from livingnewdeal.org: The largest portion of Lynn Fausett’s WPA-funded Barrier Canyon mural hangs at the back of the entry hall of the University of Utah Museum of Natural History at the eastern flank of the University of Utah campus (a smaller portion hangs in the Natural History Museum in Price, Utah). The canvas mural measures 12 x 60 feet and depicts ancient native pictographs/petroglyphs that Fausett had observed at the Great Gallery in Canyonlands National Monument (now a National Park), in what is known as the “Barrier Canyon Rock Art” style.
The mural was originally painted to be hung at the Museum of Modern Art in New York, then was stored at the Denver Art Museum for many years. In 1964 it was brought out and Fausett made repairs before it was exhibited around the west for several years. It fell in the hands of the Utah Museum of Natural History in 1969. In 2011 the mural was cleaned and stabilized, and then remounted on a steel frame, to be exhibited in the new home of the museum, completed that year. (see Museum flyer, below)
Lynn Fausett was born and raised in Price, Utah, and did several major New Deal mural projects around the state and in Nevada, including in the foyer of the auditorium of the Municipal Building in Price.
Dixie Academy was constructed to provide advanced courses of study. The St. George Stake Academy officially began in 1888 and moved into this building in 1911. A four year program was recognized as two years of Senior High and two years of College. The college program grew into the institution known as Dixie Jr. College and eventually Dixie College.
This monument was erected in 1936 by the students of Dixie Junior College in honor of its founders and the builders of Dixie as typified in the lives of Anthony W. Ivins and Edward H. Snow.
~ Forever Dixie ~
St. George Town Square is central to the story of education in Utah’s Dixie – a nickname, a term of endearment and identity – so named because Washington County was considered ideal for growing cotton and other warm- weather crops. Town Square was anchored by the Dixie Academy Building on the SE corner and Woodward School which opened its doors on the NW corner in 1901. After their arrival in 1861, St. George pioneers were still in temporary quarters on the Encampment Mall where their first school was held in a tent. Within two years, there were four neighborhood schools, later replaced by Woodward School, a two-story stone building for grades 1-10. In time, Woodward became a junior high school drawing students in grades 7-10 from nearby feeder schools. Before Dixie Academy was permanently established and graduated its first class in 1911, high school students attended St. George Stake Academy in the basement of the St. George Tabernacle. Later the academy became a 2-year college but also retained its high school standing for those in grades 11-12. To address the needs of students, additional buildings, since razed, were constructed. In 1933, Dixie Junior College became a state school and in 1963 moved to the 700 East campus, to become Dixie State College in 2000, then Dixie State University in 2012. The Dixie Academy building was also known as Dixie Normal College and housed Dixie High School until 1966.
The 2024 monument restoration was a “service above self” project of the Rotary Club of St. George and the City of St. George with funds generously donated by alumni and friends of Dixie College.
Camp Floyd was established in 1858 by order of President James Buchanan. During its three years of operation, Camp Floyd was the site of the largest assembled troop concentration in the United States prior to the Civil War. No buildings remain in this area from the encampment, but the site was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1974.
The Camp Floyd Cemetery was established in 1858 and abandoned three years later as the troops stationed at Camp Floyd returned to fight in the Civil War. The actual number, location and identities of soldiers buried in the cemetery is not known with certainty as the Army did not keep burial records during this period and all surface evidence of grave locations was destroyed.
Efforts to commemorate the cemetery included a monument dedicated by the War Department in 1913 and 84 granite markers placed by the American Legion in 1960. Army records have since revealed that almost half of the names on the markers were of individuals who died someplace other than Camp Floyd or were never with Johnston’s Army.
The following list of possible burials has been reconstructed from army records that record the names of soldiers who died at Camp Floyd. No list of civilians could be found. Ground penetrating radar done in 2009 revealed 33 burials and one double burial. The radar may not have detected all possible burials. New headstones were placed in 2011 to reflect the locations of the known burials. These headstones read “Unknown” in order to reflect that the identity of the burial is not known.
