963 East South Temple

This two-and-one-half story Queen Anne style house was built in 1891 for John H. Bennett, a general freight and passenger agent for the Rio Grande Western Railway.  He owned the house until 1912, but Joseph S. Richards, son of early Mormon leader and pioneer, Willard Richards, lived here from 1899 to 1905.  Joseph Richards trained at Bellevue Medical College in New York City.  He was chief surgeon at Deseret Hospital and, later, medical director for LDS Hospital.

The asymmetrical facades and roof forms are characteristic of the Queen Anne architectural style that was popular in Utah from about 1885 to 1905.  The classically-detailed porch has a band of dentil molding and simplified Corinthian columns, while the decorative gable-end shingles, sculptural wooden brackets supporting the eaves, and the unusual diamond pattern created by recessing brick on the upper front facade reflect the range of picturesque features found in Queen Anne style houses.  This handsome house contributes to the architectural continuity and integrity of the South Temple Historic District.