Sorenson Cabin / Workshop
Built by Soren A. Sorenson in 1879 and located in Pioneer Park in Ephraim, Utah
Moyle Jensen, of Manti, loved with the Soren A. Sorenson family members during the major portion of his life and has served as a substantial information source.
The Sorensons were his mother’s friends and his close association with them began when he was eleven years of age. He lived with them and they loved him as a son. They had no other children. Following their death he continued to live in the home, as their assignee until it was sold.
Soren A. Sorenson built this cabin on third south and Main Street in 1879. He had purchased the property in January for $30. It extended almost to the east end of the block and contained buildings, sheds, a milk cow, a team of horses and farm equipment. Moyle assisted with the chores and farm work. The Sorensons lived in the cabin while they constructed an outstanding two story home on the property west of the cabin. Two of those front rooms featured distinctive murals painted on the east wall by Soren Ross’ father, Swen.
Upon completion of the large home, the cabin was used for storage and as a repair and workshop for many years. It remained unused for a long period of time but continued to retain a very distinctive appearance. All of the original property was sold except the west area holding the home and cabin. Skyline Auto purchased that land in 1988. The home was demolished but the cabin was preserved through the efforts of Ephraim City Council and a member of the Daughters of Utah Pioneers, from a similar fate. It was moved to Pioneer Park where it was soon placed on a cement pad near the Bailey cabin.
The interior was repaired and a shake roof constructed. One year it was cleaned and decorated for the Scandinavian Festival but soon after was vandalized, marked with graffiti and, as a final blow, a fire was set by an arsonist, which destroyed a portion of the new roof, east walls and floor. An alert citizen, and nearby merchant’s quick actions preserved it from utter destruction.
Ephraim City has enclosed three sides of the cabins on with a chain-link fence, reinforced the door and windows making it more secure. In 1993, visitors to the Scandinavian Festival had their first opportunity to view this relic cabin.
