Early Pioneer Granary and Home

This twelve by fourteen foot granary This been used by three families as a home for over 40 years. It was built by George and Annie Isom around the same time Hurricane was settled, in 1906.

Located on the Isom lot at 83 North State Street and initially intended as a granary to store feed for farm animals, it originally served as “home” to Lewis and Mary Crawford. Their first child, a girl, was born here. Lewis worked for the Canal Company as a “ditch” rider to watch for breaks in the canal or other potential problems.

The Isom family moved into their “home” in 1911. After their new brick home was built on the same lot, they began using this building as a storage unit. Their daughters used it as a play house for several years. Its interior walls had been papered with the Washington County newspapers, needle craft pages, and Farm Journal pages.

Years later, 1936, this granary was sold to Sheldon and Blanche Wright, a newly married couple. They moved the granary five blocks to 274 West and 100 North, by team and a flatbed wagon. A lean-to, which would be their kitchen and pantry, was added to this new site. The house was wired for electricity, papered, painted, and floor coverings laid. The cupboards and most of the furniture in the house were made by Sheldon.

The original front room was used as a combination bedroom and living room. In the summer, their two daughters would sleep outside under the grape arbor which was connected to the house. The kitchen stove is the original used by the Wright family.

The Wright’s two last children, a boy and a girl, were also born in this house.

The Wright family continued to live in the house until July of 1948. They then moved into their newly constructed home on the same lot. This building was again used for storage and remained as a granary until 1994. It was then donated by the Wright family to the Hurricane Valley Pioneer Heritage Park Foundation. Now on display at “Pioneer Corner,” it is an authentic example of early pioneer life in the Hurricane Valley.