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Show Street Address: Site Not Architect/Builder: j2" o Building Materials: ...-...- Building Type/Style: YpnvL U<?v$vi Description of physical appearance & significant architectural features: (Include additions, alterations, ancillary structures, and landscaping if applicable) This house is an example of the TYPE IV pair house, a type distinguished by the presence of an indented porch on the facade. The house is built of a locally fired, yellow brick with the walls laid in a common bond fashion. Originally the house was only a single story and had straight gable roof and stove chimneys paired internally on the ridge. The distinctive second story which stands today was added in 1887. Expanding tdrie house here simply meant adding a second story gabled room to each of the existing three bays. The house mixes Greek Revival and Victorian stylistic impulses. g ^ £ ~ Statement of Historical Significance: Construction Date: The Thuesen-Petersen house is significant as an example of Scandinavian vernacular architecture in Utah. The house contributes historically to the thematic nomination, "The Scandinavian-American Pair-house in Utah. The house was originally built by John Thuesen around 1870. Thuesen was a farmer who was born near Copenhagen, Denmark in 1843. Baptised with his family into the LDS Church in 1856, Thuesen married in 1865 and then emigrated to Utah, settling in at Gunnison by Christmas of 1866. In the late 1860s ^ Thuesen moved on over the mountain to Scipio and built this home for his growing family. By 1876, the restless Thuesen was on the move again, this time making the journey back to Sevier County where he took up permanent residence. Francis Fuller was the next owner of the house, but sold it to Jens Petersen in 1879. The house is primarily associated with Jens Petersen who was born in Ramsin, Hvidberg, Denmark in 1860. Jens, his father, Niels, and brother Andreas, emigrated to Utah in 1875. This immigrant trio was unusual in that none of them was a member of the IDS Church. Undoubtedly they were lured to Utah by favorable reports flowing back to Denmark from those Mormons who had previously emigrated. In 1879, Jens bought the Thuesen house and apparently the three men lived here until Andreas could build himself a fine brick house just across the stree to the east (the house still stands) . Both brothers were engaged in separate and competing merchantile operations. In 1887, Jens added the second story to the home and also built a new frane store across the back at this time. Though blinded by fever shortly after his arrival in Utah, Jens was a successful merchant and stockman and is said to one of the few Scipioites who could "pay income tax." Following Jens' death in 1936, the house was sold and the store detached and moved several blocks up to Main Street where it continues to operate today in its original capacity. 6 ^ J ; SEP -, lnnn f 1982 |
