Hans Peter Olsen House
The Hans Peter Olsen home was constructed in 1877, nineteen years after Mr. Olsen came to Utah from Denmark. Born May 30, 1833, in Jutland, Denmark, Hans Peter Olsen grew up on his father’s farm, In 1853 he joined the Mormon Church and spent the next four years as a traveling elder in his native country, In 1858 he sailed from Denmark on board the John Bright. Although the Utah War forced most of the European emigrants remain at Iowa City and Florence, Nebraska, until the following year, a group of fourteen “Danish Fellows” of which Hans Peter was a member, was allowed to journey to Utah with a group of missionaries returning to Utah in the Eldredge company. In November 1858 he settled in Manti and the following spring moved to Moroni as one of the first settlers of that community. In 1867 he moved to Fountain Green and ten years later constructed the lovely brick home. He returned to Denmark on two missions for the LDS Church first in 1869 and again in 1891, While living in Fountain Green, he was a farmer and director of the local co-op store.
The significance of the Hans Peter Olsen home is that it is one of the finest pioneer brick homes in Sanpete Valley.
Located at 211 South State Street in Fountain Green, Utah and added to the National Historic Register (#76001834) on April 22, 1976.
The Hans Peter Olsen home is significant architecturally as an outstanding example of pioneer industry, design and craftsmanship. The well preserved residence embodies the best elements of representative pioneer building during the transitional period of vernacular to “high-style” architecture. Late pioneer features such as the symmetrical 3-bay front façade, four-over-four plan, end wall chimneys and Federal entry bay are combined with less typical decorative embellishments such as Roman-arched upper windows and an unusual corbeled brick cornice with dentil band where a wooden frieze would ordinarily appear. In an area of predominantly white limestone homes, the Olsen home stands out as being unique to the region. Craftsmanship throughout the structure is excellent, a fit compliment to the stateliness and utility of the design. Qualities of permanence and beauty in the building reflect Olsen’s philosophic commitment to Mormon concepts of Kingdom-building in the Sanpete County community of Fountain Green.
