| OCR Text |
Show Et SIGNIFICANCE AREAS OF SIGNIFICANCE -- CHECK AND JUSTIFY BELOW PERIOD _ PREHISTOHIC -.ARCHEULUGY-PREHISTORIC _COMMUNITY PLANNING _LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTURE _1400-1499 -.ARCHEOLOGY-HISTORIC _CONSERVATION _LAW _SCIENCE _ 1500- 1599 -.AGRICULTURE _ECONOMICS _LITERATURE _SCULPTURE _RELIGION _ 1600-1699 lSARCHITECTURE _EDUCATION _ MILITARY _ SOCIAL' HUMANITARIAN _ .1700 - 1799 -.ART _ENGINEERING _MUSIC _ THEATER _ 1800- 1899 _COMMERCE _EXPLORATION , SETTLEMENT _ PHILOSOPHY _ TRANSPORTATION X 1900 __ _COMMUNICATIONS __ INDUSTRY _POLITICS - GOVERNMENT _OTHER (SPECIFY) _ INVENTION SPECIFIC DATES 1908 BUILDER/~~ Dode Wiethen STATEMENT OF SIGNIFICANCE The Wallace Blake House is significant as an excellent example of the vernacular style of architecture using native materials in Utah's Dixie. Although it was constructed in 1908, more than fifty years after the initial settlement of the area, the Wallace Blake House reflects the style and craftsmanship of houses constructed a half century earlier. In this vein the house stands as one of the last of the pioneer era and marks the transition from house construction characterized by a local style, the use of local materials and local craftsmen to one more general and universal in nature. HISTORY The Wa llace Blake house was constructed in 1908 lvi th native stone originally lLsed in the construction of the Price City LDS Chapel built in 1876. The house was constnlcted by Dode Wirthen a local stone mason who constructed many rock buildings in Utah's Dixie. lvoodwork on the house was done by 3 :- :;:_ ~-:: Carpenter. Wallace Blake was born January 31, 1880 at St. George, the son of Frederick and Eliza Barnett Blake. He married Isadore Lars en , a native of Bloomington on October 24, 1901. They purchased the home site and farm in June 1908 and immediately com;nenced construction of the house. Wallace Blake was initia lly a farmer and stockman by profession but later turned his attention to mining activit ies. In 1920 Isadore Blake died shortly after giving birth to the couple's sixth son. The lo ss of his wife was a tragic event to Wallace Blake and he soon lost interest in farnting or remaining in the house he had shared with his wife for b velve years. On October 31, 1921 Blake exchanged his house and property for a house in St. George mvn.ed by James S. Jones. The Jones family lived in the house until 1928 when they sold the property and hOlLse to Albert A. McCain ,mo remained in the house until 1937. Both James S. Jones and Albert ~lcCain continued to farm the land. Albert McCain also helped make brooms with a nearby neighbor, Alfred Carpenter. On December 21, 1937, Washington County took over the McCain property and held it until I'.1arch 26, 1940 when D. H. Heaton redeemed it. The house was used on occasion by Heaton and his sons while they raised cattle and sheep in the area. However during the last quarter century the house has been allo,ved to deteriorate through neglect and lack of use. In June 1976 the house was purchased by ~lr. and Mrs. Matthew R.Sirnrnons who plan to restore the. house. Th: house is located in the new community of Bloomington and and serves as an lmportant t1e to the past for the residents of the modern recreation community of Bloomington. |