Camp Floyd /Stagecoach Inn State Park would like to thank the Veterans Administration, Curtis Allen, Ephriam Dickson with the Fort Douglas Museum, Andrew Murphy, Tyler Bartholomew and Troop 1460.
Bergen, James. Private, Co. C, 4th Artillery. Born c. 1837. Died June 27, 1860, accidental drowning
Bryan, William. Private Co. I 7th Infantry. Bom c. 1830. Died December 27, 1859, murdered
Edinger, Benjamin F. Private, Co. C, 4th Artillery. Born c. 1839. Died December 11, 1859, cause unknown
Farrell, Edward. Private, Co. F, 10th Infantry. Born c1831. Died May 12, 1859, self-inflicted gunshot
Fuhr, George. Private, Co. G, 5th Infantry. Born c1833. Died May 17, 1860, disease
Gallagher, Daniel. Private Co. E, 7th Infantry.
Born c. 1834. Died September 11, 1859, pneumonia
Giers, Robert. Private, Co. I, 10th Infantry. Born c. 1835. Died November 7, 1859, typhoid fever
Goodman, Patrick. Private, Co. D, 7th Infantry. Born c. 1815. Died January 2, 1860, pneumonia
Green, Charles R. Sergeant, Co. E, 2nd Dragoons. Born c. 1830. Died August 6, 1859, self-inflicted wounds
Hardy, James. Private Co. B, 2nd Dragoons. Born c. 1836. Died December 21, 1859, cause unknown
Kennedy, Patrick. Private, Co. B, 2nd Dragoons. Born c. 1833. Died April 9, 1860, cause unknown
Krause, Antion. Private, Co. A, 7th Infantry. Born c. 1836. Died November 26, 1859, typhoid fever
Mahers, Richard, Recruit, 4th Artillery. Born c. 1839. Died September 17 1860, dysentery
Main, James L. Private, Co. A, 7th Infantry. Born c. 1825. Died September 13, 1859, alcohol poisoning
McCabe, James. Private Co. D, 7th Infantry.Born c. 1833. Died November 5, 1859, consumption
McNickle, Daniel. Private, Co. B 5th Infantry. Born c. 1837. Died November 24 1858, cause unknown
Means, John. Private, Co. H, 2nd Dragoons. Born c. 1836. Died July 17, 1859, disease
Moore, William H. Private, Co. D, 7th Infantry. Born c. 1839. Died March 29, 1860, pneumonia
Mullen, James. Private, Co. 1, 5th Infantry. Born c. 1837. Died March 10, 1859, cause unknown
Newell, Benjamin F. Private, Co. A, 7th Infantry. Born c. 1832. Died April 8, 1860, suicide
Nieland, Edward. Private, Co. K, 7th Infantry. Born c. 1834. Died March 27, 1859, typhoid fever
Noble, Robert W. Private, Co. H, 5th Infantry. Born c. 1837. Died October 7, 1859, disease
O’Brien, Charles, Private, Co. B, 2nd Dragoons. Died July 15, 1861, disease
O’Brien, Michael. Private, Co. A 2nd Dragoons. Bom c. 1827. Died February 23, 1859, aneurism
O’Connor, Thomas. Private, Co. H, 10th Infantry. Bom c. 1831. Died December 10, 1859, disease enteritis
O’Hara, Edward. Private, Co. D, 7th Infantry. Born c. 1831. Died March 12 1860, shot by a sentinel of the Camp Guard
Otterback, Christian. Corporal, Co. 4th Artillery. Born c. 1835. Died February 11, 1860, found murdered
Paige, George H. Captain, QMD. Bom c. 1825. Died April 18, 1859, disease
Pike, Ralph. 1st Sergeant, Co. I, 10th Infantry. Bom c. 1837. Died August 14, 1859, assassinated in Salt Lake City
Potts, Elias K. Second Lieutenant, Co. C, 7th Infantry. Born c. 1838. Died April 23, 1859, disease
Redding, William. Private Co. C, 7th Infantry. Born c. 1828. Died December 20, 1859, alcohol poisoning
Rooney, Terence. Private, Co. A, 7th Infantry. Born c. 1832. Died March 30, 1860, diabetes
Shields, Henry, Private, Co. B 2nd Dragoons. Born c. 1830. Died September 17, 1860, cause unknown
Sliter, Thomas M. Private, Co. B, 7th Infantry. Born c. 1835. Died December 19, 1858, disease
Stewart, James, Private, Co. D, 5th Infantry. Born c. 1829. Died January 22, 1860, accidental shooting
Sweeney, James. Private, Co. C, 7th Infantry.Born c. 1835. Died November 18, 1858, hemorrhage of the stomach
Thrall, Charles C. Private, Co. E, 5th Infantry. Born c. 1832. Died November 28, 1858, cause unknown
Trittle, Theodore. Private, Co. C, 4th Artillery. Born c. 1832. Died January 9, 1860, disease
