Scroll down to learn about the historic homes of Spring City, and the stories behind them.
Spring Town was settled by James Allred in 1852. Brigham Young encouraged Danish immigrants to settle in the Sanpete Valley, in what was soon to be called "Little Denmark”. In 1957 when US Highway 89 was built, it bypassed Spring City, leaving it off the beaten path. Considered to be “a town frozen in time", it is widely known as the best preserved example of a 19th Century Pioneer Village. The town leads the way in historic preservation and restoration in Utah. The entire town is listed on the National Historic Register, and in 2010 Forbes Magazine named it one of “America’s Prettiest Towns”. We hope you stop by and see if you agree.
Charles Crawforth Farmhouse, c. 1884
South of town on “Crawford” Lane
This stately two story, hall and parlor house with a rear stone wing, was built by Charles Crawforth. A former coachman in England, Crawforth had an interest in horticulture and came to Spring City in 1874. He became a farmer and also maintained an orchard of 250 trees west of the house as well as a beautiful garden complete with peacocks. Surrounding outbuildings included a barn, stone carriage house and a stone root cellar. The house faces north with grand views of Mt. Nebo to the Northwest. Crawforth, a widower, married William Hudson’s widow, Elizabeth Cooper Hudson. He died in 1910 and the land and house passed to his son, then to the son’s family. Interior designer, J. Scott Anderson, restored the house and outbuildings in 1990.
Niels H. Borresen House,
c. 1864
197 South Main
This house, one of the oldest stone houses in Spring City, was constructed of two-foot thick random rubble stone. Borresen, a miller and horticulturalist, was born in Denmark in 1826. He converted to the LDS church in Denmark and came to Utah in the late 1850s. He moved to Spring City in 1860 and had three wives. He was a veteran of the Black Hawk War and was imprisoned twice at the Territorial Prison in Sugarhouse for practicing polygamy. In 1994 a wood frame wing was added and the original house restored by Peter and Inge-Lise Goss.
Jacob Johnson House, c. 1875, 1896
390 South 100 West
This is the largest house in Spring City and consists of two distinct styles. The south half of the building was the original stone structure, a classically inspired two-story, hall-parlor plan. Its exterior has been stuccoed and scored to imitate ashlar masonry. In 1896 the large Victorian addition was built to the north complete with a circular corner tower and conical roof. Johnson and his mother arrived in Utah in 1854 from Aalborg, Denmark. He left for California as young man and eventually studied law. He returned to Utah and decided to practice in Spring City, later serving as City Attorney. He served in several Judgeships and in 1912 was elected to serve a term in the United States Congress. He was not a member of the LDS Church. He lost his first wife Margaret Anderson shortly after childbirth and later married Matilda Justesen. The small stone building to the north of the house was the Judge’s office. Note the large stone granary and carriage house/barn.
The house and outbuildings were acquired and restored by Chris and Alison Anderson in 2000, their four year restoration of the Historic Judge Jacob Johnson House was recognized by the Utah Heritage Foundation and the Andersons presented the Utah Heritage Foundation Award for the superior workmanship.
Orson & Mary Ann Price Hyde House, c. 1865
209 South Main
This 2½ story stone hall/parlor house with basement, influenced by Greek Revival architecture, was built by Orson Hyde in the mid to late 1860’s. An early convert to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, he was called as one of the original twelve apostles of the Church in 1835, and served as President of that quorum for 28 years. He was sent to direct colonization of the Sanpete and Sevier districts in 1860. This house, which served as Hyde’s official residence and office, was also the Spring City Deseret Telegraph Office. Mary Ann Price Hyde and two of Orson’s daughters served as telegraphers. Evidence of the telegraph office remains in the home. Orson lived here with Mary Ann Price Hyde and three other Spring City wives. He died in the house on Thanksgiving Day, 1878.
Three other original limestone outbuildings dating to the 1870’s exist on the property. The stone granary to the south is built over a natural spring, which was piped underground into the house to provide culinary water and cold food storage. The current owners acquired the property in 2003 and their thorough restoration took 3 years. The Utah Heritage Foundation presented the owners the 2007 Heritage Award for the restoration and preservation of the home.
Emil Erickson House, c. 1888
119 West 200 North
This one and one half story Victorian Eclectic cross-wing house, with fish scale shingles in the gables, was constructed of oolitic limestone in 1888. The rubble stone was coursed and pointed with raised mortar to approximate cut stone masonry. Emil Erickson, a Swedish immigrant, was the original owner and builder. He sold the house when he was elected county recorder. Erickson, a farmer and carpenter, helped build the house with masons J. P. Carlson and John Bohlin. Erickson opened a store in 1889, Erickson’s General Store. It merged with the Young Men’s Co-op in 1897 and Erickson became manager. He also had an interest in a local planing mill, an opera house, and was a city councilman. The house was bought by Rasmus and Christine Strate in the early 1900s. Craig and M’Lisa Paulsen purchased and restored the house in the 1970s and added an adjacent stone cabin and furnace room.
Redick Newton Allred House, c. 1875
115 South 100 East
Allred, an 1859 Spring Town settler and handcart company rescuer, built this Greek Revival-inspired one and one half story oolitic limestone house in the mid 1870s. Originally a hall-parlor plan the main entrance would have been on the west façade. The mason was Jens “Rock” Sorensen, a Dane. Redick Allred, born in Tennessee, was an officer in the Nauvoo Legion and the Mormon Battalion. He married Lucy Holt and Amelia Jane McFerson, and had 19 children. In 1880, Isaac Edgar Allred, a druggist and self-taught dentist, bought the house. Lester Allred purchased the home in 1937, and sold it in 1939 to Earl and Lorna Jensen. The house was purchased and restored in 1996 by the late Sara Allred Watson.
Behunin-Beck House, c. 1883
19 East 100 South
A large stone, two-story hall-parlor plan house and rear stone addition was “Erected by Buhunin, 1883” according to the plaque in the central gable. Isaac Behunin, an original Sanpete County settler, explored what became Ephraim in 1852 and moved to Spring City in the 1860’s. Four years after completing the house Behunin sold it to Simon Beck for $1,000. Beck, a successful sheep man, worked on the Manti Temple, owned the Spring City Co-op for a time and also served as postmaster from 1905-1913. He married Sarah A. Crawforth and they raised nine children. The street on which the house is located was referred to as “Spit & Whittle” Avenue. Charlie, son of Simon Beck, had a bench the women of the town called the “Bummer’s Bench.” The men claimed it was where important community events were discussed and decisions made. Simon’s son Charlie, paralyzed at an early age, presided at the bench providing advice and wisdom to all comers. For those who sat beside him he provided a white pine stick for whittling otherwise he claimed the bench would be whittled out from under him. Rick and Lynda Sentker acquired the property in 2003 and restored the home as well as the log cabin behind it. Clark and Kathleen Hinkley are the current owners.
