William D. Roberts House facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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William D. Roberts House
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![]() William D. Roberts House
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Location | 212 North 500 West Provo, Utah |
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Area | 0.5 acres (0.20 ha) |
Built | 1875 |
Architectural style | Greek Revival |
NRHP reference No. | 84002430 |
Added to NRHP | July 24, 1984 |
The William D. Roberts House is a historic building in Provo, Utah, United States. It is a special landmark because it is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. This means it is an important part of American history.
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Discover the William D. Roberts House
The William D. Roberts House was built in 1875. It is located at 212 North and 500 West in Provo. The house was designed in the Greek Revival style. This style was popular in the 1800s. Provo City recognized the house as a historic landmark on August 22, 1996.
What the House Looks Like
The William D. Roberts House is a two-story home. It has a pointed roof, called a gable roof. Experts say it is a great example of pioneer-era homes in Provo. It shows the classic Greek Revival style.
You can see this style in its details. The house has a special "boxed cornice" around the roofline. It also has "six over six double hung sash windows." These windows have decorative tops called "pedimental window heads." The doors have these same fancy tops.
The house has changed a bit over time. Some parts of the front have been updated. Also, some additions were built onto the house. But even with these changes, the house still looks much like it did when it was first built.
Who Was William D. Roberts?
William D. Roberts was an important person in the early days of Provo. He helped the city grow and develop. He was born in Illinois on September 4, 1835. When he was about ten, his family moved to Iowa. They later moved to Missouri.
William Roberts' Early Life and Travels
In 1851, William's family moved to Provo, Utah. Here, he joined The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. He later served two missions for his church. One mission was in California, and the other was in Great Britain. He also became a "Seventy," which is a church leader.
Later in 1851, William, his brother Bolivar, and their father went to California. They lived in a town called Placerville. His father worked as a doctor. William and Bolivar tried to find gold. But mining was not easy. William could not afford to return to Utah until 1855. After four years, he only had two twenty-dollar gold pieces left.
William Roberts' Life in Provo
Once back in Provo, William Roberts took on many important tasks. He was part of a group sent to find Chief Tintic. This chief and his men had been bothering the settlers. In 1856, Roberts also helped pioneer settlers. Many were stuck in the cold on their way to Utah.
In 1857, Roberts and a man named Daniel Jones were trading. They were captured by Crow Indians. But they were rescued the next day by travelers. In 1858, Roberts worked in transportation. He carried goods and people between Salt Lake City and Los Angeles, California.
On February 6, 1862, William Roberts married Maria Julia Lusk. They were married in Missouri. He then brought her to live with him in Provo.
William Roberts' Community Service
William Roberts was very active in the Provo community. He served on the City Council from 1878 to 1881. He was also an alderman from 1884 to 1885. He became the first postmaster in the state of Utah.
He also loved music and theater. He played in the first brass band in Utah County. He was also part of Provo's first drama group. William Roberts passed away on March 8, 1912.