eleven-mile dirt road that leads from the island's north-end recreation hub to the Garr Ranch site. Along with that appropriation came funds for a ranch manager, site operation, and development. When the paving and development projects are completed in 1999,the site will be open on a daily basis. Given the island's proximity to the major metropolitan area in the state, the recreational and wildlife viewing opportunities en route, and the historical significance and appeal of the site, current projections are that the Garr Ranch site may receive up to 200,000 visitors annually Balancing site preservation with increased visitation and access is the ultimate challenge for the site plan and park staff. The interpretive goals for the site, as stated in the plan, are as follows:

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Provide self-guided experiences that facilitate self-discovery opportunities. Create a tiered system of experiences. utilize a variety of interpretivemethods to highlight specific topics. Paint a picture of everyday ranch life and how it changed through time. Utilize original objects, photographs, journal excerpts, oral histories to connect the people with the place. Be historically accurate.

â&#x20AC;˘ Provide the sense of authenticity and remoteness.

yard. In order to provide an orientation area for the site, the team decided to rehabilitate the barn and reconstruct its stone lean-to addition. The barn and lean-to restoration will include materials and design elements matching the historic configuration. The lean-to will house an orientation area where visitors can view small exhibits on the site's history, pick up self-guided interpretive loop brochures, and talk to a site staff person. The team also established site development goals to guide the lean-to restoration and all other development, emphasizing

Given the island's proximity to the major metropolitan the Gaw Ranch site may receive area in the state UP to 200,000 visitors annually.

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The team chose to highlight the three main interpretivethemes of the park by creatinginterpretivetour loops: one describing everyday ranch life, one revealing ranch economy and work, and one describing the natural and Native American history of the site. These interpretive loops will begin and end at the site's traditional hub--the barn-

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minimal impact, authenticity, low main tenance, and the preservation of existing structures, natural features, and scenic views. Visitor services developments began with a design for a parking lot. By stepping it into the contours of the land northwest of the barn, planners have preserved the inspiring views in all directions, as identified in the plan. Parked cars, nestled into the hillside, will be barely visible as visitors reach the crest of the hill and experience their first view of the ranch and the sense of coming upon an "oasis" that accompanies that view. A restroom structure, located on the southeast edge of the parking lot, will be set into the hillside both to diminish its visibility and to provide energy-saving benefits of earth sheltering. Materials for the facility include concrete and galvanized corrugated metal, which will create a structure that fits comfortably within the context of the historic buildings whde not pretending to be historic. Providing electric power to the remote Garr Ranch site proved challenging. The only electricity the ranch ever had was from World War 11-surplus, gas-powered generators. Site architect Paul Brown designed an innovative system using solar panels mounted on the restroom and augmented by a micro-hydroelectricgenerator that utilizes water tapped from a nearby spring. The electricity generated

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by this system will be used only for the newr restrooms, site lighting, and the orientation center; the remaining historic structures will power. be left ~nritl~out While initial visitor developments are underway to prepare for the opening of the site in 1999, many other s~llallerpreservation projects need to be undertaken as well. Site curator Broclc Cheney and ~llaintenancespecialist Bob Middletnas will be kept busJ/ replacing weathered adobe bricks, painting and replacing worn uiooden elements, repairing plaster, and landscaping.

Archaeologists have probed sub-surface for clues to decipher the island's past.

When the island's east-side road is paved and the Garr Ranch site is opened regularly to the public, not only will the site staff be maintaining, m o ~ ~ i t o r i n gand , repairing parts of the historic scene daily, they will also be hosting visitors, traitling volun-

teers, and providing itlterpret~ve services. Appropriate visitor service d e ~ ~ e l o p m e n ~ s guided by a sound plan and implemented by a qualified and enthusiastic stalf will ensure that both the authentic island ratlch euperience and the historic falxic of the site will be preberved-and, at the same time, enjoyed by hundreds of thousands of visitors.

