| Show THE EPHRAIM CO-OP --THE REST OF THE STORY Blodwen Olsen In the 1990 and 1996 editions of the Saga of the Sanpitch histories of the Ephraim Co-op Institution and the Relief Society granary were published They were extensively researched comprehensive and well written by Virginia Nielson How these buildings became the useful and attractive edifices they are can now be told For twenty years after the abandonment of the buildings known as the old mill many people and organizations had tried with limited success to preserve and restore them for some useful purpose The adjoining home known as the annex had been owned or rented by families and finally rented by Snow College students The Sanpete Development Corporation and the Sanpete Theater organization succeded in purchasing the property from the Bank of Ephraim By heroic efforts consisting of personal contibutions of money many hours of volunteer work and grants new roofs had been put on the buildings Further improvements were atdead stop In 1989 the Sanpete Trade Association STA became interested in the possibility of restoring and using the larger building to display and sell their home-produced arts and crafts STA Ephraim City and some interested citizens contacted the Community Impact Board CIB withwell-prepared application for funds to restore the building for this useful purpose The CIB explained that for them to be able to help Ephraim City had to own the property Because of this recommendation the City with some creative financing and development money obtained title to the property With ownership by the city help from the CIB became possible and the preservation and restorationgenuine possibility To expedite this action the city decided to organizecommittee Robert Stoddard member of the city council was persuaded by the Council and by 116 |
