Thornton Building
The Thornton Building built c. 1895 is a brick Victorian eclectic commercial building the building runs between Merchant Street on the west and Center Street with the main entrance on Merchant street it has two stories on the Merchant street side and a single story on the east side the first floor contains the commercial or public area and the second floor is a private living area.
The façade has the decorative brick work typical of Victorian eclectic commercial buildings of the era the cornice is accentuated with brick corbeling and decorative dogtooth courses segmental arches cap the three large second floor windows.
Alex K. Thornton purchased the property in 1893 from James Chipman Alex K. Thornton owned the property from 1893 to 1901 and the building was host probably built under his ownership it replaced two earlier narrow frame buildings that in 1890 housed agricultural implements and a lumber shed. Alexander Kennedy Thornton was born on April 6, 1847, in New Prestwick Ayrshire, Scotland to William and Mary Kennedy Thornton. His parents crossed the plains with their seven children. Mr. Thornton drove oxen teams as a youth to haul mining supplies. He owned a saloon in American Fork presumably in this building, he was a prominent citizen of American Fork, serving for four years on the city council and was a director of the Bank of American Fork.
Alvah Barnabus (Dick) Adams and his wife, Edith Ann Summers, bought the property in 1901 and held it until 1914. Presumably he was the Adams of Adams and Wild and Adams and Wanless, Proprietors of the Star Saloon in 1908. The building was in the middle of a row of three that all served as saloons.
Minnie Ingersoll purchased the property in 1914 in her own name and held it until 1931. On January 30, 1900, she married Joseph E. Ingersoll in American Fork. He ran the ‘Y Café’ and later a restaurant in American Fork, presumably in this building.
People’s State Bank acquired the property in 1931 and held until 1944 when they sold to John Ivor Lamph and his wife, Christine.
John W. and Pearl J. Beveridge, parents of the current owner purchased the building in 1943, their business was called Slim’s Billiards and the building housed a pool hall from 1931 to 1959. In 1953 La Sabre Lounge was created and opened with that name until 1991 when the current owner made it into a private club and changed the name to La Sabre Club.
John Newbern Beveridge was born in Lehi on September 19, 1894. Pearl J. was born on May 6, 1910 in American Fork. John N. died in American Fork in 1979 and Pearl J. Beveridge Adamson in Lehi in 1984. Two daughters had title to the property, Florence S. Kerr from 1979-1984 and Louise B. Johnson from 1984-1988. John J. Beveridge, their brother and current owner (2003) took title to the property in 1988.
Located at 44 North Merchant Street in American Fork, Utah
The photos below are borrowed from the county records:
