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Show NPS Form 10-900-a Utah WordPerfect 5.1 Format (Revised Feb. 1993) 0MB No. 10024-0018 United States Department of the Interior National Park Service National Register of Historic Places Continuation Sheet Section No. _8_ Page _2_ Lewis, John & Izola, House, Orem, Utah County, UT Narrative Statement of Significance The John S. & Izola Lewis House, built in 1938, is significant for its association with the "Establishment of Orem: 1914-1941" category of the Historic and Architectural Resources of Orem, Utah, Multiple Property Submission. The house was built by John Lewis, a prominent educator and administrator in the Orem public schools. The house is a later example of the English Cottage style and symbolizes the prosperity of residents involved in a variety of other professions besides fruit growing during this era. This house is reflective of the history of the Lewis family and its participation in Orem as it was becoming established as a city. During the "Establishment of Orem" period, the Provo Bench saw more changes associated with growth than in the previous periods. After the first decade of the 20th century, fruit growers on the bench realized that if their prosperity was to continue they must market their produce outside of the area and outside of Utah. With the establishment of a rail line in Orem, the "Orem Line," plus the increasing popularity of the automobile, the fruit and produce industries were able to market their products all over the western United States. With the increased prosperity, the Provo Bench soon became Orem Town in 1919 (in honor of Walter Orem who brought the railroad to the area), and eventually, in 1941, Orem City. The property now known as Scera Gardens Subdivision was once part of a 160-acre tract of land patented in 1890 by Ruth E. Kinsey. A portion of the land was sold to Otto J. Paulsen, a prominent settler on the Provo Bench, in 1897, and was then subdivided with this one-acre lot being sold to the Lewis' in 1938. John Lewis began immediate construction of the house, using a mule-drawn shovel to excavate for the foundation.2 Lewis was born in Provo to John Elias and Hepsybeth Sperry Lewis November 22,1901. He served an L.D.S. mission to the Northern United States Mission in 1923-24. After graduating in 1928 from Brigham Young University, John took a teaching position in Lakeshore, just southwest of Provo. After serving in this position for a year he moved to Orem. In June of 1930 he married (Hannah) Izola Stewart in the Salt Lake L.D.S. Temple. Izola is the daughter of Harry Jasper and Hannah Victoria Bone Stewart, and was born April 2,1911. Lewis continued his career in education, teaching at Lincoln Junior and Senior High School, and later, Orem High School. He was made a school counselor, one of the first in Utah, and eventually organized the counseling program for the Alpine School District. In 1960 he was made Assistant Principal at Orem High School where he served until retiring in 1967. John was also active in community affairs, becoming the first president of the Orem Lion's Club and helping to secure its charter. Along with these responsibilities, he also ran a small farm and raised draft horses in west Provo. He continued in the farming and horse-raising activities until his death on January 26,1969. As of this writing (1997), Izola still lives in the house which they built. |
