Murray Downtown Residential Historic District facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Murray Downtown Residential Historic District
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Arthur Townsend Home, Murray Downtown Historic Residential District
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 Location in Utah
Location in the United States
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| Location | Roughly bounded by East 4800 South, East Clark Street, East Vine Street, and Center Street Murray, Utah United States |
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| Area | 20 acres (8.1 ha) |
| Built | 1870 |
| Architectural style | Late Victorian Style/Art Moderne |
| NRHP reference No. | 04001566 |
| Added to NRHP | January 25, 2005 |
The Murray Downtown Residential Historic District is a special area in Murray, Utah, United States. It shows how the city grew from a farming town to a busy industrial area, and then into a modern suburb. This district was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2005. The buildings here are very old, built between 1870 and 1954. They show many different building styles popular in Utah during that time. This area helps us understand Murray's history through its homes.
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Exploring Murray's Historic Homes
This historic district shows how Murray grew over time. Many important people lived here. They were business owners, doctors, teachers, and even mayors. They chose to live close to their jobs on State Street or Vine Street.
The homes in this area show many different building styles. They are good examples of how people built houses in Murray. This part of Murray is still very much like it was in the past. The houses are close together and create a historic look on the streets.
Early Settlers and Farming Life
After settlers from The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints arrived in the Salt Lake Valley in 1847, families began to settle south. The area that is now Murray was called South Cottonwood. Unlike Salt Lake City, Murray did not start with a town square. Families lived on their farms near Big Cottonwood Creek and Little Cottonwood Creek.
They mostly grew grain to feed their families and animals. The Atwood family had a brickyard near Vine Street. This brickyard likely made bricks for many early buildings and homes in the district. We don't know of any original farmhouses from this very early time that are still standing in the district today.
Who Lived in the District?
Many different kinds of people lived in the Murray Downtown Residential Historic District. They were shop owners, small business people, community leaders, and professionals. They lived with their families near their businesses or offices. These were often on State Street or Vine Street.
A business center grew at the corner of State and Vine Streets. These were the main roads around the historic district. Some people even had their businesses right in their homes. For example, Donald O. Wilson made brooms at his house on Center Street. Katie Wilson was a nurse who worked from her home on Wasatch Street.
Business Owners and Their Homes
Many business owners lived in the district. Thomas Martin opened his general store on State Street in 1914. He lived close by on East 4800 South. Chester P. Cahoon, from a brick company, lived next door.
The Brinton family owned Brinton Electric Company. They sold electrical appliances starting in 1922. They lived on East Vine Street. Ernest and Eugenia M. Madsen owned Madsen Hardware and Furniture. They lived nearby on East Vine Street. Charles Caldwell, Jr., built a house on Glen Street. He owned "The Palace Market" on 4800 South and State Street.
Heber B. Smith was a secretary for an implement company. Later, he opened Smith's Hardware. He lived with his wife, Fern Smith, in the house he built in 1912. It was on East 4800 South.
Doctors and Teachers in the Community
Medical professionals and teachers also chose to live in this area. Dr. Herond Nishan Sheranian lived on East 4800 South from 1922 to 1933. His Murray Hospital Clinic, founded in 1927, was just a few blocks away. He came from Turkey as a child. He worked in a Murray smelter to help pay for medical school.
Another doctor, Dr. G. H. Pace, lived nearby. Dr. Frank McHugh also lived near the district. He treated a man named Joe Hill for a gunshot wound.
Elmo E. Boggess was a school principal. He lived with his wife, Mary Ann, on East 4800 South. Carl E. Gaufm was the superintendent of schools for Murray from 1912 to 1928. He came from Sweden as a child. He graduated from the University of Utah in 1896. He was known for starting the first high school in Murray. He lived with his wife, Rhoda, on East Vine Street. After he passed away, his wife rented rooms to schoolteachers. This helped them meet the requirement to live in Murray. Morris Cannegeiter, a famous musician, also lived on East Vine Street. He directed the Olympus Male Choir.
Politicians and Community Leaders
Several politicians, including two mayors and a judge, built homes in the district. Charles Brown was mayor of Murray from 1906 to 1909. He lived on East 4800 South. He owned the Buster Brown store and later the Palace Meat Market.
George Huscher was the first Socialist mayor of Murray from 1912 to 1915. He lived with his wife, Elizabeth, across the street from Charles Brown. Utah Supreme Court Chief Justice David W. Moffat built a brick house in 1908. It was on East Vine Street. He was an attorney and later a judge for the Utah Supreme Court. His wife, Sarah Howe Moffat, helped start the Murray library. She also served on the Murray Board of Education.
Historic Churches in the District
Three churches from this time period are still in the historic district. The groups who use them have changed over the years. The first church built was the LDS Murray First Ward Meetinghouse. It was built in 1907 on East Vine Street. It was used a lot and made bigger in 1928. Since the 1970s, it has been used by the Mount Vernon Academy. This is a school for children from pre-kindergarten to 12th grade.
The other two churches were built by different religious groups. This shows that Murray had a diverse population early on. Many people came to work in the smelters. Both churches are still used for worship today. The St. Vincent de Paul's Catholic Church was built in 1927 on Wasatch Street. It is now owned by the Maronite Catholic Church. The Methodist Episcopal Church on E. 4800 South was built around 1915. It is now a Quaker Church.
Homes During Wartime and After
During wartime and after, there was a need for more housing. Some single-family houses were changed into apartments. For example, a two-story house built in 1908 on Wasatch Street was shared with officers from the Kearns Army Air Base during the war. In 1950, it was turned into two apartments.
Another house, built around 1895, was also changed into apartments in 1951. An outside staircase was added to the second floor.
Images for kids
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Arthur Townsend Home, Murray Downtown Historic Residential District
