This was the home of John and Mary Lucinda McDonald who crossed the plains and were among the early settlers of the Heber Valley. John built the home in 1874 and was known as a man of faith, a pioneer, and Indian fighter and peacemaker, a Martin Handcart rescuer, a cattleman rancher, a builder, a patriarch and a father. For his great contributions to the valley, his community and family, we dedicate this building to John McDonald (1833-1910) and his family.
Thank you to Maryann Hunwick for letting me know that this is labeled wrong on the historic plaque on the building and it is actually the John Lee home instead of the John McDonald home.
The plaque for the Historic Home Tour says:
John McDonald & Mary Lucinda Cole Home
1885
John McDonald and his wife, Mary Lucinda Cole, raised thirteen children and contributed significantly to the development of the area. John was a respected farmer, stock raiser, and public servant, serving as County Coroner and participating in key historical events, including the Indian peace settlements and handcart rescues. Their home, built in 1885, reflects the family’s legacy of resilience and progress, symbolizing the growth of Heber City during the late 19th century.
I really do love seeing all of these beautiful historic buildings. Thank you for preserving them in our memories!
It’s always nice to hear people receive value, thank you!
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My Father was George W. McDonald born in Heber in 1917. His father, Andrew McDonald was born in 1870 and raised in the stone house built by John McDonald on North Main in Heber. According to his death certificate John McDonald passed away in 1910. He lived on North Main in Heber for 48 years. No exact address is listed on his death certificate, or the 1880 & 1890 census listing his family as residing in Heber.
In 1908 my grandmother Elizabeth Thatcher lived in the home John built for 1-2 years until my grandfather built her a new home in Heber about 3 blocks from John’s home. That is where my dad was born. Ila Maughan Fischer wrote a history of the McDonald family entitled “James McDonald-Sarah Ferguson, Their Progenitors and Their Posterity”. Ila Maughan is standing next to John McDonald in a photo taken in 1908. She wrote that “The rock home he built on Main Street about 1874 was among the most pretentious dwelling houses of its day. It still stands in good condition and is still occupied (1964).”
Every time my family returned to Heber my dad would point out London Springs where he herded McDonald cattle as a boy, and the home John McDonald built on Main Street (390 N. Main). My cousin, Hilma Bellessa was a child in Heber and confirmed this was commonly known as the home of John McDonald. There are literally thousands of McDonald posterity, who for more than a hundred years have identified this as the home John McDonald built on North Main Street. It may well have been purchased by John Lee after1910. Public property records only go back to 2007 and show the property has changed hands many times, but it was built by John McDonald in 1874 as stated on the plaque.
The plaque is correct. The home was built by John McDonald in 1874. He lived there until he passed away in 1910. It has passed through several owners since 1910. Several homes on Main Street were built by McDonald family and Clydes who married McDonalds.