The Perry and Agnes Fitzgerald House, a brick Victorian-style cross-wing, was built circa 1870. It is significant for its association with the development of Draper from the pioneer era to the first half of the twentieth century and likely the oldest surviving brick house in Draper.
The house is an excellent example of pioneer craftsmanship in the former agricultural outpost. Perry Fitzgerald was among the first settlers in Draper. He helped built the first fort in Salt Lake City and supported his family by farming, raising cattle and sheep, and by breeding horses. Of his three wives, the brick house is most closely associated with his third wife, Agnes Wadsworth Fitzgerald. Perry and Agnes Fitzgerald had thirteen children. The majority of these children remained in Draper and became prominent citizens. The home remained in the Fitzgerald family hands until it was sold to Draper City in 1999. The house retains remarkable historic architectural integrity and contributes to the historic resources of Draper, Utah.
The Crossgrove House, built circa 1885 and later expanded, is a two-story brick vernacular classical residence. The Crossgrove House represents a multi-generational family’s contributions to the Draper community. Three generations of the Crossgrove family lived together through the most important decades of Draper’s development. The first owners, James and Martha Crossgrove, were notable farmers and ranchers; James also started a brickyard and was a brick mason during the late 1800s. The second owners, Baynard and Matilda Crossgrove, lived in the house and oversaw the transformation of the family holdings into a large-scale poultry farm. Their daughter, Hulda, was the third owner of the property. Hulda was an educator at the Draper Park School for many years. The house remained in the family for over 100 years, until 1999.
George Henry Cottrell built this five room, one and one half story, straw colored brick home circa 1905.
It was built on a give foot high granite rock foudation to prevent the house from sinking into a swampy area.
He lived in the home until 1908 when he had a farm accident and died a few days later. The home was then rented for twelve years.
In 1920, Heber J. and Matilda Smith and their three children purchased the home and four acres. The Smith family lived there from 1920 to 1958. Two more children joined the family and a multitude of blessings were poured down upon them.
In 1958, Heber built a new home to the north, and once again this home became a rental home. In 1983, Pete and Terese Larkin bought the home and did extensive remodeling to the interior, made a roof conversion and two additional rooms were added. In 1991, Clyde and Kelly Anderson purchased the home and lived here until 1995 when Brent and Jane Tucker became the present owners.
Built 1899-1900. The Dunyons lived in this home until the depression. In 1940 W.B. Enniss purchased the home and in 1956 it was purchased by its present owners. This 1 and 3/4 story Victorian style building is built from orange brick. The home has always been a family home. It has been modernized over the years as new inventions came along. It is now modern for the time. This was one of the first large Victorian homes built in Draper. It was the first to have electric lights. Restored by R. Parry and Pauline Greenwood from 1956-1993.
Built circa 1905. Joseph Neilsen, a school teacher and farmer, his wife May, an accomplished musician and composer, and their 5 children lived in this home. The ownership of the home was transferred within the family for years. After the family sold the home it had numerous owners and renters. At one time it was divided into apartments. It is a Queen Ann 2 1/2 story red brick home with a granite foundation. The home was built on 5 acres with a large orchard, a garden, and an expansive front lawn. Restored by Vincent and Sherry Simmons in 1978.
12825 S Fort St – Built in 1901 One of a number of substantial late Victorian residences along this country road, the Joseph and May Nielsen house is, compared to the typical housing stock of turn-of-the-century rural Utah, an elaborate and stately, near mansion-like, residence built in circa 1901. The house has a central block with a tall hipped roof with two Queen Anne inspired projecting bays, to the left (or north), a wide half-octagon bay with a broad decorative gable, and to the right (or south), a smaller but taller three-quarter, semi-detached octagon tower. The house has a central staircase core that originally had a passageway, between the foyer and rear kitchen, beneath the staircase (now closed and housing a central heating furnace, installed ca. 1950s).
Located at 12441 S 900 E in Draper, Utah and designed by School District Architect Niels Edward Liljenberg, the Draper Park School was constructed in 1912, replacing an 1883 school on the same site. The building was named in honor of Dr. John R. Park, a leading figure in Utah’s educational history and early school teacher in Draper. The school originally accommodated both elementary and junior high school students. Additions were made to the south of the building in 1928 and to the east in 1963. In 1938 a mural depicting the history of education in Draper was painted on the interior by artist Paul Smith as a WPA project. The school was converted into the Draper City Hall and community center around 1980 and is the home of the Draper Historical Society.
The Draper Park School, 1912, is significant as a structure illustrating the growing educational needs and desires of one of Salt Lake City’s rapidly growing suburban areas. Named after Dr. John R. Park, a leading figure in Utah’s educational history, the school remains a tribute to Park who also served as an early local school teacher in Draper. In addition, the building houses a mural painted by artist Paul Smith in 1938 as a Works Progress Administration project. The mural depicts the history of education in Draper utilizing real characters as models, and allows present residents one opportunity to appreciate visually their past.
Draper was settled about 1850 and from its beginning showed a special interest in education. Proud of its local reputation as the “Cradle of Education” the history of Draper is marked by the construction of several school buildings to meet the educational needs of the community’s youth. The work of John Rocky Park was regarded as the first rural high school in Utah, he later became president of the University of Utah.
