Ethelbert White and William M. Stewart Ranch House
Built c. 1890, the Ethelbert White/William M. Stewart Ranch House is one of eight significant buildings on Stewart Ranch, a well preserved turn-of-the- century “recreational ranch” that served for over 50 years as both a working ranch and a recreational summer retreat for its owners, prominent business and professional men from Salt Lake City. Stewart Ranch is probably the best preserved of the recreational ranches that were established on the western edge of the Uinta Mountains, a popular location for such ranches because of both its wilderness appeal and its proximity to Salt Lake City, only about sixty miles away. The ranch was established c.1902 by four Stewart brothers–William M., Samuel W., Charles B., and Barnard J.–who maintained their homes and professions in Salt Lake City while supervising and, to various degrees, participating in the operations of the ranch. This house is the oldest remaining building on the ranch, having been built c. 1890 by Ethelbert White, a homesteader. William M. Stewart bought it in 1900 and used it as his ranch home until his death in 1913. Although the house has been moved from one location to another on the ranch, it maintains its historical significance for its association with the establishment and operation of the Stewart Ranch.
Part of the Stewart Ranch, the Ethelbert White and William M. Stewart Ranch House is located off highway 35 near Woodland, Utah and was added to the National Register of Historic Places (#85001140) on May 23, 1985.
The formation of Stewart Ranch began in 1900 when William M. Stewart purchased 160 acres of land in the northern end of Pine Valley. Included on the property was this house, built c. 1890 by Ethelbert White, a homesteader, who had sold it in the 1890s to Emil and Anna Zachreson. William encouraged his three brothers to also purchase property in the valley, which they did a few years later. Eventually, virtually the entire valley and much of the surrounding land was bought by the Stewart brothers and incorporated into Stewart Ranch, which, at its peak, totalled 2,262 acres. Cattle and sheep were raised on the ranch, as well as hay and grain for feed, and a ranch foreman was hired to manage the operations since the Stewarts had homes and occupations in Salt Lake City and were away from the ranch most of the year. Although Stewart Ranch was a working ranch and a business venture, for the Stewarts it served perhaps more importantly as a recreational retreat to which they could bring their families in the summer.
Although the four brothers were initially equal partners in the ranch corporation, Barnard eventually took over the bulk of the responsibilities and by 1920 had assumed complete control of the ranch operations and purchased from his brothers all of the ranch property except a 15-acre parcel surrounding Charles’ home. By that time William had died (1913), Charles had become involved in numerous other business activities and had moved to California (1920), and Samuel had ceased being involved in the ranching activities. After Barnard’s death in 1931, most of the ranch was purchased by Lester Hewlett, a son-in-law of Charles, and his brother Vern Hewlett. They launched the ranch into a relatively successful 24-year period of operation as a dairy and sheep ranch. The Hewletts, like the Stewart brothers, lived and worked in Salt Lake City, and, having built summer homes on the ranch in 1929, used the ranch as a recreational retreat as well.
William M. Stewart was a prominent Utah educator, who, among other positions, served as dean of the first School of Education at the University of Utah. Born in 1859 in Draper, Salt Lake County, he was the oldest of the 11 Stewart children born to Isaac M. Stewart and his polygamous wife, Elizabeth White. William attended the University of Deseret at the age of 20, and, due in large part to his association there with many of the prominent, early educators in Utah, including John R. Park and Karl G. Maeser, he chose a career in education. He was elected county superintendent of schools in 1885, and in 1888 he joined the faculty of the Department of Education at the University of Utan. His 25-year service there was marked by the establishment and rise to prominence of the Stewart School, a training school for teachers on the campus. William’s principal residence in Salt Lake City, the house at 1133 E. 300 South, is still standing and is the house most closely associated with his career and life.