HISTORIC SITES nARKER :JRJER FOR. I

::AME OF SITE William Spry Hane -~---

DAT~ November 8, 1974 ·------~ PROPJSED TEXT: Built in alx>ut 1901 by Walter G. Tuttle. The oone was acquired in 1911 by Cbvemor William Spr.J woo resided here six of his eight years as Cbvernor. On Christmas 1916 a OOmb was disoovered in front of the house. ~rhis threat was thought to be the result of C'IOVer.oor Spry' s failure to corrmute the sentenoo of Joe Hill, singing hero of t.00 early lal:or novarent.

I ] vJOuld like to order a marker \i'iitn t r1e text as propos ed. 0 I would like to orde r a ma rk er with the folloHi ng changes in the proposed text.

_c:J Please J i 11 me. r=1 Check enclosed. (:lake payable to Pe rmaloy Corporation) Renarks ------

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Historic Preservation Staff ~ arne ______Utah Historical Society 603 East South Temp le Street Address --- , G4102

Te 1ephone ___ \ 2 <6 ....I . s-r.

tJrAH HIS'IDRIC SITES INVEN'IO_R':l__ _ ,...,,N-ame-~-an-d.....,,}),_..,\d_dieSr--· _s_o_fl""'"':S:::""'i"'":'te-·-Olme-;o;::. -::". ·r-·--· Date I A °1 s gr t...ui I l io..M A+h.a.S August 16, 1974 __ _ ------·---Architect or BUilder &z P 8b1ccb , 0~8 Walter G. Tuttle Address of Site ·----- 0":'.:-riginal ·Use 368 First Avenue, SLC ..S..i.ngl.e....family ft.sL~~-- · ·------~O-r~ig-1~· n-al...:;..:~CM11,...:...~e~r:.:...... :.:..:...::.::.;:.;:..~:..:=:.::__~--~~~ Prese..~t Use Walter G. Tuttle AEartments_J_4j__ _ ··- _- ·------Material Year Built Stone foundation, frame upper about 1901

1. Describe b'-ie historical significance of the site. Include. a disc'_lSsion of t.L1le original and subsequent owners, and dates and events associat ed with the building and the owners.

The block of land on which the house stands (South Temple to First Avenue between D and E Streets) was originally owned by John Sharp. Mr. Sharp was one of three brothers prominent in early Utah. He was noted as an organizer of the Wasatch Woolen Mills and the Utah Southern Railroad (later incorporated into Union Pacific), as well as a politican, industrialist, and member of the Nauvoo Legion. Later owners of the plot included John F. Cahoon, a Curtis family, and E. H. Aries. Walter G. Tuttle bought part of the lot about 1900 and built the house in question about 1901. Governor William Spry and his wife Mary bought the house in 1911 and lived there until 1921 when they moved to Washington, D.C. In 1943, Mrs. Spry sold the house to · , J. A. Alder, and it has since been turned into partments. (.nou.> 0CA.)n-td b-y UH\\\~ A°"'l'\A~)

f aI William Spry lived in this house during his years as governor of Utah (1909-1917). On Christmas Eve, 1916, some sticks of dynamite went off in back of the house which appeared, at first, to be the work of frightened burglars. However, the next morning, a neighbor. , Mr. Neslen, was sweeping the walks after a record breaking snow storm and discovered a bomb planted by the front steps of the Spry home. Fortunately, it was detonated before anyone was injured. The bomb was thought to be the work of the IWW. The IWW and other radical labor groups had been threatening Gov Spry for months ever since he had sentenced Joe Hill, the singing hero of the early labor movement, to death for murder--and then carried out the sentence in spite of pleas ranging from the labor movement to himself. But the guilty party was never found and the attempted bomQing has remained a mystery. The week after this, Gov. Spry ' s term expired. His most visible accomplishment is the which was planned and completed during his tenure. (See attached summary) - 2 - .. 2. Describe the building in t enns of its architectural significanee~ Iriclude a characterization of the style, a description of any unique features it might possess as well as the cx::>ntribution it makes to the ·environment. ··

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3. Describe what alterations have been made to the original structure o For example, -· have :· there -' b~en ariy· additions? Where? · -When? In what V!ays has use of the in- terior space been altered? Has the building-been-qtuccoed or · oth~:rwise __ _ sheathed? - 3 -

4. Describe the physical condition of the site at the present timeo

5 o What are the future plans for the site?