. G R A N D MA ' S

HOUSE

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Visits to grandma's house are among our warmest and most enduring memories. Next to our own home, grandma and grandpa's house was the place most familiar and welcoming. It was a place for family get-togethers and special occasions with people we loved and who loved us. Grandma's house may have had its own restrictions (don't play in the parlor, don't touch thefigurines, and so forth), but it also offered d

n indul-

gences and liberties. And GrandmaS house was often one of the first places associated with loss of a loved one; it was p h e , people, and emotion all wrapped in one.

This section is dedicated to you-Grandma..

Capturing the essence of grandma's house was thefocus of this year's Utah Preservation photograph contest. Contestants submitted over 185photos of older Utah houses that either were their own grandmothers' houses or "looked like a grandma's house should." The twelve winning photographs shown on thefolrowing pages range*

elabaate

Viaorian mansions to abandoned farmsteads

to humble 1940s tract homes. This broad cross-section of architecture reflects the diverse lives and personalities of all the grandmothers (and grandfathers) who lived within their walls. Though the houses are a poor s u b s t i ~ f o the r people themselves, they

do serve as tangible reminders of them-their aspirations, values, and accomplishments. A n d t h a t i s w h a t h ~ ~ i s d l ~

House at 11895 N. 3400 West, Deweyville ( f 998) Photographer: John Taylo~Fernonton

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The front section of this "littl ite houseJ' was one of thefive original houses in Deweyville, which was settled in the late 1860s. It was built of log, which was later covered with wood siding, probably in the 1890s when Robert Fryer completed the additions that comprise the carrent house. The house has remained in the same familv to the Orerent.

Affie and David Symes House, 2715 S. 2000 East, Salt Lake City (1998) Photographer: Peter L. Robbins (text by Sheryl Robbins), Murray

My grandma's house was built in about 1940 by a contractor namedJohnson, who built all the homes in the area. My grandparents were the original owners, and this was the only home I ever knew as "my grandma's house." My grandma lived here until her death in 1964. I have many fond memories of the small house where quilts took up the entire living room while they were being made, where the kitchen was so tiny you couldn't use one of the kitchen doors if people were eating dinner, where wen the dining room was crowded with family gatherings, where the large family of grandparents, aunts, uncles, and cousins filled every inch of space on Christmas Eve, where my grandpa's garden stretched "endlessly" in the back yard, and where in the early summer evenings lawn chairs were moved from the back yard to the front to watch the cars go by.

William and Sarah Bonner House, 1 10 E. Main, Midwar 1991) Photographer: Charles Felt, Salt Lake City

This house was built in 1877 by John Watkins, a local builder, who had emigrated from England in 1856. He also built other Gothic Revival style houses in the area. William and Sarah Bonner were married in this house in 1878 and remained in their home until their deaths in 1925 and 1946, respectively.

style house was built in 1904 for Elias and Sarah Pierce; Sarah was my great-grandmother's niece. The Pierce family lived in a tent on the property while their house was being built. Elias zuas a Pleasant Grove city marshal for several terms (19161921) and local mail messenger until hzs death zn 1929. Elias and Sarah raised two sons and two daughters in the home. My grandfather, Albert Henry Olpin, who ran a local planing mill, did the fancy Eastlake-style woodwork on the porch.

nt Grove (1998) l ~ h o t o g r a p h e rMildred : Sutch, Pleasant Grove

I love exploring Utah's "back" highways, and one day in ]anuaty 1974, after passing through Stockton, my attention was drawn to this old abandoned home on the west side of the highway. It had most of the trademarks of the restrained Classicism of the Federal style and was of the double-cell type. The house was surrounded by overgrown vegetation and trees which were covered with a white 'Ifrosting." This frosting really set ofJthe brick of the home, making it an ideal backdrop for black-and-white photography. Farm implements and an old barn added to the subject, and I spent about an hour there, photographing and wondering who had lived there and why it was abandoned.

