Swallow's Nest (Blanding, Utah) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Swallow's Nest
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 Location in Utah
Location in the United States
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| Location | 2 N. Grayson Pkwy., Blanding, Utah |
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| Built | 1925 |
| Architect | Lyman, Albert Robison |
| NRHP reference No. | 96000164 |
| Added to NRHP | February 23, 1996 |
The Swallow's Nest is a special little building in Blanding, Utah. It's also known as the Albert Robison Lyman Study. Albert Robison Lyman built it in 1925. He wanted a quiet place to write and think, away from his busy family in the main house. He used it until 1938.
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About the Swallow's Nest
The Swallow's Nest is found on the Nicklovis Ranch. Albert R. Lyman named the ranch after its earlier owner, Nicholas Lovis. This small writing retreat was built about 350 feet (107 meters) from the main ranch house. The main house was built around 1914.
What the Building Looks Like
This building has just one room. It is made from local sandstone rocks that were stacked randomly. The roof is low and sloped, like a triangle. It is held up by strong logs called purlins, which rest on log columns.
The main door is on the north side of the building. There are single windows on the south and west sides. Inside, the floor is made of rough wood. The walls are covered with a smooth plaster made from mud and lime. In one corner, there is a stone fireplace. This might have been used for a wood stove to keep the room warm. There is also a simple writing desk built into another corner, with shelves for books.
Who Was Albert Lyman?
Albert Robison Lyman, his wife Mary Ellen (called "Lell"), and their daughter Casse were among the first people to settle in Blanding in 1905. Albert was born in Fillmore, Utah, in 1880. His family moved to Bluff, Utah in 1880. They were part of a group of Mormon settlers. These settlers were sent to build new communities in the San Juan River area of southeast Utah.
Why Albert Needed a Quiet Place
The Lyman family bought the Nicklovis ranch in 1912. They paid $770 for it. Albert and Lell had many children—fifteen in total! With six sons and nine daughters, it's easy to see why Albert needed a quiet spot to write.
He designed the cabin with a special metal flag. He would raise this flag when he did not want anyone to bother him. Between 1925 and 1938, Albert wrote and published a book called "The Voice of the Intangible."
Later Years of the Swallow's Nest
In 1938, the Lymans sold the ranch to Ray and Elizabeth Young. They moved to Salt Lake City to help Lell with her health. After Lell passed away in 1939, Albert married again. He and his new wife, Gladys, moved back to Blanding in 1942. Albert kept writing about the San Juan region from their home in Blanding.
The ranch property, including the Swallow's Nest, was sold several times over the years. Eventually, the town of Blanding bought it for a park. The cabin is now part of the town's visitor center area.
For many years, the Swallow's Nest was not cared for. The west wall even fell in. But in 1988, when Segal Realty owned the property, the family living there rebuilt the wall. They helped fix up the Swallow's Nest so it could be used again.
- Photographs of the Swallow's Nest at the National Park Service's NRHP database
