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Show NPS Form 10-800-a (8-86) Utah WordPerfect Format OMB No. 1024-0018 United States Department of the Interior National Park Service National Register of Historic Places Continuation Sheet Section number 8 Page 4 VanFleet Hotel, Farmington, Davls County, Utah The VanFleet family lived in and operated the hotel for over 4 decades until 1953 when they converted the building into apartment space. Hyrum VanFleet and his family occupied one of the apartment spaces until his death in May of 1956. While operating as a hotel, the facility served not only as boarding for guests, but contained a restaurant, famous for its steaks, and an open dance hall on the upper floor. Because of its strategic location near the county courthouse, many of the guests to frequent the hotel were associated with trials and other county functions. The hotel was also known to many in the community as the "Honeymoon Hotel". Many couples came to be married at the courthouse and would spend their honeymoon at the nearby VanFleet Hotel. Also, many "out-of-towners" used the hotel as a "lover's escape" since it was secluded from the larger cities located to the north and south. The hotel was also leased by private groups for activities and once served as the officer's club for Hill Air Force Base during World War II . Not only is the VanFleet Hotel significant for its expression of the ideals of the day, but also for the unique stonework that was employed in its construction. The original house, possibly built by Charles Bourne, a local stonemason, was constructed using a random rubble pattern which is articulated by hand-tooled corner stones set in such a way as to create quoins on all corners and at door and window openings. These techniques are unique to but a few buildings in Farmington including the Rock Church, built during the same era (1860's). The "quoining" effect described was generally not used on residences, with this notable exception. The second type of stonework applied on the hotel includes those portions which were added during the 1913 renovation and subsequent additions. A cobblestone masonry was employed at this time which was popular in many parts of Utah during this era. It can be seen in various locations in Farmington including on residences and decorative landscaping elements, such as the fence at the city cemetery. Much of this work, including that of the hotel, was executed by Heber J. VanFleet, brother of Hyrum S. VanFleet . The hotel remains as the finest example of this type of stone work completed by VanFleet. The stylistic influence that affected the 1913 and subsequent additions, was the Arts and Crafts movement, a style which was popular in Utah and throughout the United States during the first two decades of the twentieth century. Elements common to the style employed in this structure include the porches which were built with cobblestone columns and exposed roof purlins. Porches and verandas were commonly employed on Arts and Crafts structures to unite the building with its site, a theme which was implemented with much success on the VanFleet Hotel. Although stone buildings exist in many communities throughout the state, concentrations are found in only some half dozen locations. Those communities are all located either near stone quarries or on fieldstone-littered land at the base of the mountains. There is an abundance of fieldstone in the southern Davis County area, and stone houses are found in significant numbers in the communities of Farmington and Centeryille. Nearby Bountiful has a number of stone buildings, but not in the concentrations found in the former communities. In addition to the Farmington/Centerville area, other Utah locales which have significant numbers of X See continuation sheet |