Marinus Petersen House, c. 1878
285 East 500 North
Marinus Petersen, a Danish immigrant convert to the LDS Church, built this rock house and barn for his family in the mid-1870s. The hall-parlor, one and one half story house has a symmetrical façade pierced by three openings. In 1924 a hipped roof addition was added to the rear. The house remains one of the outstanding 19th century rock homes in Spring City. Marvin “Bish” Petersen was a son of Marinus and lived in the house until his death in 1978. His nickname stands for “Bishop” and is a tongue-in-cheek reference to Petersen’s strictly non-Mormon attitude. The house was restored by Lothar and Anita Janke who emigrated from East Germany in 1980. The adjacent barn is a hay barn with log crib and frame stable. Other outbuildings on the site have been remodeled for extra living space. Current owners Randall and Shari Thatcher have continued the preservation efforts since Fall of 2013.
Old Firehouse, c. 1900
44 North Main
At the turn of the 20th century Orson Allred built this building for commercial purposes. It is a wood frame false front building and was utilized by “drummers” or traveling salespersons to display their goods to local merchants. Later it served as the town’s fire station until larger, more modern, equipment was available. This building currently houses the Friends of Historic Spring City historical collection.
Old City Hall, c. 1893
46 North Main
This is one of the few surviving vernacular civic buildings remaining in Sanpete County. Built in 1893 of oolitic limestone it is a temple form building with Greek Revival influence complete with a bell tower. The builders included masons: Jens D. Carlson, Jens J. Sorensen, John F. Bohlin, and carpenters William Downard and Marinus Mortensen. The building was used as a schoolhouse until 1900 when the large public school was opened. Two municipal bands used it as a practice hall. It served as the city hall until 1988 when this function was moved to the old Junior High school. It is now the D.U.P. Museum. Behind the building is an old jailhouse.
The Old Jail House, pre-1912
behind the Old City Hall, Main Street
The exact date of construction is unknown, however, it was before 1912 when it was recorded in the City minutes that the jail was in need or repairs, including a second stove and more bedding. The old jail was no longer used once prisoners were able to be transported via automobile to the Manti jail. It was used as the City maintenance shed until 1988 when City Hall moved to the old Junior High. The barred windows show the stacked 2x4 construction. It was converted to a museum in 2004, including the original jail cell, farming tools, school desks and kids activities.
The Old Rock Jail, c. 1874
291 South 200 East
This small stone cabin-type structure served as a jail for the town’s lawbreakers from 1874 to 1899, particularly when Eugene Allred served as the Marshal and lived in the house nearby. The square plan has a three-opening facade with a single wooden lintel beam supporting all three openings. A lock-up or jail had been necessary for Spring City since the 1870’s because of certain mischievous lawbreakers.
Eugene Allred House, c. 1894
290 South 200 East
Eugene’s home was constructed about 1894, significant as a rather typical brick builders pattern book design employed extensively in Utah during the late 19th Century. The lot was first claimed by Spring Town School District in 1869. The Mayor’s deed went, however, to Joseph T. Ellis in 1876 who built a two-room stone house on the lot. Spring City acquired the land via a tax sale in 1892 and in 1893 the lot was sold to Eugene Allred. He tore down the stone dwelling and built this fashionable house. It has been altered with the addition of a new porch and siding on the southwest corner.
Lorenzo Aiken Service Station, c. 1924 & House, c. 1908
488 North Main
Lorenzo Wilson Aiken, a sheep shearer, and his wife, Mary Jane Nielson Aiken built this corner service station, the 1st one in town, in 1924. Mary Jane and their small children ran the station from 1928-29 to keep Lorenzo on an Eastern States LDS mission. Later their son Denzel ran the station. The last person to run the station sold Shell and Wasatch gasoline. The Aikens’ c. 1908 pattern book brick house behind the station replaced a small log house. The current gas pumps originated at the John R Baxter Jr service station located on the west side of Main St. across from Strate’s Garage.
Lydia Puzey House, c. 1909
59 West Center
Built in 1909 for Lydia Pollard Puzey, this one and one half story, brick, asymmetrical, Single Cell house with a later side addition, is a charming example of early construction in Sanpete County. Lydia emigrated from England as a child and crossed the plains in 1857 with the Jacod Hofheins handcart company. In 1874, she married William Henry Puzey and settled in Spring City. Before William’s death at age 39, he owned a wagon shop on the corner of Center and Main. Lydia lived to be 88 years old, Spring City’s oldest resident at the time of her death. It is currently owned by Jay and Patsy Hoard.
John Frank Allred House, c. 1878
218 East 400 South
This one and one half story stone dwelling is a five opening hall and parlor design, popular among early Utah folk builders. There is a stone one and one half story wing to the rear in the “T” configuration. It was built for the John Frank Allred family. John Frank married two sisters, Mary K. and Sarah E. Bunnell, and the household was divided between this house and the house directly to the south. He was born in Iowa in 1851. In 1873 he came to Spring City and was a school teacher and later a principal, most of which took place in the “Old Rock School House” (“Endowment House”). The home has been in the hands of Jamie and Ashley Webb since 2015. They have restored many of the original details and continue to care for the home’s legacy.
Paul E. Kofford House, c. 1860
11 East 100 South
One of Spring City’s earliest stone houses it was built for Paul E. Kofford (1813-1891), a Danish covert to the LDS Church and early pioneer, was as a translator between Scandinavian immigrants in Spring City and the English speaking pioneers. He had learned English during his early career as a sea captain. The stonemason was Peter Olsen Hansen, who was paid a young steer and two dollars per day to work on the house. The house plan is uncommon with a front facing parlor followed by two rooms at the rear. Small houses like this were common in Spring City, but few remain today. Paul’s son Charles acquired the house and resided there for many years. The house was renovated and restored in 2005 with a lean-to addition consisting of a small kitchen and bathroom.
John Frantzen House, c. 1873
73 South Main
One of the better examples of a vernacular folk building in Spring City, this symmetrical one and one half story hall-parlor house was built by John Franzten (1837-1905). It is one of the few remaining adobe houses along Main Street. A Mormon convert, Frantzen immigrated from Norway in 1857, settling first in Lehi, then Spring City in 1860. Active in the LDS church, Frantzen served a two-year mission in Denmark, was a first counselor to the Spring City bishop for 15 years, and he was a practicing polygamist with two wives, having served a jail term for cohabitation. It is likely that one room of the house served as the first store in town. It is currently owned by Brent and Holly Burton.
