Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1906-07-07
Historic Spencer House Being
Torn Down for Modern
Improvements.
SITE COST ONLY FIFTY CENTS.
II l. Now Valued at About SIS 900 and
l. to Have New Business Block
Built on II.


residence loft standing on the block
bounded by Second and Third South
and Main and State streets.
with the passing OF this place the
entire block is now devoted exclusive
ly 90 business houses.
This old landmark was erected In
1854 by Claudius V, Spencer who nov
resides at ~ Social Hall avenue. Mr.
Spencer acquired the property 50 years
ago at the cost OF exactly 80 cents, the
Zee he paid the recorder. He sold it
about Il years ago for i55,l0O, It Is
now worth double that sum
FORMER OWNERS STORY.
In speaking about the old place, Mr.
Spencer said To the News"
when first came to Utah, President
Brigham Young caused lots to be ap-
portioned TO the various pioneers and
newcomers. To me was assigned lot
on the west side. did not exactly fall
IN love with the property that came 10
my share, and went TO President Young
and asked hun IL It were possible for me
10 change for some other land lie
promptly instructed the recorder TO
look over his records and see whether
there was any vacant land. The re-
suit was that the site Of the old Spencer
house was selected, aud | paid the re-
corder 20 cents as his fee"
BUILDING OF THE HOUSE.
The story OF the building OF the
Spencer house is an interesting one
Mr.. Spencer returned from long mis-
sion abroad In 1854 Il had absolutely
nothing al the time" he said, hut
President Heber g. Rlmball counseled
me 10 build a good house on my prop
erty. Together with a couple Of young
Englishmen had With me we went out
into the canyon with oxteams. | climbed
one OF the peaks and over In a little val
I've | noticed heavy timber. We went
over and cut the timber and hauled Il
20 the city. To make long story
short | traded lumber for adobes and
carpenter work and when the house
was completed ! was but 800 IN debt.
The building Of such large house was
quite an undertaking In those days
GUBERNATORIAL QUARTERS.
For years the Spencer house was one
Of the handsomest and finest residences
In the city Of Salt Lake. II not west Of
the Rocky mountains. For a number
Of years IL was looked upon as the gu
bernatorlal headquarters and was pat
ronized by prominent people from the
east and abroad who visited Salt Lake.
Among those who established resi-
dence there at different periods were:
Gov. ]. Wilson Shaffer. Secretary Geo
A. Black. Judge Solomon Z. McCurdy
John Longmead. Capt. and NJ. c. Good
speed, Dr. STANDARD, Judge Beattie, L.
s. district court. Boise: Thomas A. Ben.
nett. mining man representing an Eng
fish syndicate. Charles Pepper and
family; 6. b. Diehl. j. ~ Christie. lie
trbutlng officer. United States geolosi-
cal survey: Dr.. and Mrs Van Ness.
Rev. T. J. Van Ness Of Denver. Travis
family; Judge Morgan and family Of
Corlnne; Lucas Forbes, chaplain IN
English navy. William A Baillie-
Gresham. officer in the English army.
and many others.
STORK CAME OFTEN.
Taken all in all. Mr.. Spencer SAYS 80
children were born beneath It's roof Up
TO the time he sold the property. Il
years ago, TO Patrick Mulrooney,
Leadville mining man. In whose nams
the property still stands. Among those
who first saw the light Of day beneath
"A
Diehl. several members OF the Nc.
Curdy family. and others
d. $. Spencer. assistant general pas
seGger agent for the oregon short
Line. was among the number whom
Dr. Stork brought 10 the house. When
he was a hoy Third South was not In
existence 9s street There was a
winding roadway running east ami
west and the youngsters could llis
along 90 iD "a wagon and pluck the wild
roses which grew In profusion. without
leaving the vehicle.
RESIDENCE BLOCK THEN.
IN those days the entire block was de-
voted practically TO residences. The
south half Of the block right through
% Main street, was owned by Claud-
ius. Daniel and Orson Spencer. Next
20 the old Spencer house north on State
was the property 81 Emma A. Ely Then
came that of Heeman Hyde john
Bailey Isabel Melyina Lawrence ana
John G.. Gray. The corner % State and
Second South. with 10 feet on the for
mer and n rods on the latter. was own
cd hy Manley Burrows, IN whose name
n stlll stands today. West on Second
South were the properties ~ Philip
puesley. David ?. Walker and the ia
Faust & Houtz livery stable. and fur
Their along g. est where the Kenyon nov
stands. was The Nathaniel Groesbeck
property South on Main was located
The turning shop of William Foster,
that ~ Wells. the grinder" the
strlngham property and then came the
Pacihc hotel. opposite the old Walker