Abandoned brick house, south of Stockton (1974) Photographer: C. Ray Varley, Holladay

William D. and Sylvia Collings Musig House, 195 E. Center, Monroe (1972) Photographer: Merial Musig ~awkins,~ountiful I I

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~ h i r f l h o tCof ~ ~my ~ mother b Sylvia Collitzgs thnt hey pa~etz~s had built in 1915 She lived in the house most of her life. She and her hus band Willtnni D. R/luszg, mzsed their three r~ihbozosm theiy huniii when the sun came through the leaded, beveledglass portion qithe wink dour, just os their ~no~hers had done. They played on the big front porch and explored the large lot. They en/u*eJ sitting 012 the roooden footbridge ar/dprete/zdcrzgto cutch fish in the deep irrigotioil L / ~ L C / ~It. zoa.~a z~~otzdt~l.fzd place for i~na~inatzve play.

Bowm, -Chamberlain House, 14 E. 100 South, Kanab (1995) Photographer: Joyce C. Ashby, Delta Built in 1894, this magn$cent Queen Ann style house sewed as the home for two early pioneer families-first H e n y Eyring Bowman then Thomas Chamberlain. It remained in the Chamberlainfamily until 1956. Kanab City purchased the house and in the mid 1970s restored h as a museum, known as the Heritage House, which is open for tours during the summer months. The building is well preserued; w eything the pioneers built was made to last, and whatever they built was a work of art. My daughter and her husband moved to Kanab six years ago-needless to say I spent much time in Kanab. The first time I saw this house I fell iy lo&; with it; it was like something you wouldfind in afazy,ta_le; I

Grandma Joanna Watson lives in this home and is the granddaughter of the original owner, Peter Chrirtian Christensen. He built the home in 1890, and his descendants have lived there wer since. I drive by this residence every day as I take my children to school. It is set way back from the main road among the trees and looks like a warm and cozy place to live and an inviting place for grandchildren to vzsit.

ChristensenMatson House, 544 S. 800 West, Brigham City (1998) Photographer: Rebecca Dilg, Brigham City

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William and Julia M. Lyman H o u s ~$St# , ~ $. M ~ Pyar6:wan , (1998) Photographer: WIIhi'i'pQand Judith Ann Roda, Rhrowqn '~ , I

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The old Lyman House, built. c. 1895, is the gateway to Parowan's historic Main Street. The house refects English Victorian architecture-its design was based on a pencil sketch Mr. Lyman brought back from England, where he had sewed an LDS mission. The original full-length two-story porch has been replaced by a smaller version due to deterioration. A unique feature of the home is a fireplace mantle that came from the Salt Lake home of LDS Church President John Taylor (President Taylor's grandson married one of the Lyman daughters). The cuwent owners, the Rodas, have rebuilt the original picket fence. As retirees from California, they consider living in this historic home to be a dream come true.

Marinus Peterson House, 2 8 7 E. 500 North, Spring City (1998) Photographer: Holly Lloyd, Ephraim

rinus

Peterson

famstead and the com-

37 S. Main, Kaysville (1998) 3hotographer: Louise K. Pollard, Farmington

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John f.. Beuhler House, 806 N. River Road, Midway (1998) Photographer: Maria VanDerHeyden, Murray This house was apparently built c. 1887-1890 by Swiss immigrants John and Magdalina Houeter Beuhler then remodeled in the 1920s or '30s to take on itr exotic, old-world appearance. The imitation thatch roof was created by a painstaking process of steaming the shingles to make them pliable for bending. Several houses built in Salt Lake City in the late 1920s feature this same type of roof: The stone used in the construction of both the house and surroundingfence is "pot rock," an extremely porous, local limestone used on many 19th-century buildings - in Midway. Old elm trees, lilac bushes, and the vine-covered walls surrounding the yard add to the character of the property, but it is the distinctive roof that gives the house its unique storybook character, lending itselfthe name "The Mushroom House."

This house was reportedly built in the 1860s by two men, deserters from the Civil War, shortly after they walked to Utah. If that story is true, then the house has been substantially altered. It exhibits features commonly found on houses from the 1910s and 1920s, such as large front windows with flanking sidelights, the large shed-roof dormer, 12-over-1 upper windows, a rough-textured stucco exterior, and the flared roof over the fullwidth front porch. No matter what its origin, the house, with its porch lights glowing, exudes the warmth and hospitality one would expect in a "grandma's house."

Salt Lake City's west side has been successfully adapted for access by all patrons.