John Blain House, c. 1880
385 East 100 South
A one and one half story ashlar stone, hall-parlor house with a central gable indicative of the Gothic Revival style, this dwelling is one of the finest examples of pioneer architecture in Utah. The high level of craftsmanship and its design make it a significant example of residential architecture in Spring City. John Blain was born in Carlisle, England in 1850. His family settled in Spring City in 1863. Blain, a farmer, served on the city council and was town watermaster. Calvin and Rae Baxter purchased the house in 1988 and added the west wing designed to match the architecture of the original structure.
Spring City LDS Chapel, c. 1897-1911
164 South Main
This oolitic limestone chapel was designed by architect Richard C. Watkins of Provo and built between 1897-1911. The foundation was laid before April 1897, but we don’t know exactly when it was started. John F. Bohlin supervised masons Jens J. Carlson, Jens. Sorensen and Lars Larsen, and Emil Erickson and two men from Mt. Pleasant were the principal carpenters. The building cost $40,000 and was dedicated by Anton H. Lund, counselor to Joseph F. Smith on March 15, 1914. It was remodeled in 1939. An addition to the north, containing a cultural hall and other rooms, was constructed of matching limestone in the 1970s. This was the LDS church’s first preservation and addition to a chapel rather than replacing the historic building with a new chapel. It is currently listed among the LDS church’s top 15 historic buildings.
Spring City Public School, c. 1899
45 South 100 East
This Victorian eclectic school, noted for its fine polychrome brick masonry, was built in 1899 and first used for school in 1900. It was designed by Provo architect Richard C. Watkins who, several years later, provided the design for the town’s LDS chapel. Grace Brothers of Nephi constructed the building utilizing locally fired bricks. The school was built on an H-shaped plan and each of the two floors contained four classrooms. It was closed for school in 1959. After nearly 40 years of persistent effort, the beautiful Old Spring City School restoration project is completed. It is now known as the Spring City Community Center (SCCC). It is open all day to the public and has become the crown jewel of Spring City's restoration efforts.
Mary Ann Pollard Allred House, c. 1909
90 South Main
This one and one half story brick cross-wing house was built in 1909, replacing a two-room adobe cabin belonging to Louis Lund. It was built for Mary Ann Allred, one of three wifes of James Anderson Allred. Mary came to Utah in 1855 at the ago of eleven, when she emigrated from England with her parents. It has been recently restored by Chris & Alison Anderson and Scott and Pam Newman.
Wiley Payne Allred House, c. 1878/86
413 South 100 East
Although somewhat altered this house was built by Wiley Payne Allred, son of James. Wiley was a pioneer doctor who later moved to Fountain Green. The original stone section was built between 1878 and 1886 with a later addition constructed in 1915 consisting of a bay window and a brick “L” at the rear. James R. Watson bought the property in 1894 and it remained in the Watson family until the 1980’s. Greg and Deena Strong acquired the property in 2003 and restored the home with the much appreciated help of Craig Paulson and Scott Anderson.
William & Margaret Osborne House, c. 1894
216 South Main
The Osborne house is a fine example of Victorian pattern book architecture in Sanpete County. The one and one half story brick cross-wing house has shingled gables, intricately bracketed eaves, corbelled relieving arches, and polychrome brick. William Osborne was a merchant who owned a meat shop and confectionery shop located just north of the chapel. William’s wife, Margaret Beck Osborne, operated the house as a hotel for a number of years and fed the prisoners at the Spring City jail. It is currently operating as a Bed and Breakfast, named Osborne Inn.
Allred-Johnson House, c. 1887
469 South 300 East
This one and one half story, hall-parlor type house with an original rear extension (or “L”) was probably built by John W. Allred in 1887. John H. “Miller” Johnson, who operated the Spring City Roller Mill, bought the house in 1901 for $450. The house is important for its vernacular house plan with late 19th-century influences, its construction details, and fine workmanship. The property now belongs to Brian & Ann Stucki, who continue to preserve and care for the home.
Jens C. Andersen House, c. 1884
91 East 100 South
Stone and adobe brick were more common when this house was built by Jens C. Anderson (1821-1910), however, his use of fired bricks makes this house unique. The bricks were fired from a brickyard west of town. The original section was a hall-parlor plan; the matching brick addition was added in 1995.
Jens joined the “Mormon” Church in Denmark and came to Utah in 1863, settling in Spring Town in 1868. Jens died in 1895, and the tax records show that his son, Christian, owned this home in 1897. Christian had married Jannette, a daughter of Redick N. Allred, and this is the home where they raised their family.
Relief Society Granary, c. 1870-76
69 West 300 South
This one and one half story, two room oolitic limestone structure was built by the “Female Relief Society of Springtown” on land belonging to the society’s president Mary Ann Hyde, trustee for the Relief Society. It was constructed in connection with, and on the same parcel of land as, the “Endowment House” (aka the John Frank Allred School) to the east. Based on its vernacular design and upper room, with gable end windows, the granary could date to 1870 when it was used jointly for food storage and society meetings. Architect Allen Roberts renovated the building in the 1980’s to become living space. The current owner, artist Susan Gallacher, added a log cabin south of the structure.
Endowment House/ Schoolhouse, c. 1876
63 West 300 South
This one-story, temple form, Greek Revival style design has a controversial past. Town residents are divided on the question about whether the building was an early endowment house, a sacred building where rites of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints were performed or a stone schoolhouse. The building was utilized as a school for twenty years, but whether it was used as an endowment house is open to question. This lot was originally deeded to the Female Relief Society. The building was also believed to be the office of Orson Hyde, one of the Twelve Apostles and the Stake President of the Sanpete area. The building was constructed in 1876 and sold to the Spring City School District in 1878. It was commonly called the Allred School after teacher John Frank Allred, and remained a school until 1899. The two years prior to it becoming a school it may have been used for endowments. Official church records in Salt Lake City list several nontemple sites where endowments were carried out and “O. Hyde’s office” in Spring City is mentioned. Other stories persist including one involving Orson Hyde’s grandson Barney who insisted that a local stone mason Louis Justesen carved the stone inscription over the doorway including a compass, square, beehive, and building date. He claimed that because of these symbols people believed the building was used as an endowment house. The building was purchased and restored by artist Randall Lake in 1982 with funds he received from painting the official portrait of Wyoming’s Governor.
Jens Peter Carlson House, c. 1896
350 South 100 West
This one and one half story Victorian Eclectic cross-wing house is noteworthy for the craftsmanship of its ashlar stone masonry. Local tradition suggests the house was something of a showcase for Carlson’s considerable talents as a stone mason and that its construction precipitated a rivalry between Carlson and his neighbor Judge Jacob Johnson. Supposedly Johnson hired a Salt Lake firm to design and build his Victorian addition. Carlson was appalled at the quality of the stonework and he told Johnson that he would show him how a stone house should be built. Carlson gained his experience on the building of the Manti Temple, the Spring City LDS chapel and numerous stone buildings in and around Spring City. Work on Carlson’s house began in 1896 and he labored on it for the next eight years to house his two wives and eighteen children. Carlson died before he could finish his showpiece and the family hired a carpenter to finish the second story in wood and to put a roof on the house. There was a natural spring in the basement. Current owners, Scott and Pam Newman, have done much to restore and preserve the home.
