Run Into Your Past by Philip F. Notarianni
R
unning through the past rather than from it is one inherent quality of historic preservation. Remaining buildings, structures, and sites that exemplify various characteristics and elements which formed the past help in relating those earlier times to the present. But how do preservationists convey this aspect of the field to the public? In light of the current jogging craze, the Preservation Office of the Utah State Historical Society happened upon an innovative idea—the Historic Sites Fun Run. Cast in the theme "Run Into Your Past," the fun run was designed to help celebrate Historic Preservation Month in Utah during May, 1978, by creating a greater awareness of Salt Lake City's historic resources. Approximately 125 eager runners, most adorned in a specially designed fun run t-shirt, launched themselves from the historic Isaac Chase Mill (1852) in Liberty Park at 8:00 a.m. on May 27. Each runner carried a small booklet that described the eight-mile course and provided capsule histories of the twenty-six historic sites that he would pass. Young, old, male and female, the group was escorted through Liberty Park by a local television news crew, from KUTV. The run was a "fun run": no times were kept or awards given, and participants could race, jog, or walk the route. In the early morning sun the runners paraded along a grassy median strip en route to the palatial homes along Salt Lake City's South Temple Street, passing the famed Trolley Square. Built in 1906, the Mission-style car barns and repair shop buildings were converted in a 1972 adaptive reuse project into a shopping center. Once on South Temple, earlier called Brigham Street, joggers witnessed the splendor of the Thomas Kearns Mansion (1900-1902) and the David-Keith Mansion (1898-1900) both built by prosperous Utah mining entrepreneurs who attained their wealth from the silver mines of Park City. The Enos A. Wall Mansion (1904), presently the LDS Business College, is located at 411 East South Temple, and its site enabled the run participants to witness the work of prominent Salt Lake City architect Richard K. A. Kletting. Runners also viewed the First Presbyterian Church (1902-1906) and the Cathedral of the Madeleine (1909). The First Presbyterian Church is of the Gothic Revival style and is constructed of rusticated Red Butte sandstone in a cruciform plan. Designed by C M . Neuhausen, the catholic cathedral is built of gray sandstone with brick, with (continued on page 6)
The Hotel Utah (1909-1911), South Temple and Main Street. 8619,
Bostosi & Newhouse Bldgs. Salt Lake Citv. U t a h .
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The Exchange Place Historic District, 355 South Main Street to State Street.
Temple Square (1852-1857). (Photos: Utah State Historical Society Photo Archives)