, WORKING WITH THE ADA By Tanin Tzi/13i

cross the state, older public buildings are being reused, rehabilitated, and reconsidered. Though some continue to serve their original purposes, most are put to new uses as city halls, senior citizen centers, community centers, museums, and so forth. Communities have learned to value their historic buildings and are working to keep them in use. Yet the effort to preserve raises some interesting-and tough-challenges. Beyond complying with modern fire and safety codes, meeting the standards of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) is one challenge that has often called for innovation and determination.

The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), enacted in 1990, requires that all programs and activities of state and local governments be accessible to everyone. Since then, many historic U T A H

buildings have been adapted for access. Fortunately, provisions in the ADA protect the historic significance of buildings, so these changes often have been sensitive to the historic nature of the buildings. Ramps, elevators, and lifts may sound ugly to many who love old buildings, but they do not have to be. With careful thought and consideration, it is possible to create a comfortable fit between the old and the new. Many historic public buildings across the state face similar challenges to accessibility. Public buildings were designed to b e stately and grand in appearance and feeling. To achieve this effect, many were built on raised basements with the main entrance up a grand set of stairs. Inside some of these buildings, there are still more stairs to climb.

Architects artfully blended a new elevator into the interior of the Chapman Libraty.

P R E S E R V A T I O N

One kind of building that usually needs some modifications is the small local library. Many cities and towns

across Utah are still using the public libraries built early in the 20th century. A number of libraries were constructed using funds from Andrew Carnegie, and others were built through the New Deal programs of the 1930s (Works Progress Administration, Public Works Administration, etc.) The Chapman Branch Library in Salt Lake City is one good example of a library that has learned to meet the needs of a new age. Located at 577 South 900 West, the Chapman Branch Library was designed in 1918 by Don Carlos Young in the Classical Revival style with Renaissance Revival elements. The architecture is typical of .. other Carnegie libraries, but its "L" shape and corner entry are a bit unusual. The building has been modified slightly, but both the accessibility and other changes are quite subtle. In the late 1970s a small elevator was added on the interior; in 1993, during a renovation and remodehg induced by a collapsed roof, restrooms were made accessible, and a ramp to the lower level was added. From the exterior of the building it is not apparent that there have been any changes at all. This reflects the work of skilled rehabilitation architects. Bruce Miya,

Salina Library / Municipal Building accommodated ADA requirements.

formerly of Brixen & Christopher, states that they "took great pains to make the building accessible without destroying the historic fabric of the building." The interior elevator is sensitively treated, with smooth white walls that match the other interior walls of the building. All of the historic features upstairs, including the columns, remain intact. The open design of the interior has also allowed for the addition of more book stacks and, more recently, public computers. All other modifications were made on the lower level of the buildine. ", where there are not as many historic features. Librarian Lori Arnall says that "the renovation has made the building more functional and, as a result, more accessible," which is especially important given the heavy use it receives. Access is also provided through the library system as a whole, since materials not available at one branch can be delivered to another. Physical accessibility, then, is only part of the solution. In public buildings, alternative methods of access can be used to augment physical alterations. The Chapman Branch is not the only library adapting to new needs. Other historic libraries in Utah still in use as

A rear platform lift provides access to the 2nd floor at the Old Washington County Courthouse.

libraries include those in Beaver, Brigham City, Ephraim, Garland, Manti, Mt. Pleasant, Richfield, Richmond, Salina, Smithfield, and Tooele. Of these, several have additions. The Brigham City Library has a large, architecturally sensitive 1977 addition that expanded the facilities and allowed for disabled access. The Beaver Carnegie Library and the Salina Municipal Building both recently added small additions to the rear of the buildings. Each includes new stairs and a wheelchair lift, and in Beaver accessible restrooms were also added. Not every historic library in the state has retained its original function, however. Some, like the Springville Camegie Library, have been rehabilitated for use as museums, or, like the old Kanab City Library, are being studied for new uses. Courthouses, city halls, and schools are also undergoing changes and are being reinvented. Thurber School in Spanish Fork is now the city hall, and the Old Washington County Courthouse in St. George now thrives as the chamber of commerce; both were made ADA-compliant in the process. These projects provide useful examples for other old buildings to follow. At the Thurber School, an elevator was added on the interior to compensate for the double set of stairs. As in many public historic buildings, the doorways were already wide enough to allow for wheelchair access. The Old Washington County Courthouse, owned by St. George City, is also a popular tourist attraction and public meeting space. The 1876 Federal / Greek Revival style courthouse has an enclosed lift at the rear of