Bishop’s Storehouse, c. 1905
95 East Center
In 1905 the Sanpete Valley received five new Bishop’s storehouses built from a standard plan: Fountain Green, Manti, Fairview, Ephraim and Spring City. These buildings were constructed to receive tithing, store ward records, and to hold meetings. This storehouse was built of stone and brick under a pyramidal roof with a corner entry framed by low rounded arches. The storehouse was once part of a tithing yard with a granary, cellar and barn. In the 1930s it was converted to a Relief Society Hall with a canning room. It also housed the D.U.P. museum for a short while. It was restored and converted to a residence in the late 1990’s by the Osmond family.
Baxter Store, c. 1895
190 North Main
This stone and wood frame façade building is the best surviving example of 19th century commercial architecture in Spring City. John R Baxter, Sr. worked in the Spring City Co-op store in the 1870s. His first store was in his house that stood on this lot to the east. Later the business became known as Baxter and Blain Mercantile. Upon Baxter’s death in 1930, the store was acquired by his son-in-law Claren Schofield and renamed the Schofield Mercantile. The Squirt signs painted on the north and south façades date from the 1940s. It is currently used as an Art Gallery owned by Shirley Britsch.
Andrew Olsen House, c. 1884
90 South 100 West
This substantial one and one half story hall-parlor house was built for Andrew Olsen in the mid 1880s. It also has a rear wing. Olsen, a Danish immigrant, came to Utah in 1854. He was a farmer and had two wives. The Olsens later moved to Canada. The front facade has five downstairs opening topped by a threesome above. The upstairs door and windows are spaced either directly above or exactly between lower openings to preserve a very sophisticated sense of bilateral tripartite symmetry. The window heads are pedimented. It is one of the most pleasing examples of late 19th century vernacular buildings in Spring City. In 1890 the house was sold to Jane Beck. In the late 1990s the house was acquired and restored by the Mitch Burton family. Current owners, Paul and Donna Penrod, continue to preserve and add to the collection of buildings on the property.
James C. & Martha Pedersen House, c. 1910
74 North 300 East
The “Jimmy King” Pedersen house is a one and one half story, brick Victorian pattern book design and one of the most elaborate in Spring City. Pedersen was successful in the sheep business and his wealth can be seen in this home. In 1907, while on an LDS mission to Norway, Pedersen met Martha Gabrielsen. She immigrated to New York and lived with a brother eventually making made her way to Utah. James and Martha were married in the Manti Temple on January 15, 1913. They raised seven children and one nephew. There are several versions as to how James arrived at this nickname, but he was known as an expensive dresser and prominent member of the Danish community.
Lars & Petrea (Monson) Larsen House, c. 1883
85 North 100 East
This large stone house, built by Peter Monson, is a distinctively Scandinavian type known as a “parstuga” or pair house consisting of a three-room-wide floor plan. In this example the east façade contains is a central gable above the second story door and the entry, which gave access for moving furniture into the second floor rooms. The large stone rear addition to the west gives this example the appearance of a cross-wing house. Monson came from Sweden and was a miller by trade. He left this business to become a farmer and built this fine stone house c. 1883 for his daughter Petrea and son-in-law Lars Larsen. The house was deeded to Petrea in 1890. Peter Monson lived in a two-room adobe house to the east.
Peter Jensen House, c. 1870’s
151 West 200 North
This one and one half story cabin was moved to Spring City from Central, Utah. It was most likely built in Richfield either by Anders Johnson or Bengt Anderson of Norway and later moved to Central. It is one of the few remaining Norwegian log houses in Utah and is noteworthy for “key” or tongued notch joint at the corners. It is so well made that chinking is not required between the logs.
Baxter Confectionery, c. 1915
33 North Main
This small brick one-part commercial block was built in 1915 and operated as a confectionery until 1973 by John R. Baxter, Jr. becoming a Spring City institution for several generations of Spring City children - at one point the children affectionately called it “John’s Candy Store". Several cafes have occupied this space over the years, and it currently is home to the award winning Das Café.
Lyceum Theater, c. 1915
35 North Main
The Lyceum Theater, later known as The Victory, was constructed in 1915 by John R. Baxter, Jr. It featured silent films and later “talkies.” The “hall” was sold to the LDS Church and served as a recreational center for the whole town until 1976 when the cultural hall addition to the LDS chapel was completed.
Sandstrom’s Pool and Dance Hall, c. 1911
37 North Main
William Sandstrom built this two-story adobe-lined, wood frame commercial building about 1911. The first floor operated as a pool hall with a dance hall above. After Sandstrom’s death, James W. Blain ran a grocery store here and in the teens it was the post office. It also served as a bicycle shop, WPA library, and Dahl’s Grocery.
Arthur Johnson Meat Market, c. 1905
278 South Main
Best remembered after 1916 as the Arthur Johnson Meat Market this small brick building was actually built in 1905 by Alvin E. Allred. Arthur Johnson was the son of Judge Jacob Johnson. The store is now home to Joe Bennion’s Horseshoe Mountain Pottery. The building is a two-part block, false front commercial structure. The building’s gambrel roof replaced an earlier gable roof. Several potter’s kilns are located behind the building.
Hans Jorgen Hansen House, c. 1874
92 North 200 East
Built about 1874, this house is of Scandinavian design, a “parstuga” or “pair house”. It is one of only three still in town. It was built of stone and later given a stuccoed exterior. Hans at one time was an “expert gardener of repute” who trained in the Royal Gardens of the King of Denmark. Hans and his son Hemming walked across the plains, bringing their possessions in a light wagon pulled by a team of oxen in 1859. At first they lived in a dugout in Spring Town, which was replaced with a log home and subsequently the larger rock home was built. Later Roger and Lila Allred raised their family in the home. Their daughter, Julie Allred, currently lives here and has removed the stucco from the exterior and returned the home to the original stone. The northeast boundary marker for Spring Town can still be seen near this home, marking what was once the city limits of the town.
Reuben Warren Allred House, c. 1875
415 South Main
The original stone house was built for Lucy Ann Butler and Reuben Warren Allred about 1875. It was expanded in 1909 with a brick addition on the south by Sarah Jane Beck and Warren England Allred (Reuben and Lucy Ann's grandson). About 1970, Tessie Blain (a granddaughter of Warren and Sarah Jane) and Carl Pyper built a small addition to the east of the brick section and the entire house was stuccoed. Interior stairs were also installed for the first time.
