“Ten O’Clock Whistle” and Old Public Library

At 4:00 a.m. on June 19, 1898 a Chinese cook spotted flames on Main Street, and alerted a policeman who fired three pistol shots to awaken Parkites to the conflagration which destroyed virtually all the buildings on Main Street. Reconstruction of City Hall began almost immediately, and this three-story wood frame tower was added to house a more reliable fire alarm. A 1,500 pound bell was installed to alert the community to future fires. In 1905 the bell was replaced by an electric siren activated from the telephone company’s switchboard.

With the establishment of a reliable local fire department, the siren was used as a curfew warning for Park City’s young people, and became known as the “Ten O’clock Whistle.” Although the curfew had not been enforced for many years, the whistle continued to sound regularly until 1980.

The tower’s tall interior walls were used to hang fire hoses to dry. Otherwise empty, it became dilapidated. It was restored in 1983-84 as part of the City Hall restoration, and is now part of the Park City Museum.

The one-story brick commercial building adjacent to the tower was built just after the 1898 fire, on the remains of the two-story structure which burned down. Original occupants were a tailor and harness shop. A furniture store stood over the premises in 1907. In 1910 the Park City Public Library moved in, and remained here until 1982, when it relocated to the newly restored Miners Hospital in City Park. This building was restored in 1983-84, also a part of the City Hall restoration project. Owned by Park City Municipal Corporation, it has been leased out for commercial use.

The Bell Tower and Public Library Building are listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Related Posts:

• Park City Main Street
• Park City Museum
• Park City, Utah.

City Hall

After several years of petitioning the State of Utah for incorporation, Park City was granted a charter on March 8, 1884. With a population in excess of 4,000 a building to centralize municipal functions was critically needed. Construction of City Hall began in 1885. The Great Fire of 1898 claimed all but the facade. Reconstruction began almost immediately, and in 1901 the tower and a 1,500 pound bell were added to warn Parkites of future conflagrations.

City Hall has housed diverse government offices. The old Utah Territorial Prison, commonly called ” The Dungeon” was located in the basement. Park City Municipal Corporation, needing larger quarters, vacated City Hall in 1983. Extensive restoration was completed in early 1984.

Listed on the National Register of Historic Places, this is a two-story masonry and brick structure of the Victorian commercial style. Its decorative brick work, segmental arches over three bay openings on street level, and plat pilasters divided the upper level into a three-part composition make this one of the most distinctive structures built in Park City.

Located on historic Park City Main Street in Park City, Utah.

Masonic Hall

This building once served as the Masonic Hall for Uintah Lodge No. 7. Fraternal and secret societies flourished in Park City in the late 1900’s. Their meeting halls played a significant role in the town’s social fabric.

The Park City Masonic Association was organized in 1878, chartered in 1880, and met at various locations until this building was constructed in 1908 at a cost of $6,000. When the Masons became inactive the building went through a long period of abandonment or diverse uses.

The unusual arrangement and shape of windows were covered over with siding for many years, hiding these distinctive features. Old photographs were used as a guide to restoring the building to its original condition in 1983. This major restoration once again brought the three story, vernacular institutional style structure to its former place as a vital element of Park City’s commercial district.

Located on historic Park City Main Street in Park City, Utah.

Anderson Apartments

The north portion of this building was constructed in 1898 at a cost of $3,000.  It was the largest Main Street structure built after the 1898 fire which destroyed Park City’s commercial district.  The south section of the building was added around 1905.

The frame construction with rectangular gable roof and modified false front is a typical example of the vernacular commercial buildings of turn-of-the-century Park City.  The facade originally included a canopy and second floor balcony, as well as a different window configuration.

The building was originally occupied by E.D. Sutton & Co., which established a grocery and meat business in Park City in 1890.  Because the second floor was used as a meeting palce for the Masons and other social organizations, the building was called Social Hall.  The ground floor has been used by various commercial concerns in recent years, and also housed the Park City offices for Summit County services.  The upper floors have long been used as rental apartments.

Located on historic Park City Main Street in Park City, Utah.

The Alamo

Built in 1905 by the M.S. Aschiem Mercantile Company on property adjacent to its thriving, landmark store, this Mission style structure was one of the few brick commercial buildings on Main Street in its day.  The building has design features unique to Park City.  It is a Spanish Colonial revival design with decorative Queen Anne brickwork, and an interior ceiling composed of a series of barrel vaults.

Until 1911 the building was occupied by the Utah Independent Telephone Company, a rival exchange which eventually merged with Rocky Mountain Bell.  It subsequent changes of owners and uses, the building housed Utah Power & Light Company offices, a bowling alley and a liquor store, before establishing the Alamo Saloon existing today.  Careful restoration in 1981 presents a building whose facade today closely resembles  that of the building when constructed.

Located on historic Park City Main Street in Park City, Utah.

The Club

Built of wood after the great fire of 1898, this building has always functioned as a restaurant or saloon, and was originally called the Silver King Restaurant.  Construction took place in two phases: the southern half built first, and a mirror image of it added to the north several years later.  In 1907 the building shared the same wood porch with the two buildings to the north.

The interior walls are hung with a collection of animal trophies which have been looking down on the The Club’s patrons since longtime proprietor Heinie Hernan installed them in the 1930’s.  Moonshine was sold here during prohibition, and a memorable party occurred when President Roosevelt legalized alcoholic beverages in 1932.  This is the only saloon from Park City’s mining heyday whose interior remains substantially unchanged.

Although fairly typical of other commercial facades built along Main Street in its day, The Club is distinguished by its ornate wood cornice and bracketed wood lintels above the two double hung windows.  Its recessed entry and two story height are consistent with most commercial structures built in Park City at the turn of the century.

Located on historic Park City Main Street in Park City, Utah.

Jenkins Photography Studio – Jenkins Confectionery

The Jenkins Photography Studio, which produced many significant historical photographs, was opened in 1919 by Joseph Edward Jenkins and his wife, Marjorie Wilkes Jenkins.

In the 1920’s, the storefront advertising introduced the residents of Park City to the advent of the radio and photograph. J. E. Jenkins proudly played a radio on Main Street in front of the store so everyone passing by could listen to the new history-making invention.

A big change came in 1934 when the photography studio was converted to a confectionery named Pop Jenks. From then on and for the rest of their lives, J. E. Jenkins and Marjorie Jenkins would be known as “Pop Jenks” and “Ma Jenks” to scores of children, customers and friends.

Pop enjoyed his photography for many years. his daughter, Thelma Uriarte, later donated these photographs and negatives to the Park City Historical Society, so that all could enjoy the history he captured on film.

Located on historic Park City Main Street in Park City, Utah.

Rocky Mountain Bell Telephone Office

This two-story structure was designed by Richard Kletting, who at the turn of the century was considered Utah’s foremost architect.  Attesting to the company’s confidence in Park City’s future, Rocky Mountain Bell Telephone purchased the land in July, 1898, only a month after the devastating fire which destroyed most of the Main Street commercial district.  The building, completed later that year, was used as an office to serve the company’s local clientele, and when Mountain States Telephone and Telegraph Company purchased Rocky Mountain Bell in 1911, the building was retained  for the same purpose.

In 1964 the building was sold.  Since that time it has housed a real estate office, clothing store and, currently, a restaurant.  The second floor has generally been used for living quarters.

The structure played a significant role in developing communication in this burgeoning mining town.  It has had only minor  alterations since it was built, and is typical of the Victorian commercial buildings constructed in its time.

Located on historic Park City Main Street in Park City, Utah.