6. Sources used in corrpiling the historyo (Persons interviewedr books., . diaries, family histories, newspapers, etc.) William Spry, Man of Firmness: Governor of Utah by William L. Roper and Leonard J. Arrington, 1971. Salt Lake County Recorder and Assessor Salt Lake City Directories

7. Person corcpiling fonn~ Return to: Preservation Planning Office Utah Historical Society 603 Eo South Tetnple Salt Lake City, Utah 84102 ..,

In the eighth legislature a part of Governor Spry's message read, .. An. imperative necessity exists Tenth .Legislature Accomplishments for the erection of a State Capitol Build­ ing. }'his is a task of great magnitude for which plans will be submitted · A state banking department later. was created, with C. A. Glazier ap· • ! pointed as bank commissioner. . At this session legal holidays . . were approved as follows: Sunday of A state board of sheep commissioners each week; January 1st, New was appointed, to cooperate Year's Day; February 12, Lincoln's birth­ with federal inspectors of day; February 22nd, Washington,'s the Bureau of Animal Husbandry. birthday; April 15, Arbor Day; The State Normal School, 30, Decoration Day; May at Cedar City, Iron County, was made July 4, Independence Day; July 24, Pioneer branch of the State a the first Monday in Day; Agricultural College at Logan. September, Labor Day; December 25, Christmas · May 31, 1913. An . and all other days Day; amendment to the Constitution of as set apart by the President of the , providing t~e United States. for the election of senators by the people, by the state instead of Other Laws Enacted legislators, went into effect. A conservation commission Eleventh Legislature appointed .. To ascertain the natural re­ sources of the state, to adopt and carry out such measures as will prevent One of the most important laws passed waste of the same, and to cooperate with authorizing in thi~ s~ssion w~s th~t Commission," the National Conservation a commission .. To make an inquiry, etc. gation into exammati~n and . mvest~­ the subject of a direct compensation law, A state dairy and food bureau for mdustnal acc1· was created. Appropriation made for dents." · sinking artesian wells, an insurance An irrigation . . department was established, provision and water rights commission ~as created was made for registering, numbering conditions to mvestigate and licensing motor vehicles, in the state and report to the next legislature. standardizing of public highway Governor system provided for, appropriation made Spry was given authority to appoint a committee to entertain members of the Grand Army citizens to select of seven of the Republic in Salt Lake a site upon the capitol grounds for a monument. 1 City, August 1909, and also an appropriation Mormon Battalion to the of $10,000 made and $1,000 was appropriated i struction of state arsenal for con­ to secure a design for §11 and armory. the monument. · · The Thirty-five · , Alaska-Yukon Pacific Exposition of August thousand dollars was allowed for very creditably 1909 found Utah products the disJ?lay of Uta~ s represented, the display and exercises and resources at the San Fran~isco and world, advertised to the ' Sar: ~iego. Industrial the resou;ces and possibilities of the "Beehive Expositions in 1915 and $20,000 ·~ppropnated. Participation State." for furmshmgs m th~ new in the United States Land and capitol building which was neanng compl~tion hcl

bronze medals of. suitable Laws Enacted the ibbons. One of the most important acts of the Seventh Legislature was stand, authorizing of Governor Cutler to appoint .. two attorneys of good first or second class city, of the ing to constitute a commission to compile and annotate the laws judge to hold office four James T. state, and supervise the printing of said laws." He appointed a probation officer in the and they­ Hammond and Grant H. Smith as the code commissioners, published the "Compiled Laws of Utah,'" early in 1908. dis..­ se nine sections of the act A board of horticulture was formed to become active in every )aring an exhibit for the trict in the state of Utah. Society, held in Portland, Oregon The name of the Deseret Agricultural and Manufacturing Utah State Fair Associ· jing for the appointment chartered January 17, 1856, was changed to the owned by previously named. or and four Utah citizens ation, together with title and all properties •penses. A Utah building society. ceded jurisdiction to the United States was appropriated to carry ( 5) Other acts of the session reservations of Fort Douglas and Fort Duchesne. . F. W. Fishburn, Wesley over the military ( 6) Provided for the registration of births and deaths in the state, er as his .associates, with of vital statistics to be under the authority of the state board Clawson, manager. With these health. :d out very successfully­ . (7) The state board of land commissioners was directed to esablish R. H. Bradford of Salt ~ed by an experimental station for Central Utah, to be located in Davis, L. A. Ostien in charge of Lake, Utah, or Weber Counties. f the State Board of HoP highlighted an irrigation Jamestown Exposition ~ ing mill displayed in St. An act was passed providing that for the purpose of advertising­ their resources, the State of Utah shall participate in the Jamestown :ten Utah Day. Governor April 26, Ter·Centennial Exposition, at Norfolk, Virginia, commencing day, serving refreshments out the 1907. The governor and four commissioners plann,.,ed and carried setting forth the the prin· matter, project. Utah Day was October 17, 1907. The governor was and organist, awarded t~e display cipal speaker and music was given by J. J. McClellan, tabernacle and and Willard Weihe, violinist. All were delighted with the program e Agricultural College at results and felt well repaid for time and money spent. It )er 20, 1906, a high wind Governor Cutler's administration was one of thrift and progress. during· Blind School and also in, r · has been possible to record only a part of his accomplishments loved and appreciated rial School at Ogden; re, his term of office, but as governor of Utah he was ate treasury. by all who knew him . satisfactory. in every .s so GOVERNOR WILLIAM SPRY as governor of Utah. of the State of Utah· Two Term_s, 1909·1917 of Third Governor 907. A notable feature in William Spry, third governor of the state of Utah, was born · the first official utterance and Windsor, Berkshire, , January 11, 1864, a son of Philip itol building, setting forth with Sarah (Field) Spry. He came to Salt Lake City, June 2, 1875, the marvelous and appro· of the his parents and two brothers, George H . and Samuel. Converts Hill, and stressed the fact education, Latter-day Saints Church. He received a common school vas available in the state, then worked at railroading, blacksmithing, the hide and wool business, a necessity and would After his was at the age of 21 went to the Southern States as a missionary. n of visitors. in 1890, he married Mary Alice Wrathall. return of e erection of a State Cap, He located at Tooele in 1893, and was chosen a representative In 1906 1ple so that concrete action Tooele County, to state legislature sessions of 1903 and 1905. elected he was appointed United States marshal for Utah and in 1908 was party. vn open in the summer of as governor of Utah by the Republican 71 ·onto Open .Account l)J; (... .- "(t. ~ ------ill S · ~~~ . by Chuck Akenow