either become immobilized and do nothing, or they consider constructing a new building; but that's usually an unnecessarily expensive solution." Groups that are exempt from ADA requirements, such as religious organizations, are actually more d i n g to make their buildings accessible; they d o it simply to better serve their members. In many other cases, however, buildings and organizations remain in violation of the ADA until someone makes a

the building to allow for public access to the old courtroom, and ramps were added at front and rear lower entrances. While the lift is used frequently, over the years it has been plagued with minor technical problems that have frustrated both the staff and the users of the lift. Bob Nicholson, community development director for St. George, notes that the "concept was good, but the product was not the best." As with any project, the quality of materi-

Accessible buildings benefit not only the disabled, but also seniors, people recovering from accidents, families with small children in strol2ers, and even those of us who simply try to carry too much at one time. als is as important as the design. And learning what techniques and equipment work best is sometimes a trial-and-error process. Despite the examples illustrated above, Utah communities tend not to be proactive about making accessibility modifications to older buildings. "There's a common perception that ADA adaptations are expensive and complex," says Don Hartley, historical architect with the State Historic Preservation Office, "so people

complaint. But Hartley believes that "there is not a lot of legal action in Utah because of the non-litigious culture."

Much of the resistance to the ADA is simply apathy-apathy based o n the notion that the disabled are just a small segment of society. Hartley and other advocates for the disabled hope for a change of mind-set toward the broader view of "universal design. " Accessible buildings benefit not only the disabled, but also seniors, people recovering from acci-

dents, families with small children in strollers, and even those of us who simply try to carry too much at one time. Making accessibility alterations is not necessarily difficult. As mentioned before, many older public buildings already have wide doors and entryways that will accommodate wheelchairs or may have only a few steps to negotiate. Some solutions, as seen at the Heber City public library, can be as simple as regrading the sidewalk. Sensitively designed ramps are often used, but it is important to consider potential weather hazards. Providing adequate parking is only part of the requirement, but it can be a simple first step. The key is to think creatively and consider inexpensive but important details such as non-slip surfaces, lever handles, and braille signage along with the larger modifications. Because of the ADA, the reuse and rehabilitation of historic public buildings requires coilsiderations beyond structural and architectural aspects. Access for the disabled must also be considered, but as the examples illustrate, accessibilityrequirements can be met without harming the historic integrity of the building. A primary goal of historic preservation is to keep buildings in use; stewards of these buildings should endeavor to let them be used and enjoyed by everyone.

Unobtrusive ramps eliminate barriers to the Old Washington County Courthouse (above) and the Wasatch County Library in Heber City (above right).

U I

P R E S E R V A T I O N

Tanh Tully i~a preservation specialist with the Utah State Histo~icPreservation Office.

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We would like to thank ~uremployees and submntracrors for theit contributions on the Old Main Restor@tionproject. P.D.

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Antique Furniture Restoration, Furniture Design Specialty Finishes

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HISTORICAL ARTS & CASTING, INC. 5580 WEST BAGLEY PARK ROAD WEST JORDAN, UTAH 84088-5642

Mark R . Crockett Owner

180NGWH 700WEST U N ~ ~NoRTH B , SALT k$do64

(801) 936.681 2

TEL: 801-280-2400 FAX: 801-280-2493

RESTPD"IT1""', 8LAPD'"'6 & F"""'CATION Sandstone, Limestone, Granite

Rd Butte Gerdens City @reekPark Utah 6overnor's Manslon

Sheraton Place Hotel !bn Francieao BGE Plaoa flerltaae - Swim, -, . - Omtarlo ,, ',

404~ soutn suu west

Salt Lake City, UT 87107

262-8323 Fax (801) 262www.state~.CMII

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Some of our best work comes when we draw a blank.

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