Original Log Home of Perry Fitzgerald

Perry Fitzgerald was Born 22 Dec. 1815 in Redstone, PA. In 1842, he joined the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. When the saints were forced to leave Nauvoo, IL, he was chosen) by Brigham Young to join the original pioneer party to journey westward in search of a new home for the Mormons. They arrived in the Salt Lake Valley on 24 July 1847, in 1851, Perry Fitzgerald moved to south Willow Creek, later known as Draper, UT and built his permanent home.

Originally located on the banks of a small creek at approximately 1100 East and 12400 South, the log home was moved to this current location and restored and rebuilt by the Draper Historical Society under the supervision of Lynn Ballard. As a founder of Draper, Perry Fitzgerald was a pillar of strength to the community and exemplified courage, honesty, integrity and the pioneer spirit. He died at his home on 4 Oct 1889, surrounded by family and friends. He is buried in the Draper City Cemetery.

The monument was erected under the direction of Devin Rasmussen and made possible by donations from fiends and descendants Of Ferry Fitzgerald.

The log home is located in Draper Pioneer Square at 1160 East Pioneer Road in Draper, Utah

Perry Fitzgerald

Perry Fitzgerald born December 22, 1815 in Redstone, Pennsylvania. He joined the LDS Church in 1842. Perry was a farmer. He owned 160 acres south of Nauvoo, Illinois. When the Saints were forced to leave Nauvoo, Perry was chosen by Brigham Young to be a Scout for the original pioneer company, to continue westward in search of a new home.

The company arrived in the Salt Lake Valley on July 24, 1847. In 1851 Brigham Young asked Perry to move his family to South Willow, later known as Draper. Perry built a three-room log cabin on the north side of Willow Creek at approximately, 1152 East Pioneer Road. In 1975 the cabin was deconstructed when the property changed hands. In July 1991, under the direction of Lynn Ballard, the Draper Historical Society began rebuilding the cabin in the southwest corner of the Draper Park. On October 1, 1995, the cabin was complete.

In August of 2009, under the direction of Ron and Randall Smith, the Draper Historical Society raised and relocated the cabin. The building was hauled by semi-truck to its original location, just off Pioneer Road on the old Perry Fitzgerald property (approximately 1162 East Pioneer Road). The cabin was placed on old granite stones from Little Cottonwood Canyon. The reestablished home site has been designated by the Draper City Council as Pioneer Square. On May 12, 2012, the cabin’s interior was restored and opened to the public. The cabin is currently used as an extension of the Draper Museum.