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Show 8. Significance Period __ prehistoric __1400-1499 __1500-1599 __1600-1699 __1700-1799 1800-1899 1900- Specific dates Areas of Significance-Check and justify below community planning archeology-prehistoric . conservation archeology-historic . economics agriculture . education JL architecture . engineering _art . exploration/settlement _ commerce . industry _ communications . invention Qa> 1892 landscape architecture. law literature military music philosophy politics/government religion science sculpture social/ humanitarian theater transportation other (specify) Builder/Architect Rpswell Darius Bird, Sr. Statement of Significance (in one paragraph) The Roswell Darius Bird, Sr. house is locally significant as a well preserved example of a Victorian Builder house with distinctive and consistent brick detailing. Built in about 1892 it is an outstanding example of a transitional house type whose plan derives from the Vernacular "TM -plan and whose scale and detailing reflect the influence of Victorian taste. Family History Background Roswell Darius Bird inherited the pioneering spirit from his father, Richard and his grandfather, Benjamin F. His grandfather was a Mormon pioneer who had been converted to this American faith in New York State during the mid 1830s. Benjamin and many of his family gathered with the "saints" in Missouri, only to be expelled by mobs a few short years after settling. Their exodus led them to Nauvoo, Illinois, where again they were only able to live for a few short years. The family including Richard, who was married by this time, joined the great Mormon migration across the western plains to Utah. Arriving in the fall of 1850, Benjamin remained in Salt Lake, while Richard and his family joined with others to settle Hobble Creek (now Springville, Utah). This is where Roswell was born. He grew up in the era of Springville history which was filled with Indian intrigues, however, this was not to be a permanent home either. In 1868, Richard Bird and his family were called on a mission to colonize the "Big Muddy 1" in Southern Utah. Their first stop was at desolate Long Valley. After a year they moved to Clover Valley, a paradise compared to the former Long Valley. Following two years of struggle, Indian trouble, and hard work, a permanent settlement wsa established and the Birds returned to Springville. Roswell married soon after their return and a few years later moved the family to Union Bench (now Mapleton, Utah). He settled on land exempted under the Homestead Act by his father. History of the House The Roswell Darius Bird family lived in a two-room log cabin until the construction of the seven-room brick home was completed. The exact dates for construction are not known, but several circumstantial sources help to establish a good estimate. Harmer and Johnson in their History of Mapleton picture the first brick home in Mapleton built by E. M. Snow in 1884. Hence the Bird home was built after 1884. The first child in Roswell f s family to be born in Mapleton was Mina - the date was 17 November 1885. Others were Eva 1887; Richard - 1889; Cora - 1892; Hortense - 1894; and Lurlene - 1898. In an |