Tucker, Henry C. Sergeant, Co. 1, 5th Infantry. Born c. 1833. Died March 4, 1859, cause unknown
Warren, James H. Private, Co. K, 5th Infantry. Also known as James H. Richards. Born c. 1836. Died February 21, 1860, disease
These soldiers died before Camp Floyd was finished but may have been buried in the cemetery:
Akerly, Charles W. Private, Co. A, 5th Infantry. Born c. 1836. Died August 1, 1858, cause unknown
Grava, Heinrich. Private, Co. G, 5th Infantry. Born c. 1828. Died July 29, 1858, cause unknown
Isaacs, John E. Private, Co. D, 7th Infantry.Born c. 1830. Died September 27, 1858, disease
McDougal, Archibald T. Private, Co. E, 10th Infantry. Born c. 1837. Died October 12, 1858, cause unknown
From Preservation Utah: Over the past several weeks, many have been very sad to learn that two historic houses in Salt Lake City’s Ballpark Neighborhood will likely be demolished in short order and replaced with a condo or apartment building. These houses, 1350 and 1358 South West Temple, both built around 1900, have lent the Ballpark Neighborhood a great deal of character over the past 120 or more years.
1350 is our favorite of these two houses as it has some really wonderful architectural features. It is rare to find houses in Salt Lake that boast gables as ornamented as those found on this house. Imagine the skill required to piece these gables together!
Many know that 1350 served as a home and headquarters for Jerald and Sandra Tanner of Utah Lighthouse Ministries. We tried to uncover the earlier chapters of 1350’s history.
The first bit of information we could find on 1350 dated to 1917, when three of its rooms, “newly painted and papered, partly modern” came up for $8 / month rent. The next year, the whole house could be rented for $16/month rent.
By 1922, 1350 S. West Temple sheltered Thomas S. and Olive Van Cott Davis who remained in this house for many years. It is easy to fall in love with the Davis family via records of their comings and goings in local newspapers. While at 1350, the Davis’s celebrated the weddings of their children, held DUP camp meetings, showers, and a large variety of other community gatherings. The Davis’s stay at 1350 was also filled with tragedy. While living in this house, the family suffered automobile accidents, sicknesses, deaths, and other of life’s vicissitudes.
By 1967, 1350 S. West Temple housed Modern Microfilm, the forerunner to the Utah Lighthouse Ministry.
It is no exaggeration to say that a great deal of life has played out at 1350 S. West Temple.
In the very near future, Preservation Utah looks forward to working with the Ballpark Community Council and other invested parties to introduce more of this neighborhood to the National Register of Historic Places and other preservation-centered initiatives. Hopefully, these efforts will help to preserve more of Ballpark’s treasures in the coming years.
MAINTAINING A CONNECTION WITH OUR HERITAGE In 2021, to honor the historical significance of the original Page-Hansen Store, Riverton City created this park in the area where the iconic building once stood.
PAGE-HANSEN COMPANY STORE The Page-Hansen Company Store was established in 1891 by Thomas P. Page. This general merchandise store carried a large stock of groceries, dry goods, boots, shoes, clothing, confectionery, and lumber. While Page served a church mission, the business was in the hands of his partner, Seth Pixton, and became the Page-Pixton Company. By 1908 John Hansen Jr. had become Page’s partner and the enterprise was eventually renamed the Page-Hansen Company. The store was progressively enlarged over the years as the business prospered. Customers were served by a large staff of efficient clerks who climbed tall ladders to retrieve requested goods. The business was regarded, at the peak of its operation, as the largest retail department store in the valley outside of Salt Lake City. After 110 years of use, the building was demolished in 2001.
