The home was built in 1907 by John A. Henrickson, a prominent industrialist in northern Utah. Born in Norway, Henrickson came to Utah as a Mormon convert. He began the Cache Knitting Works and his company revolutionized the manufacture of underwear and hosiery in Utah. It was the first factory to manufacture “union suits,” one-piece long underwear with a trap door in the seat. The success of the Logan plant allowed him to build the Ogden Knitting Works.*
This wood Victorian home is in good condition. Though simpler than most Victorian homes in its use of synthesis, it nevertheless has many Victorian elements. The gables are each crowned with a plaster design. The chimney is an equally important element in the structure because of its prominent place and size. The front of the building features a beautiful portico, supported by four unfluted columns with Doric capitals and a plain entablature. This home is also part of the bed and breakfast.
Alvin H. Thompson, the original owner and a prominent businessman in Cache Valley, founded Utah Mortgage Logan in 1892. In 1903, he also helped found the Cache Valley Banking Company, whose landmark building later became the First Interstate Bank.
The Thatchers’ Victorian home was built in 1890 of brick and fronted by a large terrace and surrounded by a 2-foot brick wall. The home has all the characteristics of the Victorian style, such as an uneven roof and a variety of decorative works on the windows. The front portico is supported by two fluted columns with Doric capitals while the entablature is of Greek simplicity.
In 1877, at the request of townspeople, Oliver Ormsby came to Logan to be the first college-trained medical doctor in the city. After serving a mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, and establishing his practice, he built this home in 1890. In 1920, George Thatcher, a grandson of church leader Brigham Young, bought the house. While Mrs. Thatcher, the head of the music department at Utah State Agricultural College, held teas and musical parties, George and his brother, Brahman Guy Thatcher, built a business empire in Cache Valley. They were involved in mining, flour mills, banking, electric power, a music store, the Capitol and Lyric Theatres, and the Thatcher Opera House. The house is now a delightful bed and breakfast that is beautifully maintained and features themed rooms.*
First constructed at Fort Douglas in 1875 using native red sandstone from the nearby quarry in Red Butte Canyon, this building originally served as a barracks and storeroom. It was converted to the commanding officer’s quarters in 1930, providing a sizeable living room where the commander could entertain guests. Colonel Howard C. Price was the home’s first occupant. Today, it is a gathering place for university and community meetings, seminars, and special events.
Fort Douglas was operated by the U. S. Army from 1862 to 1991. During the 2002 Olympic Winter Games, this and other Fort Douglas facilities were part of the games Athletes Village, where Utah welcomed visitors and athletes from around the world. Today, the fort’s historic and new structures comprise Fort Douglas Heritage Commons, a living and learning center for the University of Utah, which continues to welcome community participation.
Marriner S. Eccles, the eldest child of David and Ellen Eccles, built this 2½-story home in 1913. Carl Schaub designed the home. Architectural styles include Spanish Revival, Classical, Italianate, and Prairie. The arched front porch and the arbor to the south dominate the façade.
Virginia creeper adorns the front porch, east chimney, and arbor. Large French doors and windows allow sunlight in every room. Unique features include a formal as well as offkitchen stairway, Italian marble in the rotunda reception room, hardwood floors, brass and stencil tile, two fireplaces, original bathroom, and a sleeping porch. Marriner S. Eccles was placed at the head of the Logan family businesses when his father died and within 20 years had made the Eccles banking and sugar interests among the largest in the West. In 1934, he was appointed by President Franklin D. Roosevelt to serve as chairman of the Federal Reserve Board, a position he held until 1948. The Federal Reserve Building in Washington, D.C., was named after him.*
Built c.1906 by prominent Utah architect David C. Dart, this one and one-half story cottage is a type known as a central block with projecting bays. With Victorian, Arts and Crafts, and English Tudor architectural features, the house style was labeled “builder’s vernacular” in early tax documents and is a good representation of early twentieth-century eclecticism.
The house has many University of Utah ties. The first owners were William and Grace Ebaugh. William was chair of the Department of Chemistry. In 1918, Edward and Lillian Gaby purchased the house and completed an extensive renovation of the interior. The house then fell into disrepair and was abandoned during the Great Depression. Seville Flowers, a botany professor, and wife Emily, owners from 1937 to 1972, restored it to a livable condition. In 1951, the façade was covered with a brick-imprinted stucco; it was restored to its original appearance in 2001.
This 2½-story home was built in 1910 by Severin Jeppeson for his wife Emma. He was a clerk, local musician, and leader of the Jeppeson Orchestra. The house has similar characteristics of others built during the same period. The bungalow has neoclassical details, evidenced by the colonnaded front porch. The square columns have Doric capitals with dentil molding. There are 15 leaded glass windows, 11 of which are beveled cut glass. Successive owners have made significant improvements. The screen porch was changed into a bay window breakfast nook, a plant conservatory has been added, and the empty attic was finished to create a large room. The front entrance and façade have been altered and wood balustrades were added around the veranda.
Mr. Bowen built this two-story home in 1909. He was the manager of Logan-Idaho Oil and Gas Co. The house was converted to apartments for a short time, but present owners are restoring its Victorian style as a single family dwelling.*
Charles W. Nibley built this home in 1905 for his second wife, Ellen Ricks Nibley. The home, described as Neoclassical, has a cluster of three 2-story Ionic columns on each side of the portico, reminiscent of Jefferson Classicism. The first-story veranda wraps around one side of the home and is supported by Ionic columns. A classic balustrade encircles the second-story veranda. The fan window in the front gable is typical of the style and is the crowning feature of the façade.
The home was used as a fraternity house until 1963, when Mr. and Mrs. Ray Somers purchased the home. Over a period of 20 years, they restored the grand structure and changed the interior to a fancy 1905-era style with some Georgian and Colonial Revival touches. They added the garage, woodwork, numerous stained glass windows, and a unique and beautiful French parlor. There is also a Grecian library, a classical pillar section at the head of the stairway, a fancy hutch over the radiators on the second floor, luxurious Victorian carpeting, and hardwood parquet floors.
Cache Valley black walnut was used in the upstairs bathroom, front foyer, and other parts of the home. The woodwork in the hall and dining room is stained Italian cherry to match the mantle in the parlor. All woodwork, millwork, electrical, plumbing, plaster castings, painting, and design were done by the Somers.*