Reuben and Lucy Ann came to Utah in 1849, then moved to the Allred Settlement (Spring City) in 1853, where he was the first LDS Bishop. From 1855-1860 he was the Bishop of Fort Ephraim. They were able to settle permanently in Spring City in 1861 and lived in this house from 1875 until their deaths, Lucy Ann in 1884 and Reuben in 1896.
The current owners are Kristal and Charles Shepherd. Charles, a historical architect, is a fourth great nephew of Lucy Ann Butler Allred. They began the restoration process in 2019 by removing the stucco from the original stone section of the house.
Olsen-Justesen Home House, c. 1888
93 South 200 East
This adobe, hall-parlor house with a symmetrical facade features gable end chimneys with elaborate corbelling and a brick rear addition. The house was built by Lewis Olsen who sold it to Joseph Justesen, a son of Rasmus Justesen, and a local farmer and wool grower. He married Flora Geneva Hyde, daughter of Orson and Ann E. Hyde, and they raised their family here. The Elmer Olsen family purchased the home after the death of Justesen in 1960. William and Joyce Perkins renovated the house in 2005, and it is currently owned by Arthur Swindle.
Thomas Schroder/Samuel Allred House, 1876
390 South Main
This one and one half story stone hall-parlor house was built by Thomas G. Schroder, a German convert to the LDS church. Samuel Allred added a wing to the rear of the house about 1900. Samuel Allred, bishop from 1913-1928 purchased the house from Schroder in 1878. Allred’s first wife, Elizabeth Diantha, lived in this house while his second wife, Isabel, lived in a large brick house at 191 South 300 East.
Olsen-Jensen House, c. 1870’s
269 East 300 North
While the exact date of construction and who built this building is uncertain, it does not diminish its significance. The log portion was probably built in the late 1870’s and later Mathias Jensen added the adobe portion, some time after 1881. The log portion is built of hewn logs joined at the corners with a “V” notch. When the adobe portion was added, the log section was made taller as can be seen by the more careful dovetail corner notching.
Jacob Johnson Farmhouse, c. 1876
SE of town on Canal Canyon Road
Jacob Johnson homesteaded 160 acres on this site and lived here five years before applying to acquire the property under the Homestead Act of 1881. He eventually acquired an additional 640 acres. Jacob Johnson, a lawyer, practiced in Spring City and eventually became a Judge. He also owned the largest home in Spring City. The farmhouse was restored in 2001 by Carl and Norma Timm.
Strate’s Garage, c. 1919
53 South Main
The old Johnson’s Mercantile, formerly the Young Men’s Co-op was demolished to make room for the Strate’s Garage c. 1919. A. Everett Strate, born in 1897, was a natural mechanic who had a flair for repairing all types of machinery. The first automobiles came to town about 1915. Everett Strate sold Pontiac and Oldsmobiles, and other cars, Goodyear and Firestone tires, batteries and other equipment, in addition to gasoline with pumps located in front of the garage on Main Street. At one time a liquor outlet also operated in the garage, but was taken out because of employee problems. When Everett passed away in 1961, the garage passed to his sons; however, it soon closed because of the prevailing economic conditions. It was purchased and restored in 2008 by Steve & Marta Sloan, and is currently owned by Colin & Cherie Campbell. It has housed the Spring City Arts Gallery since 2009.
Osborne Mercantile, c. 1930
76 South Main
Isaac Edgar Allred owned and operated a drug store in the same location as the Osborne’s Mercantile, later known as the Horseshoe Grocery building. It intermittently sat vacant until purchased for The Soda Fountain. Allred’s drug store was constructed of lumber. A Post Office was erected south of the drug store and was used at different times by Charlie “Watchmaker” Nelson for his watch repair business. A barber was also located there at one time, and later Allred’s soda fountain tables. Next door, to the north of Allred’s Drug Store, was Beck’s Mercantile, once the Johnson Mercantile which burned in July 1929. After the neighboring fire, the old wooden store was torn down and was replaced by the existing brick building constructed in 1930. It is currently operating as “Roots 89” — a Grill and Soda Fountain, named as a nod to the pioneer heritage found in the towns along U.S. Route 89.
Chester School & Meetinghouse, c. 1892
490 East 400 South
This stone building was constructed in the early 1890s and served as Chester’s meeting house and school. Chester is a small community 3 miles west of Spring City. In 1987 the school was to be demolished, but thanks to Paul and Ann Larsen, it was moved to Spring City, stone by stone, and reconstructed.
Rasmus & Sarah A. Justesen House, c. 1875
12 North Main
This one and one half story adobe house was originally stuccoed and scored to resemble cut stone, including simulated quoins. The house was built for Justesen’s first wife, Sarah A Shepherd, who raised nine children here. Justesen, mayor from 1898-99, took a second wife, Annie Larsen who had a house elsewhere in Spring City. Rasmus also homesteaded in Emery County. Artist Susan Gallacher purchased and restored the house in 2002.
George Downard House, c. 1875
109 South 200 East
This two-story oolitic limestone hall-parlor house was built in the late 1870s by George Downard and closely resembles the Orson Hyde House. Downard was born in Kent, England and joined the LDS church in the late 1850s. After immigrating to Utah in 1862, he immediately located in Spring City and supported himself as a carpenter and house painter. The family moved to Richfield in the late 1860s but was forced to return to Spring City under the threat of Indian attack. Upon his return, Downard began construction of this large stone house, completing it in the late 1870s. In 1882 he sold the house to his son Joseph, a farmer and member of the Spring City Council. The house remains in the Downard family.
William Downard House, c. 1895
165 West 100 North
Constructed in 1895, the home is a one and one half story, wood framed, hall and parlor type dwelling, which is a historic house type commonly found in Spring City. The lot was originally owned by John T. Lambert and in 1890 it was deeded to William Downard, an early resident of the community. He likely constructed the house sometime shortly thereafter. The home is a contributing structure within the Spring City Historic District. It is currently owned by Bob and Naomi Allen.
William Major, Jr. House, c. 1875
527 South 200 West
This house is one of the earliest large rock homes in town. It is a one and one half story stone hall-parlor house with a rear “T” kitchen on the east. It is an excellent example of the 19th century Mormon folk architecture. Sarah (Coles) Major Ellis lost her first husband, William Major Sr. an early Utah artist, while he was serving an English mission. She then married Joseph T. Ellis and they arrived in Spring Town shortly after Buchanan’s army entered Utah. They chose 15 acres of land on the southwest corner of town. Sarah’s son, William Major, Jr. married Ellen Meek, and he built this rock home after learning how to cut and shape stone on the Manti Temple. An adobe yard was located just north of the house, near Canal Creek.
