Construction of this home began in December 1947 and would have been completed the following year. The house was constructed by Federal Homes Inc., a real estate development and construction company headed by Alan Brockbank, who was the lead developer behind the planning and creation of Rose Park. The home is designed in the Minimal Traditional style. The facing gables (flat triangle at the front roofline) are what give this house its “traditional” character, as do the original wrought-iron columns on the front porch and the original decorative shutters with squirrels.
After completion, the house was purchased by Franklin and Naomi Swenson. Franklin was a native of Salt Lake, and Naomi was originally from Wyoming. Frank had enlisted in the Marine Corps in 1942, and he and Naomi were married in San Diego before he was shipped overseas. The couple lived in Rose Park with their two young children for several years. Franklin worked as a salesman for ZCMI during that time. Franklin had a brother, Alf, who also purchased a home in Rose Park on Poinsettia Dr., also on the tour.
In about 1952, the Swensons sold their home to Myrel Payne. Mrs Payne, also a Salt Lake native, was a single parent and raised two daughters and a son in the home. She worked for the Newspaper Agency Corporation, printer of the Salt Lake Tribune and the Deseret News, for 22 years. She was very involved in the local LDS Ward, volunteering for years in the Relief Society and Primary organizations. Following Myrel’s death in 1987, her daughter Sharon has continued living in the house until now.
(above text from Preservation Utah‘s home tour)
715 North 1200 West in the Rose Park neighborhood of Salt Lake City, Utah
