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Show NPS Fonn 10 900-a Utah MS Word Fonnal MB No. 1024-0018 (Expires 5/3112012) United States Department of the Interior National Park Service National Register of Historic Places Continuation Sheet Section No. z Page 1 Wells Historic District, Salt Lake City, Salt Lake County, UT Narrative Description The Wells Historic District is a residential neighborhood, composed primarily of single-family homes, located immediately south of Liberty Park and south of downtown Salt Lake City, Salt Lake County, Utah. It is bordered on all sides by substantial transportation corridors: 700 East (on the east), 2100 South (on the south), State Street (on the west), and 1300 South (on the north). Although these boundary roadways have seen extensive modem development, the vast majority of the area between them retains its historic suburban quality due to its tree-lined streets, uniform setbacks, well-preserved architecture, and the similarity of scale in the housing stock. By far, most buildings were constructed during the first three decades of the twentieth century; thus the district is notable for its collection of Bungalow variations and Eclectic Victorian and Period Revival residences. Bungalows are the architectural strength of the neighborhood, comprising the single largest category of building forms and styles in the district. The most common alterations to buildings in the district are the application of stucco or aluminum, vinyl, or asbestos (also pressboard) siding and the replacement of original windows. Many of the contributing homes from the period have additions, frequently built during the historic period but also representing modem alterations. The Wells Historic District encompasses approximately 61 acres spread over roughly 100 blocks containing individual lots of various sizes. This area is comprised of many small-scale subdivisions intermingled with individually built homes. Residential construction in the area began on a limited basis in the late 1880s, grew substantially between 1900 an.d the stock market crash of 1929, and by the late 1930s much of the area had been developed. Development increased slightly during World War II, and after the ·war construction occurred in only small pockets due to a lack of vacant land. Minimal construction continues into the present and consists of additions to existing structures as well as tear-down projects in which older structures are demolished to accommodate new construction. Many of the newer structures being constructed serve city and community purposes as well as provide low to moderate income multiple housing units. The distribution of housing types and styles within the district echoes the broad time span over which construction occurred within the district but also clearly illustrates the periods of boom and bust in construction. All but approximately 1 percent of the properties in the district are residential properties, and among these, nearly 94 percent are single-family residential structures. The remaining 6 percent of the historic residences are multi-family properties, including an excellent array of double houses and duplexes representing a variety of time periods and architectural styles. A total of 23 historic commercial properties and 5 historic churches are also present, as are one historic school building and a commemorative park. The Wells Historic District contains 2,829 documented primary buildings, of which the majority (2,639 or 93 percent) were constructed during the historical period (e.g., built during or before 1957). Of the 2,829 total buildings, 68 percent (1,924) contribute to the historical character of the district. Of the 905 buildings that do not contribute to the district, 715 are historical structures that have been substantively altered, and 190 are outof-period structures, primarily built during the 1960s and 1970s. Three properties, all associated with the Wilford Woodruff Family, are individually listed on the National Register of Historic Places. These are the Wilford Woodruff Farm House at 1604 South 500 East (listed July 14, 1982; NRIS No. 82004152); Woodruff |
