Tuttle-Folsom House

Built in three compatible stages between the 1850’s and 1880’s, the Tuttle-Folsom Home was the residence of several of Manti’s and Utah’s significant historical figures. The original owner is unknown, but Luther T. Tuttle, the first known owner, was two term mayor of Manti and the mayor who received title to all of surveyed Manti from President U. S. Grant in 1872. Tuttle was also a leading merchant, banker, livestock raiser and served four terms as a territorial legislator. In 1880, Tuttle sold his home to William H. Folsom who had been called to Manti to be architect for the Manti Temple. While living in the home, Folsom designed other notable structures including tabernacles in Manti, Provo and Moroni, the Provo Opera House and many important residences. In 1890, John C. Witbeck, known for his development of the controversial Kofod or Ancient Mound wheat, purchased the home. He sold it in 1895 to John E. Metcalf, a prominent merchant and stockraiser who partitioned off some of the rooms and converted the home into an hotel known as “the Metcalf House.” The partitions were removed and the original plan restored by Mr. and Mrs. Clarence Miller, owners for 40 years prior to the recent purchase of the home by Historic Utah, Inc.

Built of native oolitic limestone, the home is in nearly original condition today and documents craftsmanship and design typical of early vernacular masonry architecture in Manti.

Located at 195 West 300 N in Manti, Utah and added to the National Historic Register (#77001316) on July 21, 1977.

A comparative study of Manti architecture and building technology indicates that the earliest portions of the Tuttle-Folsom home was constructed in the 1850’s, although no known records show original ownership or date of construction. Property records from 1872 show that when Luther T. Tuttle, then mayor of Manti, received title to Manti through a land patent from President Ulysses S. Grant, the home he deeded to himself is the Tuttle-Folsom home here discussed.

Luther T. Tuttle was born November 19, 1825 in New York City and came to Utah in October, 1847, as a member of the Mormon Battalion. After serving with the battalion, Tuttle engaged in fur trading as an agent for Peter A. Sharpey of the American Fur Company. A Mormon convert, Tuttle settled permanently in Manti, Utah, in 1863. Tuttle soon became a leading citizen. He was elected mayor for two terms (1867-1873) and became a prominent merchant, banker and sheepraiser. Upon arriving in Manti, Tuttle opened a general store under the firm name of Tuttle and Fox. After selling out to the local co-op, Tuttle entered the general merchandise and lumber business with Harrison Edwards. As the firm grew, it erected the Tuttle Block in 1894, a large two story commercial building with an iron front. In 1890 Tuttle organized and was president of the Manti Savings Bank. He also owned 3500 head of sheep and was a major stockholder in the Co-op Roller Mills.

In addition to being mayor of Manti, Tuttle served several terms on the Manti City Council and four terms on the Territorial Legislature. He was a prominent church man, holding a position on the High Council of the Sanpete Stake.

In 1880 Luther T. Tuttle sold his home to William H. Folsom who owned the home for the next ten years. Folsom, considered by many to be Utah’s most accomplished pioneer architect, came to Manti in 1877 to supervise construction of the Manti Temple. Folsom was born March 25, 1815 in Partsmough, New Hampshire, the third child of a carpenter. He learned carpentry from his father and worked on the Mormon temple in Nauvoo, Illinois, after accepting the Mormon faith in 1843. After a notable career in building, which saw Folsom construct the forty foot tall Corinthian columns for the territorial capitol in Omaha, the builder/architect moved to Salt Lake City. His significant achievements prior to moving to Manti included the Salt Lake Theatre (1860), Council House (1864, NR), Amussen’s Jewelry (1869, NR), Gardo House, Devereaux House addition (1874, NR), and Z.C.M.I Department Store (1875-1876, NR). He also worked on the tabernacle and temple on Temple Square (1867, 1852-1893 resp., NR)

Through the Manti Temple Association, Folsom, as superintendent, was acquainted with Luther Tuttle, the chairman. After living in the Manti Fort since 1877 Folsom purchased Tuttle’s home in 1880 and thereafter added the 2 story, 4 bedroom wing to accommodate two of his three polygamous families. While working on the Manti Temple (1879-1888, NR) Folsom also prepared plans for several local Mormon tabernacles, public buildings, and homes. Among his more noteworthy designs during his Manti period were the tabernacles in Moroni (1879), Manti (1878-1882, SR) and Provo (1882-1896, NR).

While in Manti, Folsom experienced much persecution as a result of his practice of polygamy. The addition to his home included a secret hiding place in the back of a closet under the stairs (hideout still intact). Once he had to flee from the county disguised as a prospector in order to avoid capture by federal marshals. Folsom was eventually captured and convicted of violating the Edmunds-Tucker Act and was forced to sell his Manti home in 1890 to pay the fine for his conviction.

John C. Witbeck next owned the home. Witbeck gained local fame through his involvement with Amasa Potter who reportedly discovered a stone box filled with ancient wheat, along with two skeletons of early Indians. The “Ancient Mound” wheat was planted and grew. With Witbeck, Potter distributed the wheat throughout the territory and, by one account, “it proved to be the best dry land wheat that they ever tried, and a greater yielder.” Although this story is challenged as being mythical, dry farming wheat bearing the name Kofod or Ancient Mound is still used locally. In 1895 Witbeck sold his home to John E. Metcalf.

John Metcalf was born in England in 1839. After joining the Mormon Church in 1849 he came to Utah with his family in 1853. John engaged in farming and stock raising before moving to Gunnison in 1876 where he operated the local co-op store. After serving as a Mormon missionary in the Southern states, Metcalf came to Manti in 1891. He leased the Temple House, a large hotel built to house men working on the temple. In 1895 Metcalf purchased the Tuttle-Folsom Home, naming it the Metcalf Hotel, and became its proprietor.

The Metcalf family sold the home to Mr. and Mrs. Clarence Miller, ranchers, who removed the extraneous partitions added by Metcalf. In 1976 the Tuttle-Folsom Home was purchased by Historic Utah, Inc., a private preservation association.

Architecturally, the Tuttle-Folsom Home is important for its documentation of pioneer craftsmanship and design. Due to its excellent state of preservation, early building technology in Utah can be appreciated in the home. The exposed puncheon beams, primitive stone cutting and painting, early 6 over 6 double-hung sash windows, porch, roof framing and low ceilings in the oldest part of the home attest to the limitations of pioneer construction methods in the 1850’s. The Folsom addition, however, with its high ceilings, plaster centerpieces and decorative trim, show the advances made in building by the 1880 f s.