William Harrison Folsom facts for kids
William Harrison Folsom (born March 25, 1815 – died March 19, 1901) was a very important architect and builder. He designed and built many famous buildings in Utah, especially in Salt Lake City. Folsom is best known as an architect for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Many of his biggest projects were for the Church. For a while, he was even called the Church Architect, which was a special job in the Church.
Early Life and Family
Folsom was born in Portsmouth, New Hampshire. When he was just 16 years old, he was already a supervisor in his father's building company. He managed hundreds of workers on projects to build docks around Lake Erie. Later, he and his father moved to Buffalo, New York, where they continued their building business.
In New York, Folsom met Zervial Eliza Clark. They got married on August 12, 1837, when he was 22. Folsom also met a stonemason named Enoch Reese, who taught him about the Latter-day Saint faith. Folsom and his wife were baptized members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints on February 17, 1842. They were baptized in the very cold Niagara River.
In the spring of 1842, Folsom and his wife traveled to Nauvoo, Illinois. At that time, Nauvoo was the main city for the Church. Folsom became friends with Joseph Smith, who founded the Church.
Starting His Career
Folsom worked on the Nauvoo Temple until it was finished in May 1846. Soon after, the Latter-day Saints had to leave Nauvoo. He worked on the temple with Truman Angell and Miles Romney, who became his lifelong friends. After leaving Nauvoo, Folsom moved to Keokuk, Iowa. In 1851, he went to the town of Rough and Ready near Sacramento, California. There, he worked on water projects that were needed for gold mining. He returned to his family in 1852.
Folsom decided to follow Brigham Young to the Salt Lake Valley. In 1854, he started his journey to Salt Lake City. However, he arrived at Council Bluffs, Iowa, ten days too late to join the last group traveling west. So, he stayed in Council Bluffs for six years and worked as a builder. He even worked on the large columns for the Nebraska Territory capitol building. These columns were moved across the Missouri River to Omaha, Nebraska.
Finally, in 1860, Folsom set out for Utah Territory with four wagon teams. He arrived in Salt Lake City on October 3. Soon after, he opened his own business on Main Street. Brigham Young, who was the President of the Church, quickly asked him to work on Church projects. In October 1861, Folsom was officially named the Church Architect at a big meeting called General Conference.
A Busy Architect
Folsom was very busy with his work in the 1860s. By 1864, he was a planner in two building companies, one of which was with Miles Romney. Folsom drew the plans or helped build many famous Utah buildings. These include the Old Salt Lake Theater, the Salt Lake Tabernacle, the Salt Lake City Council Hall, the Provo Tabernacle, the Provo Theater, the Moroni Tabernacle, and the first ZCMI building in downtown Salt Lake City. Folsom also had important duties in the Church. He served as a high councilor and later as a leader in the Salt Lake Stake Presidency in 1874.
In 1867, Truman O. Angell, who had been sick, became the Church Architect again. Folsom then became his assistant. In 1877, while still an assistant, Folsom was asked by the Church to design the Manti Utah Temple. Folsom lived in Manti, Utah, until the temple was finished in 1888. After returning to Salt Lake City, he worked as a building inspector for the mayor until 1890. In his later years, Folsom served as a Church patriarch before he passed away.
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ZCMI
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Salt Lake Theatre