By 1860 Draper had outgrown its first school house. A small adobe building called the Vestry was erected. In 1863 the main hall was added. It was in this “Old White Meetinghouse” that Dr. John R. Park taught his famous village school. He came to Draper in the fall of 1861 and went to the home of Absolom W. Smith where he asked for work. Mr. Smith told him that most of the farm work was done , but he could stay there if he wished. Park told him that he would rather work; so after a good meal, Mr. Smith put him to work husking corn. Mr. Smith was a councilor to Bishop Isaac M. Stewart and also acted as one of the local school trustees. He soon discovered that Mr. Park was an intelligent, well-educated man holding an M.D. degree. Mr. Smith, with the help of other leading men, persuaded Mr. Park to remain in Draper as a school teacher. He boarded that winter at the home of Bishop Stewart and received a salary of $60 per month, one third in cash, one third in potatoes and one third in wheat.
In 1883 a new school was built where the present Draper Park School stands. This building was known as the Central School. William M. Stewart was the first principal and taught for four years. By 1890 two other schools had been built, one in the eastern part of town known as the East Side School, the other in the southern part of the community known as the South side School. These three schools operated about seven months each year and had one teacher. In 1898 the three schools were consolidated and all the pupils went to the Central School. The East Side School was torn down and the South Side School was remodeled into a residence.
Draper probably had the first rural high school in the state of Utah. In 1861 Dr. Park introduced high school subjects into the curriculum and this practice continued whenever the teacher was qualified to give such instruction. In 1902 a recognized high school was begun with J.C. Spiers as principal. It’s credits and diplomas were accepted by the University of Utah.
In 1912 the Draper School again felt the need to expand. The old building was razed and the present building was erected. It contained eleven classrooms and the principal’s office. Sources indicate the architect was N. Edward Liljenberg, architect for the School District, with C.A. Talboe awarded the contract. Nils Edward Liljenberg, a native of Sweden, was considered a leading Utah architect. He designed buildings for the Y.M.C.A. and Westminster College in Salt Lake City, and designed “many” public schools.
To provide more room and facilities for the junior high school, a new wing was added on the south of the building in 1928. This wing provided an auditorium, work shops, a domestic science section, a music room, stage, locker space, showers and restrooms. It was designed by the firm of Scott and Welch.
With some improvements and changes this building housed the junior high and elementary schools until 1954. In that year the Mount Jordan Junior High School was completed in Sandy, Utah, and students in the seventh, eighth and ninth grades went to school there. The Draper Park School was then remodeled with a new wing being added on the northeast corner. The interior was also redecorated to take care of the six elementary grades. It has thirteen classrooms equipped with modern visual aids, teachers, work-rooms, a faculty room, a sick room, auditorium, music room, library, and an up-to-date cafeteria and a modern gas heating plant.
In the lower main hallway of the Draper Park School is a beautiful mural. It depicts the history of education in Draper. The theme of the mural is “Onward and Upward”.
Current plans are to use the building as a community center.
Located in the backyard of the Willard Boulter Enniss Home in Draper, Utah, this building was the Bishop’s Storehouse at least for the time that W.B. Enniss was the local bishop. His signature can still be seen on the lumber inside.
There are many historic bishop’s storehouses and tithing offices, see these pages for more:
This Victorian Eclectic red fired brick home, known as “The Castle” was built in 1898 for $3200. Furnishings and landscaping added an additional $1200. A pipe from Corner Canyon resulted in this being one of the first homes in Draper with running water. Lights where first provided by coal oil, then acetylene and by 1912 electricity. Coal/wood stoves furnished the heat. The original home on this property, probably built in the 1870’s is was a granite cobble rock cottage that still stood behind the main house until recently.
Mr. Enniss served as a bishop of Draper for 12 years and he entertained many L.D.S. Church Authorities in his home. He had the bishop’s storehouse in his backyard and it still stands today.
Mr. Enniss helped bring electricity to Draper, served in the State Legislature and was President Of Draper Irrigation Company.
The Akagi family has owned and maintained the home and farm since 1947 until recently, the subdivision and park behind the home are named after them.
Aurelius W. Fitzgerald was educated in Draper and became a prominent sheep farmer. He built this home in 1898 for his bride, Mary Ellen “Nellie” Brown. It is constructed of adobe brick with a granite foundation. In 1912 a two-room basement and two rooms on the main floor were added, replacing the old back porch. The house was completely remodeled in 1952 when electrical wiring, plumbing, closets and lights were added throughout. The entire upstairs floor has remained vacant and unfinished for over 100 years. In 1994 Clay & Collette Leavitt began remodeling the house to return it to its original period look. The kitchen floor was refinished with 10-inch wide pine planks salvaged from the old granary behind the house. The tall silo behind the house was part of the milk house that was one of several buildings in the barnyard.
The Fitzgerald House, constructed in 1898, is a 1 1/2″ story brick Victorian Eclectic residence located on Fort Street. The house is locally significant for its association with the rise of sheep-ranching families in Draper at the turn of the twentieth century. The period of significance spans the productive lives of sheep ranchers, Aurelius W. and Nellie Brown Fitzgerald, and their son, Aurelius B. Fitzgerald, from 1898 to 1960. The prosperity of Draper ranchers during this period is represented by four Victorian-era mansions along Fort Street. Built around the same time as the mansions, the Fitzgerald House is more modest in scale, but features Victorian Eclectic ornamentation similar to its larger neighbors, retains excellent historical integrity, and is a contributing resource along Fort Street in Draper.