OTHER NOTABLE HISTORICAL DOWNTOWN RIVERTON BUILDINGS FROM 1891-1939
SCHOOL HOUSES In 1892, a four-room school was built. By 1909, a new eight-room school (shown above) was built just to the north. The original four-room school was demolished in 1926 to make room for a new junior high. Later that year, the eight-room school was destroyed by fire and a replacement was built on the same footprint in 1927. A gymnasium and other rooms were added in 1930. This complex of buildings would remain the home of Riverton Elementary until 1994.
DOME CHURCH In 1898, members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints began construction on a new meetinghouse in Riverton. The building, designed by Richard Kletting, architect of the Utah State Capitol, was built with red brick and stone with a granite foundation. It was completed in 1908 and served as both a church and community center. Unfortunately, the nearly six-story tall domed structure proved difficult and expensive to maintain and, as a result, was demolished in 1939.
BATE’S CORNER On the southwest corner of Redwood Road and 12600 South stood one of the first stores in Riverton. The business opened in 1887 and also housed the Riverton Post Office. The store occupied the front of an adobe and wood single-story building, with the Bate family living in the back portion. A dance hall was added on the west side of the property. William Bate and his investors named the store the Riverton Pioneer Co-op.
COMMERCIAL BUILDING The Commercial Building, located on the northeast corner of 12600 South and Redwood Road (left side of photo), was built in 1893 by Daniel Densley. The two-story structure housed a variety of businesses including a post office, bank, implement shop, shoe repair, harness store, barber, beauty shop and general merchandise store on the main floor; and an amusement hall, with a hardwood dance floor, on the second-level. The building was condemned and razed in the fall of 1939.
RIVERTON SECOND WARD The Riverton Second Ward of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints was organized in 1927 and construction on its meetinghouse, located at 12533 South Redwood Road directly north of the old Commercial Building, commenced in 1928. Excavation of the basement was done by hand, using a horse drawn “Fresno Scraper.” Although the building, still in use today, was completed in 1928 at a cost of $63,000, its dedication by Heber J. Grant did not occur until 1939.
DAVID BILLS MEATS Just east of the Commercial Building on Redwood Road and 12600 South was David Bills Meats & Groceries Market, shown here around 1906. The store serviced Riverton and nearby areas. In the early years, biweekly horse-drawn wagon trips were made to sell and deliver meat and groceries to customers in Bingham Canyon. The family-owned store was a staple in the community and provided meats and groceries for many decades.
William Atkin and Rachel Thompson were both raised in Rutlandshire, England. They joined The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, married, and sailed from Liverpool, England, in February of 1855 on the ship Siddons. Three months later they arrived in the port of Philadelphia. On June 9, 1859, they joined the trek to the Salt Lake Valley with the George Rowley Handcart Company, reaching Salt Lake City in November 1859. Nine years later they answered a call to move to an area eight miles south of St. George, Utah, which became known as Atkinville. Their 160 acres of uninhabited, fertile land was located on the east bank of the Virgin River. They cleared the land and built three large limestone homes, corrals, a granary, and chicken coops for their growing family while cultivating the surrounding soil.
Atkinville is remembered as a sanctuary for Wilford Woodruff who served as an apostle and later President of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Atkinville was the headquarters of the Church for a time. Wilford Woodruff became very close to the Atkin family and enjoyed hunting and fishing on their property.
William Atkin passed away May 22, 1900; his wife, Rachel, followed him in death on June 8, 1903. A major flood destroyed Atkinville in 1906. A three-quarter replica of the limestone home is in This Is The Place Heritage Park in Salt Lake City. Atkinville has been renamed SunRiver St. George.
This is Daughters of Utah Pioneers historic Marker #591 (see other D.U.P. Markers here) erected by the Atkinville Camp in 2021 at Atkinville Wash Park at 1211 West Copeland Drive in Saint George, Utah
