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Show iii SIGNIFICANCE AREAS OF SIGNIFICANCE -- CHECK AND JUSTIFY BELOW PERIOD _PREHISTOKIC -ARCHEOLOGY-PREHISTORIC _COMMUNITY PLANNING _LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTURE I _1400-1499 -ARCHEOLOGY-HISTORIC _CONSERVATION _LAW _SCIENCE _1500-1599 -AGRICULTURE _ECONOMICS _LITERATURE _SCULPTURE --;-RELIGION _1600 -1699 ~RCHITECTURE _EDUCATION _MILI'TARY _SOCIAUHUMANITARIAN __ 1700-1799 -ART _ENGINEERING _MUSIC _THEATER _1800-1899 _COMMERCE _EXPLORATION / SETTLEMENT _PHILOSOPHY _TRANSPORTATION ~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. Althoug~ 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 universalin nature. HISTORY The Wallace Blake house was constructed in 1908 with native stone originally used in the construction of the Price City LOS Chapel built in 1876. The house was constructed by Dade lVirthen a local stone mason who constructed many rock buildings in Utah's Dixie. Woodwork on the house was done by Brigha.'TI Carpenter. Wallace Blake was born January 31, 1880 at St. George, the son of Frederick and Eliza Barnett Blake. He married Isadore Larsen, a native of Bloomington on October 24, 1901. 111ey purchased the home sit~ and fann in June 1908 and irrrrnediately commenced construction · of the house. Wallace Blake was initially a fanner and stockman by profession but later turned 11is attention to mining activities. In 1920 Isadore Blake died shortly after giving birth to the couple's sixth son. The loss of his ,dfe was a tragic event to Wallace Blake and he soon lost interest in farming or remaining in the house he had shared ''lith his ''life for twelve years. On October 31, 1921 Blake exchanged his house and property for a house in St. George owned by James S. Jones. The Jones family lived in the house until 1928 when they sold the property and house to Albert A. McCain who remained in the house until 1937. Both James S. Jones and Albert McCain continued to fann the hmd. Albert i'-1cCain 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 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 qtlarter century the hotlSe has been allowed to deteriorate through neglect and lack of tlSe. In June 1976 the hOtlSe was purchased by Mr. and Mrs. Matthew R.Sirrrrnons who plan to restore the. hotlSe . Th~ house is located in the new community of Bloomington and and serves as an lIDportant tle to the past for the residents of the modern recreation community of Bloomington. ~\'1arch |