Ephraim Larsen House, c. 1884
112 West 200 North
This one-room deep, one and one half story stone house was built by Ephraim Larsen in 1884. It has a wood frame addition off the back. The concrete block addition to the west was built in 1950. Ephraim Larsen was Jacob Johnson's brother in law and was caretaker for the land near the Johnson Farmstead up Canal Canyon until he died of Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever. The home is currently owned by the Michael and Jyll Okelberry.
Soren Larsen, Jr. House, c. 1899
441 South 200 West
This one-story, three opening hall parlor brick home is an excellent example of the most common folk house in Spring City. Soren and Maria met and married at sea. They arrived in Salt Lake Valley in 1854 with a company of Scandanavian immigrants; they moved to Ephraim in 1858, and Spring City in 1862. Soren, a Dane, who fought for his country in Germany, was a “Minute Man” during the Blackhawk War. He declared ownership of this fertile lot on Canal Creek in 1869 rather than joining his countrymen in the northern part of town. He was a farmer and a good carpenter who made his own furniture. His son, Soren Jr. built this house north of his father’s adobe home, which was right by the creek.
Moroni Brough House, 1909
383 South 100 East
This one and one half story yellow brick, pattern book house was built in 1909 by Moroni Brough. The cross-wing residence has extensive brick corbelling consisting of bricks manufactured in Manti. It is a good example of the combination of a front gable façade with an irregular floor plan of pattern book origin. An addition to the east and a kitchen to the north was constructed in 1981 to match the original design by previous owners Joe and Lee Bennion.
Log Cabin/Studio, c. 1880
Just East of 100 E on 400 South
Just east of the Brough house, this cabin was originally located on Highway 117 about three quarters of a mile west of town, near the Spring City Cemetery. It was purchased by the Joe and Lee Bennion in 1990 and moved to its present location. It has distinctive dovetail corner notches.
John & Emma (Lucas) Robinson House, c. 1875
95 East 400 South
John and Emma came to America in 1856 and traveled by handcart with the first Mormon Handcart Company, suffering many hardships on the nine week journey. The family settled in Spring City in 1861. John was a gunsmith and was kept busy during the Blackhawk War repairing old guns — and after the war he became friends with the “Indians” repairing their guns as well He built a log home which is now a small and and one half story hall-parlor house, with a rear addition. In the 1890’s, he willed the house to his son, William. A parlor, kitchen and pantry were added about the turn of the 20th century, and more recently, a major addition of similar form was added. Emma was a talented milliner and made many beautiful hats for the town ladies. She went to Salt Lake each fall and spring for Conference in a mule drawn cart and shopped for “artificial” with which to trim her hats and bonnets. She served as a midwife, assisting with many a birth deal loved by all, being so kind and gentle, with those who were ill and in need of skilled care and attention.
Niels Peter Jensen Home, c. 1880
427 East Center
This home is built of adobe, a d rectangular cabin type with a three-opening facade and internal partition which contains a stove flue chimney. The adobe bricks were originally plastered red and marked off to simulate brick masonry. It was stuccoed about 1960. It has a hip roof porch on the front with nicely turned spindle decoration. An addition was added to the east to give the owner more space. This home is still owned by a descendant of Niels P. Jensen, who came here about 1877. He operated his own bakery in Denmark until government confiscation occurred, after which his family came to Utah. His granddaughter, Christie Beck, remembered that he made his own powdered sugar from granulated sugar and would make decorated cakes for his friends. He once made a beautiful cake for President Lorenzo Snow who was visiting the Manti Temple.
James Anderson Allred House, c. 1874
297 South 100 West
This two-story, Federal style frame house, was built in 1874 by James A. Allred, nephew of the town’s founder. It is a central-passage plan, unusual in Spring City, and it has a rear addition. The redwood lumber siding was freighted in from California. Allred was the first mayor of Spring City when it was incorporated in 1870, and he served as bishop from 1882 until his death in 1904. Two of Allred’s wives, Elizabeth Parkis and Mary Ann Pollard raised six children in the house. Adjacent to the residence is a stone root cellar and a wood frame “inside out” granary both dating from the 1870s. The house was purchased by William Osborne and is still in the Osborne family.
Jacob Nielsen Log Cabin, c. 1870
289 South 200 West
This 1870s log cabin was built by Jacob Nielsen of logs hewn on top and bottom and joined at the corners with a “V” notch. The adjacent stone granary was built c. 1875. In the 1990s the current owners added a wood frame and clapboard addition at the rear of the cabin. The cabin originally faced 300 South at the corner of this block.
Lauritz Larsen House, c. 1860s
12 East 300 South
Lauritz Larsen constructed this adobe hall-parlor house in the 1860s. The house was later sheathed with stucco. It
was passed on to his son L. O. Larsen and daughter-in-law Deseret Anderson. L. O. was a merchant, a manager of the Young Men’s Co-op, and served as LDS Bishop from 1904 until his death in 1913. He also served a 4 year term as Mayor. Later Ernest B. Terry, the town music teacher, acquired the house. It eventually became the home and studio of notable Sanpete artist Ella Peacock and is now owned by Dave and Karen Ericson.
Neils Adler House, c. 1875
296 South Main
This one and one half story yellow brick house was one of the first fired brick houses in Spring City. It is a hall-parlor plan with a rear lean-to addition. Neils Adler, an early Utah immigrant, joined the LDS church in 1853, was in Spring Town by 1867 and died at the age of 93 in Castle Dale, Utah. A room in this home was occasionally rented out to visitors.
James Rasmussen (Clawson) House, c. 1880
184 East 200 South
This small adobe, double-cell house is interesting because it represents a particularly popular building technique in Sanpete County. The adobe surface was plastered with red stucco and then scored and highlighted with white paint to simulate red brick. This technique made the house more attractive while concealing the adobe brick. The James Clawson family occupied the house for many years and added the rear wood frame and concrete block additions. It was restored in 2003 after being vacant for many years.
William Ford House, c. 1880
13 North Main
William Ford, a blacksmith, probably built this adobe-lined, wood frame house. The hall-parlor has a rear addition, a form that is not uncommon to the area. Ford’s blacksmith shop was likely situated to the west of the house. The house was sold to Edward Sahlburg about 1920. John R. Baxter, Jr., owner and operator of the nearby confectionery and Lyceum Theater lived here for many years. Baxter’s descendants still own the home, and in 2019-2020 did a major renovation of the home and added the sympathetic northwest wing.
Crisp-Allred House, c. 1881-1884
59 North Main
This large two-story hall-parlor stone house with Greek Revival influence was built by James Crisp, a farmer and stock raiser from England. Crisp came to Utah in 1866 and arrived in Spring City the following year. After working at various occupations, he freighted produce to the mining camps on the Nevada-Utah border. Wealth followed, and in the early 1880s Crisp built this house. Dances were held on the second floor. In the early 1900s Crisp met an untimely death due to a farming accident. Orson and Lorena Sorenson Allred purchased the house, built a rear addition and opened several rooms for boarding and thus operated what came to be known as the Allred Hotel for some 25 years. Lorena’s chicken dinners reportedly were famous! Current owners, Mark and Vickie Allen, have been restoring the hotel and are now operating a Bed and Breakfast in the old hotel.
