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Show Grafton News we wouL~ LL~e to re-povt OV'v title -progre.s.s of our OV'vgoLV'vg yrCl-{toV'v -project.s ClV'v~ title .ste-p.s we're tCl~LV'vg to -pre.senJe titlL.s itlL.storLc, .sLte. we c,oV'vHV'vue to -pur.sue our gOCiL to -protec,t ClV'v~ VlAClLV'vtClLV'v witlClt reVlAClLV'v.s of yrCl-{toV'v. Rus,s,eLL t-tOVVle .... After Between the years 1849-1851, Alonzo H. Russell and hi s wife Nancy Briggs Foster drove an ox team from New Hampshire across the plains to Salt Lake City. Alonzo built the Russell Home in Grafton around 1862. On the beautiful hand-crafted front porch Alonzo's family and friends often met to socialize, sing and listen to the mu sic of hi s guitar. Alonzo had hi s own band called the Russell Band in which he played the drums. Music after a hard days work was a part of life in Grafton . He was also a blacksmith by trade and supplied the town with eating utensils and farm tools, in addition to repairing broken wagon parts, sharpening plows and shoeing horses. When work began on the Russell home last fall a third of the east adobe wall fell down , then the west adobe wall started to buckle and just in the nick of time the contractors were able to shore it up. The building wouldn't have lasted another year. Thanks to Neil Takach of Sun Design Construction who worked on exterior wood finishes and Russell Bezette of Arid Lands Consultants who worked on the adobe bricks for their efforts to preserve the home. The work done was based on architectural drawings, completed by Kim Campbell of Campbell and Associates, and hi storic photos. The home has new shingles, rebuilt exterior adobe walls , porch and rear addition, as well as, windows and doors giving it new life for generations to come and enjoy. We still need to raise more funds to complete restoration on the inside and outside of the Russell Home. Near the center of the Grafton Cemetery, is a handcrafted wooden fence (the Berry Fence) that surrounds several stone markers commemorating the Berry family. r;efore After |
