This home off 1700 South in Salt Lake was built in 1894 for William and Margaret Ann Cornick. Margaret’s brother, Seth Rigby, had previously owned the land where the home was built. They operated a farm on the remaining Rigby property. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ William and Margaret Ann raised three children in this home. After their passing, their son Clyde and his wife Ruby took over the home. They added on a brick sunporch during their tenure. Ruby ended up dying on the sunporch at age 90. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ The property used to contain a two-story barn with a hayloft, a toolshed, a chicken coop and a vegetable garden. All of these elements have since been removed. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ The home has since become an office space and is now surrounded by other commercial buildings, but still maintains its historic charm.
Designed by Philip Meyer, a native of Germany and a nephew of local retail magnate Frederick Auerbach, the B’nai Israel Temple was constructed in 1890-91. Henry Monheim, a local architect, supervised the construction. It is one of the few remaining structures built by Utah’s early pioneer Jews and reflects their importance in the development of the economy, government, and educational institutions of the state. The design of this Romanesque Revival style building was reportedly based on the Fasanenstrasse Synagogue, a famous Jewish temple in Berlin. While the main elevation is rusticated Kyune sandstone, the side walls and the drum beneath the dome are brick.
The Congregation B’nai Israel was organized in 1881 and built a small synagogue in 1883 at First West and Third South. Following a division in the synagogue, the orthodox Congregation Montefiore built a new synagogue at 355 South Third East, and the reform B’nai Israel congregation built this temple. It was sold in the early 1970’s when a new temple was built for combined local Jewish congregations. It has since housed several commercial enterprises including a restaurant and offices.
Veterans Memorial Dedicated: May 25, 1991 Mayor: Lawrence P. Smith Designer: Janet Witherspoon
Committee: Bertha Rand, Chairman Dick Adair – Cathy Flox Sam Burggraaf – Mike Shea
Major contributors: Sandy Exchange Club Draper Bank Vincent Bluth Bill Roderick American Legion Sandy Post 77 Jeri Taylor Becton DIckinson A. E. “Babe” Malstrom Plus 100 additional contributors
“Start at 1/2 past 6. Crossed Kanyon Creek once more then turned to the right, ascending the mountains by a gradual ascent up a ravine. … the road became steeper until we reached the highest point & immediately commenced a very rapid descent, many teams having to lock both wheels.”
-Thomas Bullock, July 17, 1847
Utah Crossroads Chapter – OCTA
HU-3E
This is part of the series of California Trail markers I’ve been documenting on these pages:
This complex predates its Los Gables neighbors by nearly two decades but both ended up on the register this year. It, too, is a 3 1/2-story brick building but in the Neoclassical Revival design. But what the Palace Apartments preserves is a piece of Salt Lake City’s rapid urban growth heading in the 1900s.
“The Palace Apartments is an early 20th-century example of an urban apartment block, one of 180 blocks that were built in Salt Lake City between the 1890s and the 1930s,” historians wrote. “The city’s residential growth in the late 19th and early 20th centuries is represented by two competing types of housing: suburban homes and urban apartment blocks.”
The building has stood for over a century now. Following years of neglect, historians wrote that “substantial renovations” were conducted last year. Now known as the Jude Apartments, the building is helping provide housing for the newest wave of Salt Lake City urban growth.
This house is significant as the residence of Francis Armstrong for whom it was built in 1892. He was an entrepreneur, civic leader and Mayor of Salt Lake. It is significant also as one of the finest example of Queen Anne Style architecture in Salt Lake City.
Armstrong was born October 3, 1839 in Plainmiller, Northumberland, England, to William Armstrong, a machinist, and Mary Kirk. The family emigrated to Canada in 1851. At nineteen Francis went to Missouri and then in 1861 drove an ox-team to Salt lake City, His early employment in sawmills led eventually to a partnership in Taylor, Romney, & Armstrong Lumber and Construction, the foundation of a considerable fortune. At the time of his death in 1899 he was President of the Utah Commercial Savings Bank, the Western Valley loan & Trust Company/ the Utah Power and Light Company, Vice-President of Taylor, Romney & Armstrong Company, and a director of many other firms.
He was active in public affairs, elected to a number of city and county offices in the 1870’s and 1880’s and to the office of Mayor of Salt Lake City in 1886 and in 1888. Hs had been elected to his second term as chairman of the Board of County Commissioner shortly before his death in 1899.
On December 10, 1864 he married Isabelle Sidoway, by whom he had eleven children. In May of 1870 he took a second wife, Sarah Carruth. She died in 1883, survived by only one of her seven children. A member and staunch supporter of the LDS Church, he was remembered for his blunt integrity, energy, and determination in public and business life rather than for involvement in church governance.
Armstrong’s widow occupied the house until her death, December 11, 1930. In 1931 the house passed to Mary Hannah Armstrong Madsen. Following her death the house passed to her husband Richard W. Madsen in 1933. Madsen was manager of the Standard Furniture Co, President of the Western Loan & Building Co. and of the Utah State National Bank.
The house stood vacant for several years and in 1934 was converted into apartments, Madsonia Realty received title in 1953 following his death. Jones O. and Amelia Petersen received title the same year and resold it to Ira and Myrtle H. Oviatt. They sold it to George W and Martha Linnes in 1974 and they resold it to Navalco of Utah the same year. Navalco sold it to Armstrong Manor Associates in 1980 and they deeded a 48 8/10 undivided interest to Suzanne Carson Erickson the same year.
