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William D. Skeen House facts for kids

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William D. Skeen House
Skeen House Plain City Utah.jpeg
The house in 2010
William D. Skeen House is located in Utah
William D. Skeen House
Location in Utah
Location Plain City, Utah
Area less than one acre
Built 1862
Built by Sharp, William; Singleton, Thomas
Architectural style Saltbox Roof
NRHP reference No. 82004191
Added to NRHP August 9, 1982

The William D. Skeen House is a special old home in Plain City, Utah. It was built way back in 1862. This house is important because of its history and its unique shape. It has been listed on the National Register of Historic Places since 1982. This means it is a building that is officially recognized as important to American history.

What is the William D. Skeen House?

The William D. Skeen House was built for William D. Skeen. He was a pioneer who moved to Utah a long time ago. He was born in Pennsylvania and became a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in 1850. William D. Skeen lived in this house with his family.

Who helped build the house?

Building a house in 1862 was a big job! William D. Skeen had help from two other pioneers. William Sharp was the stonemason, meaning he worked with stones to build the walls. Thomas Singleton was the carpenter, who worked with wood for the house's structure.

In 1868, another family bought the house. Ebenezer C. Richardson moved in with his large family. They lived there for many years after William D. Skeen.

What makes the house special?

The William D. Skeen House is special because of its unusual roof shape. It has a style called "saltbox architecture." This kind of roof is not very common, especially in Utah.

The "Saltbox" Shape

Imagine a house with a long, sloping roof on one side. That's what a saltbox house looks like! The roof ridge goes back in one long sweep. It looks a bit like the old wooden boxes used to store salt, which is how it got its name.

Other Saltbox Houses in Utah

The William D. Skeen House is one of only four houses in Utah with this unique saltbox roof shape. The other three are:

  • The Joseph Beesley house in Provo (though it has been changed a lot).
  • The Lauritz Smith House in Draper, Utah.
  • The Hampton's Ford Stage Station in Collinston.

These houses are rare examples of this interesting architectural style in Utah.

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