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Show was Moses' oldest full brother). The photo caption indicates that Anna ran the hotel, known at the time as the Manitou Hotel. Moses is listed in the 1891 Polk Directory as a teacher of elocution. The Johnsons were divorced in June of 1906. Anna received a 1/3 interest in the hotel, in lieu of alimony. Anna returned her 1/3 interest the following year (1907) for $400. Moses sold the property it 1909 to William Henry Kearns and Loretta Chase Kearns for $1000. Loretta Chase was born in Springville on 15 January 1873, daughter of John Edwin Chase and Hannah Elizabeth Fuller. William lived in and managed the hotel, newly renamed the Kearns House, with his wife and 5 surviving children. Howard LaSell Kearns, their second from youngest son, achieved some acclaim as an oil painter and concert pianist. Loretta and William sold the hotel in 1937 to Gladys C. Nielsen, three years before William's death. Gladys continued to operate the hotel, renaming it the Valley Tavern Hotel, until 1945, when it was taken over by Albert B and Gertrude H. Snyder. Mrs. Nielsen sold the building in 1949 to Otis A and Emma C. Snyder, who sold it to the aforementioned Mr. and Mrs. Snyder in 1953. The Snyders changed the name of the hotel to "Valley Tavern," then back to "Valley Tavern Hotel," and finally, (c.1958) to "Valley Hotel. II They operated the hotel until retiring in 1980. The hotel was vacant from 1980 until 1990, when the Snyders sold it to Nancy and Lyle Poulsen. The Poulsens completed an extensive renovation of the building in 1991, reopening it the Kearns Hotel Bed and Breakfast. The Paulson's work was recognized with a 1991 Heritage Project Award from the Utah Heritage Foundation. 1995, the present owners, Sherman and Beulah Langford, bought the hotel from the Poulsens. X See continuation sheet |