John F. Bohlin House, c. 1884
138 North 100 West
This stuccoed adobe house was built in 1859 as a single room. John F. Bohlin (originally spelled Bohleen), a stonemason for many buildings in Spring City, and his wife, lived here, however it is not known if he built the house. Bohlin owned the lot until 1874, then it was owned by Peter Olsen, and then Jonas Peterson in 1904. A cabin belonging to the Justesen family was moved to this lot for additional living space. It is believed the Bohlin family lived in another location and moved back to this home where his wife died and later his daughter.
John R. Baxter, Sr. House, c. 1903
12 West 200 North
This one and on half story house is an good example of Victorian pattern book design in Spring City. It illustrates influences of the Queen Anne style with gable shingling and an ornate spindled porch. The family rented rooms while they lived in the house. It was designed to accommodate a 4’x4’x4’ lead-lined cistern on the second floor to provide water pressure to the first floor. Baxter, mayor from 1894-95, was a prosperous merchant and built this tribute to his success in 1903 diagonally across Main Street from his store. Jens Peter Carlson, a local mason, did much of the masonry work. The Baxter family owned the house until 1985. The home was almost demolished because of a major water leak in the cold winter. It was restored in the 1990’s by the Ed Soper family.
Petersen-Nielsen House, c. 1880
15 East 200 North
This adobe, cross-wing house is covered with scored stucco simulating stone and contains patterned gable shingling and elaborate porch posts. It was originally built by Ole Petersen and sold to Hans Nielsen in 1882. Petersen served as mayor and built the Spring City Planing Mill. After the death of his first wife Ida, Petersen married Anna Backman Malmquist, who became a well known midwife. Hans Nielsen, a farmer and stockholder in the Young Men’s Co-op Store, built many outbuildings on this lot. In 1906 the house was sold to Joe Schofield who carried the town’s mail and ran a livery stable. The house was eventually purchased by John Davis, and occupied by his son Hugh. It home is currently owned by Craig and M’Lisa Paulsen.
Albert and Martha Puzey House, c. 1906
87 West 200 North
This historic house was built in 1906 by Albert Puzey. Albert’s wife, Martha was given a wedding gift of $500 by her father, Simon Beck, and the Puzey’s were able to save another $100 during the next 5 years for the lot and construction funds. The house was originally an adobe “T” shaped cross-wing type home and in 1913 a rear addition was built. The rear addition was an adobe-filled frame with Dutch Cove siding, which has recently been restored. Albert worked as a farmer, a sheepherder, a clerk at the local mercantile, and also served as Spring City Marshal for several years. The Puzey’s raised 10 children in the small adobe home without having indoor plumbing or a kitchen. Straw tick bedding was put down and picked up each day for the 10 children. Water was heated in a large black caldron outside over a fire to wash the clothes. The kitchen and bathroom with running water were installed after 1948, when Albert sold the home to his son Willard and daughter-in-law Bessey Christiansen Puzey. The house passed through many hands for the next several decades and the current owners, Jhan and Tracy Miller, have been restoring it over the past four years. The house is a contributing feature within the Spring City Historic District.
Iver Peter Petersen House, c. 1875
309 North Main
Petersen, a Danish immigrant, built this stone, hall-parlor plan house in the mid 1870s. A rear adobe addition was constructed shortly thereafter. He died at a young age leaving a widow with several young children. A stone granary behind the house has been made into a living space. Currently owned by David Rosier.
Anders C. & Mette K Christensen House, c. 1875
115 East 500 North
This house was originally a one story asymmetrical adobe, hall-parlor house with a porch extending across the front façade. A real “L” was added to the north. The house was purchased by the Hope family in the 1940s and they replaced the roof, rebuilt a good portion of the original house and stuccoed the exterior.
Iver & Maria Christensen House, c. 1908
323 East 500 North
Iver Christensen built this one and one half story house about 1908. He was born in Castle Dale, Emery County and married Maria Sandstrom in 1901. The house is a single cell building with a rear lean-to addition. It has Victorian details such as the brick relieving arches and leaded windows. The adjacent summer kitchen was remodeled into a bath and connected by a breezeway to the house. Note the outside steps on the north side of the house which accessed the second floor before recent indoor steps were added. A log cabin moved onto the property has been remodeled for extra guest space.
Andrew & Sena Munk Thompsen House, c. 1886
488 North 200 East
This one story adobe, hall-parlor house with rear addition was built after 1886 for Andrew & Sena Munk Jensen Thompsen who emigrated from Denmark. Andrew’s nickname was “Fishman” because he would travel to Utah Lake, to fish and return to sell his catch to local citizens. While selling fish he was accompanied by his dog who had been trained to bark announcing his arrival. The Thompsens raised ten children here. Later the parents left the LDS Church and became Seventh Day Adventists and often held meetings in their home. The house was restored in 1997 and the adobe was stuccoed and scored to look like brick.
Hansen-Jensen House, c. 1892
385 East 500 North
This brick pattern book house was most likely built by Jens Hansen and later sold to Hyrum Jensen, Spring City Mayor and local farmer. “Hy” made an addition to the house as his family grew. In the 1930s the house was surrounded by numerous fruit trees. The Jensen family lived here for many years and thereafter remained vacant. It was sold in the 1980s and later purchased and restored by Midge and George Delavan.
N. Peter & Olena Olsen Hansen House, c. 1874
192 North 200 East
This one and one half story brick house was constructed by Neils Peter Hansen in the mid 1870s and owned by him and his wife, Olena, until 1890. It is a hall-parlor plan with a rear addition. Hansen, an immigrant from Denmark, and a Black Hawk War veteran, settled in Spring City in 1860. He is the brother of Henning Hansen who built his house nearby.
Peter & Anenia Mickel House, c. 1901
389 North 100 East
This small brick pattern book, cross-wing house, with its spindled porch work was erected for Peter P. and Anenia Allred Mickel in 1901. They lived in a cabin on the same lot while the house was being built, and only lived there a short time, losing the house due to gambling debts. In 1903 the house was sold to Mary Sorenson who lived here with her husband David for many years. An addition in matching brick has been added to the south.
Mette C. Christoffersen House, c. 1881
191 North 300 East
Built about 1881 by the Christoffersens, this one story adobe house was stuccoed and painted to imitate red brick as late as 1950. The roofing system is a heavy timber technique with axe-hewn rafters that is rarely found in Sanpete County. In 1919 Hans Peter Christoffersen inherited the home and sold it to his sister Margaret Sorensen. The stuccoed exterior no longer imitates brick. Currently owned by the Tucker family.
