Leven-Wolf House
740 East Center Street, Provo, Utah
Constructed in 1938, this home is one of the few examples of the Art Moderne or International Style of home in Provo and the only example on East Center Street.
The house is named after Harold B. Leven, who owned a chain of clothing stores in Utah and owned this house from 1938 to 1946, and Morris Wolf, who owned the house from 1946 to 1975.
Other historic homes in Provo are listed here.
I am a nephew of Morris Wolf. I remember traveling from Seattle to Provo in the summer, to visit my aunt and uncle, and of course I stayed in this house. At the time, it was the only house in all of Utah with a backyard swimming pool. My uncle was something of an inventor, and he heated the pool by running water pipes back and forth across the roof, and letting water slowly absorb heat from the sun and drain back into the pool. He also had a collection of aquariums in a sort of indoor/outdoor room. In the basement he had an unusual shower room, with glass brick walls. By looking at Google Maps, I believe I can see the outline of the pool, which has since been filled in. My aunt and uncle had a clothing store on Center Street….ladies’ clothing I believe, and they were fairly propsperous. My uncle was a championship handball player and I know he played a lot of handball, but I never knew where, in Provo. In the late 1950’s he had a nice little cabin cruiser boat that he could pull behind a large station wagon. The station wagon was painted to match the boat. It was quite a sight.
Interesting! Thank you.