Homes on the Heritage Days Tour 2022
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Peter Jensen Cabin, 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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.