Carl Hansen House, c. 1890
280 East 300 South
This one and one half story yellow brick cross-wing house was built about 1890 by Norwegian Carl Hansen. Hansen served as the Spring City Justice of the Peace for several years. The house was restored in the 1990s, and the current owner, added a wood frame addition.
Peter & Kristina Rasmussen House, c. 1878
378 North 100 East
Peter Rasmussen bought this lot from his father, Christian, in 1878 for $14 and erected this one and one half story stone house for his wife Kristina Larsen and their son Peter. It is a traditional hall-parlor plan with a rear addition. The Rasmussen family owned this house into the 20th century.
Jens Petersen House, c. 1874
147 North 100 East
Jens Petersen, a weaver from Denmark, built the front two rooms of this one story stone house in 1874. By 1882 the house was owned by Orson Allred and in 1935 it was sold to Vera Downard Sorensen. A fire and subsequent restoration resulted in an addition to the north and west of the original structure in 1981. A log barn at the rear of the lot has also been restored. Currently owned by George Kenzy.
Jens Severine Jensen House, c. 1879
276 North 300 East
Jens Severine Jensen built this one and one half story house, adobe hall-parlor house in the 1870s. The house was originally stuccoed and painted with bright red lines imitating brick, but is now covered with siding. There is milled spindle work on the porch. The barn is from c. 1875, the granary c. 1890, and the summer kitchen was added in 1894. Some of the outbuildings have been torn down.
Freeman Allred House, c. 1912
121 East Center
This one and one half story brick pattern book house is the only early house in Spring City to be placed diagonally upon the lot. The gables and dormers contain decorative wooden shingle patterns. It was built in 1912 for Freeman Allred, a surveyor, who claimed that Spring City was not laid out to the true cardinal points of the compass. He situated his house on what he said were the true north-south lines. Recent surveyors confirm that Freeman was correct.
Freeman’s wife was Elenor, and the home was later sold to a member of her family. It stayed in the Hansen family for many year, and is currently owned by Craig and Susan Christensen.
Andersen-Madsen House, c. 1882
325 East Center
This one and one half story brick house was built about 1880 by Jens C. Andersen, a Dane. The main portion of the house contains a second story door above a small porch and is built with multi-colored brick. Note the prominent brick round-arched lintels above the door and window opening in contrast to the brick color of the exterior walls. The brick may have come from the same kiln as the brick used for the old elementary school. In 1885 Jens sold the house to Christian Andersen. Andrew Madsen, a handcart pioneer and survivor of the 1856 handcart pioneer experience, purchased the home in 1891. Madsen, also from Denmark, was a Black Hawk War veteran, and was involved in the Spring City Roller Mills. A kitchen addition was constructed in 1910. Additional living space has been added by the current owners, Gary and Katie Parnell.
Henning Edward Hansen House, c. 1894
288 North 200 East
The wood frame, cross-wing house was built about 1894 by H. E. Hansen. Hansen, the son of a 1859 pioneer, was a farmer, city councilman, city watermaster, and director of the Horseshoe Irrigation Company. He is the brother of N. Peter Hansen who built his house nearby. The wood siding was obtained locally from Ole Peterson’s mill.
Justesen-Olsen House, c. 1876
428 South 100 West
A one-story hall-parlor house built by Peter Justesen with the assistance of mason Jens “Rock” Sorensen. It was sold in 1877 to Matilda Justesen Olsen. Olsen’s daughter, wife of Judge Jacob Johnson, inherited the house in 1893 and sold it to James Blain in 1913. Max Blain, a local artist, lived here for many years. It is still owned by the Blain family.
Peter Justesen House, c. 1887
85 West 400 North
This one and one half story stone house was constructed by Peter Justesen after 1885. It was probably his second house in Spring City as he also built the house at 428 S 100 W. The house was built with one room and a rear lean-to. In 1889 it was sold to Sidney R. Allred and then Jens Hansen. Several new additions have been added to the rear.
Robert Blain House, c. 1883
73 West Center
Robert Blain built this one and one half story, hall-parlor house in 1883. The house has a rear addition and one third of the porch is enclosed. The exterior, shiplap siding was locally planed by Ole Peterson. Robert Blain, a brother of John was from England and was married to Jane Slack and Melissa Barney. He was a farmer and eventually became manager of the Spring City Co-op Store. He was also a school trustee, postmaster, and partner in the Baxter & Blain Mercantile at 190 North Main Street.
James T. S. Allred House, c. 1864
96 East 400 South
This is one of the oldest houses in Spring City. James T. S. Allred, a son of James Allred, constructed the original portion of the house from sawn logs. He was an original settler of Manti in 1849. He helped explore the area with his father and moved to the Allred Settlement in 1852. Like many of the earliest settlers he was forced to move to Manti before moving back to what became known as Spring Town. He was an interpreter for the area’s Native Americans, some of whom visited his home. After 1919 the house was sided and in 1962 a frame addition was added and stuccoed. More recently vinyl siding has encased the dwelling.
Edward F. Allred House, c. 1890
450 South 100 East
This one and one half story oolitic limestone house was built sometime after 1888 by Edward F. Allred , a grandson of James Allred. It was constructed on the site of James’ first cabin. Major alterations have occurred in recent years.
Reid H. Allred House, c. 1884
94 West 100 North
The southeast portion of this home was a one-room frame cabin constructed in 1884. The remainder was built in 1931. William Scott, an early freighter, resided here, however, it may have been built by Robert Blain, another occupant. The house was sold to Peter A. Hansen in 1898, then to Isaac Pratt Allred in 1901, and mortgaged to Wayne Nunley in 1915. Reid H. and Libbie Allred bought this house after their marriage, enlarging it and raising their family here. Reid was a local teacher, principal and LDS bishop. Currently owned by Doug and Joan Durfey.
Daniel Beckstrom House, c. 1879
450 South 100 West
Daniel Beckstrom acquired the property from Louis Justesen and built this adobe one-story hipped roof house. A wood frame, adobe-lined addition was constructed in about 1914. The Beckstrom family owned the house until 1976. There have been numerous alterations over the years.
Old Spring City Cemetery
240 North 100 East
This cemetery was the main burial ground until 1869 when the one in use today (1 mile west of town on Highway 117) was started. Newton Devine Allred, who died in 1857, is the earliest known burial. The earliest grave markers were of wood and were often broken by grazing sheep and the actual locations of many graves remain unknown. There are 63 known burials including Black Hawk War casualties and many children. The last burial in this cemetery was in 1910.
Resources: Kaye Watson, Cherrie Barrow, Daughters of Utah Pioneers
Thanks to all who contributed photos: Heidi Ferrin Simmons, Ann Stucki, Alison Anderson, Marta Sloan