James E. Talmage House
This c.1900 Victorian eclectic style house is significant for its first owner, James E. Talmage. Born in England in 1862, Talmage emigrated to Utah in 1876, later studied at several prestigious eastern universities and gained international recognition as a geologist and chemist. He was also president of the University of Utah from 1888 to 1897. In 1911 he was appointed to the Council of the Twelve Apostles of the Mormon church and became the leading authority on theological questions in the LDS church.
970 East First Avenue in The Avenues in Salt Lake City, Utah
Related:
The origianl owner of the house was an internationally known scientist, a prominent Utah educator, and one of the leading theologians of the Mormon Church.
The house was built in 1900 for James E. Talmage. He was born in England, in 1862, attended the schools of the local district, and in 1874 was the Oxford diocesan prize scholar. Two years later he and his family emigrated to the U.S. and settled in Provo, Utah where James was a student at Brigham Young Academy from 1876 to 1882. He afterwards attended Lehigh University, 1882-1883, the Johns Hopkins University, 1884, and Illinois Wesleyan University, 1896. Until 1911 when he was ordained an apostle in the LDS Church, he was an educator, successively professor of chemistry and geology at Brigham Young Academy, 1884-1888, President of the Latter-day Saints College in SLC, 1888-1893, and President of the University of Utah, 1894-97. In 1897 he resigned from the Presidency of the University of Utah to devote ful l time to the chair of geology, which he held until his resignation in 1907. After 1907 he carried on a privat practice as a consulting mining geologist. In 1897 he was a delegate from the Royal Society of Edinburgh to the Intemational ecological Congress at St. Petersberg, Russia. He was a fellow of numerous scientific societies in the U.S. and Great Britain.
On Dec.7,1911 he was appointed to the Mormon Church’s Council of the Twelve Apostles, and from that time until his death, devoted his full time to church duties. He was the author of a number of books on religion and theology, and became the LDS Church’s leading authority on technical theological questions.
In 1922 Orrice McShane and his wife Mary J. McShane bought the house. He had been born in Beaver County, Utah in 1873. He spent his early adult life there as a fanner and teacher, and was prominent in local affairs. He was Beaver Postmaster from 1907 to 1913, and Superintendent of Beaver County Schools from 1902-1906. In 1912 he was appointed juvenile judge of the Fifth Judicial District, serving until 1916. In 1915 he was elected to the Utah State Legislature, serving one term then, and another from 1921-1923. In 1922 he was appointed by Governor Charles R. Mabey to the Utah State Industrial Commission. He remained a member of it until his death in 1949 and served as it s chairman for several years. While on the Commission, he became a nationally recognized authority on the administration of industrial law.
His wife, Mary J. McShane, was born at Adamsville, Beaver County, in 1875, the daughter of Henry and Elizabeth R. Emerson. She married Orrice McShane in Beaver, Utah in 1895. A graduate of Utah State Agricultural College at Logan, she taught school for a time, before retiring to raise a family.
Following Mrs. McShane’s death in 1964, the house was converted into several small apartments.
This is a two-story Victorian house. The gables have woodshingle siding and returns. The small gables above the front and west side two-story brick bay windows are supported by large wooden brackets. The comers of the bay windows are emphasized with rough-faced brick. The original porch columns have been replaced.