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Show Department of Community & Economic Development Division of State History Utah State Historical Society Norman H. Bangerter Governor MaxJ.Evans Director 300 Rio Grande Salt Lake City, Utah 84101-1182 (801) 533-5755 FAX: (801) 364-6436 March 26, 1992 Sharon I. Brinton Union Community Council 303 East 7200 South Midvale, UT 84047 RE: Fort Union Historic Resources Dear Mrs. Brinton: This letter is in response to your request of March 24, 1992 concerning the historic value of the Fort Union area. By way of background, the Utah State Historical Society is the essentially the public organization of the Utah Division of State History which includes the Office of Preservation. Among many other duties, we assist in identifying and documenting historic resources as well as providing information on the "treatment" of historic bu il dings. As I described to you earlier this week, at the request of Clair Hardman of the Salt Lake County Planning Division, we visited the Fort Union neighborhood in late January to perform a preliminary reconnaissance survey for historic resources. From that drive-through, there appeared to be several structures potentially eligible for the National Register of Historic Places. We recommended that Salt Lake County contract with a historic preservation professional to survey and investigate these structures. In addition to the buildings, we suggested that they investigate the potential remains of the Fort and other possibly historic features (e.g., the canal). We understand that Allen Roberts was retained to investigate the historic structures and is in the process of completing his research findings. Mr. Roberts has performed numerous similar historic surveys throughout Utah and we would be pleased to review his findings at the request of Salt Lake County. We understand that the Planning Division is interested in the investigation of a range of preservation or "treatment" options. When the eligibility or significance of the historic structures is understood, options for treatment (e.g., restoration, relocation, stabilization, or documentation) can then be better addressed. We do not maintain a chronological listing of the oldest houses in Utah so we cannot say whether the Jehu Cox House is the oldest house on its original location. However, other than the Cox House, the oldest houses we know of include Brigham Young's Beehive House (built 1852-54) and the Nelson Wheeler Whipple House (564 West 400 North, Salt Lake City, a two story adobe house, built in 1854). Both houses are listed on the National Register. There are several old cabins (e.g., the Dueul Cabin and the Miles Goodyear Board of State History: Douglas D. Alder • Marilyn C. Barker • Dale L. Berge • Boyd A. Blackner Hugh C. Garner • Peter L. Goss • David D. Hansen • Dean L. May • Amy Allen Price' Penny Sam pinos • Jerry Wylie |