Historic preservation or historic obstruction? · al can cost $4,300, it's time 'lees the family. And not _ On the pages Ian is so comprehensive, of this distinguished · _ cities, _.. . newspaper Kent Shearer the core i ,~ beginning to deteriorate. .r example, it covers · regularly rails-awa~ ,. · · have seen We ·· at the . impositions of a the decline- in Central City and nity, si.Jrgery. - burgeoning federal· : :-~ also it is ·nursing - .. :: bure~ucra~y apparent on the Avenues. ies andalotmore! _ as .- - ~· somehow, • the . same Getall -.~:- :.a~kmson . :· '· "' ·· _ :~ - The remedy for · the. s : La~_ ·. dts~as~ : - ~ouldn t. - affect.; in.crease in blighted __ ,_ _ :~: !,::~:-~- -: u~ -' ··-~- - structures on the Avenues _; _· nght .here m R~ver · C1ty~ -. ·: and in Central City . , . -::. -But, a!as, ·we . _ no~ .: ~-:=.. J s not to punish - . know ~ bett_er: -?T:: For .:- we the developer by compromising ONER C.L u __ ...._ . ~-: have mvented.. ~:- ~ i · ~--his ability 0 _ b1:1reaucrat1c entanglem~nt to remove old structures and replace wo~se than·:OSHA.. ~~ _.. :._,_. them with 1n sur~nce ";,~r~~;}~~~ :!r{~~~~ newer and sounder ones. The more ··. :· .--;.<.: :; ·;._ ~~~k~~t~~~~~~~ ~:;1; ... J~ ~t~"f~~ .., ~- - '(a_,... ··' -:-~: : .t~]};:> ~i • ' ~ T .mean :~~:ii~::~~::a~ ._::....'.,. 4...,.. , .., ~ !:r.t ._J ; of~course; ~ ~ I ~ ~ l'' ,: the; ~h~~~~!:~da?nsa;;:i:~~; ~ - chain ,· E LERS of approval -:0..,.~:~_,_ new · ·- buildings -::;,/~i.~'-:.::_·'~~-~ / .. ~'.'";_· n~ _ being developed '¥~-~~-e~~_aryJo _l;>uild ~riything ~orthwhile 1·n the Aven.ues ! Compa~ies· · ~- ~:t1.:t= on -~~_.t,,_: ·;: area conform to an 1~ : :-~~ th~ -- ~y7!1_~es ..·~- 1!1. is ·_ chain · _ ~egi~s ·accepted style compatible ONAL) • · ·· ·. · ?~.--- ·- ·: ·· Htstonc wi~h the City .:;~:;.~:-with BUSINESS~ACKAGES-.~~- ~- -· Landmarks :- Committee ~ the character.of th.e : · · , .. ,.- -- :- wanders :::-; · neighborhoo_d ... AUTO • JEW -· .-. , :;i.;::..:'!-f"~.-~r;-· £.·:.:,.._ -:.- · - ELA~ - ~~_":- ;::-- -.. -~~;_,__~~ti: - ·-::.~ ~- , },.- -~ · ... - ·- -<· : · • ---.-:-.:: -~ thro~~n; t~e rules~ .~~d -· .. - ··--·· - ·: · · - · ·· · ·- regu~ati.ons Of the.:. 9ty< ~:-.;:-~f_~)~~ The . ._ · ·~~~ : ~ .~l_ anmng a~d Z~~m~_..Comm1s~10~ worst reason .. for keeping - and . e~ds U_P -_- .:·.::'~'dumpy an -''ot d, ~'- - m the·laps..of t~-~ · building ·is because some 7.:.C1ty Co~m1ss~ons •.- -And tt ~_.,.~-~ former m -._" >' :.. ,._~? ~ , o~en · t~k ~ Govemor happened ·once to live . :S ~·. ~.~!' get;T? ,'_'!:·.on": end~ t? .the~ . · ' " Buildings there . . ""-----~ -. --.~- -. --- should be retained if they continue to - ·- E·t: -_~ %~-:·~~-~~;:f~i11-~j_i~~~~;.~~-~f¥~~k,:'.~; ,~-;~~~ :~)f;..;f.::_:.. . :"t_~;-~-~-·-~· · ~~i-::~·- ~~e~o~~/~~u~~:~~!~~~; : ~: :~·h_~ · ~::.Takehthe :d_m

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SF-720.. ' : I PWlif"" \ Former Gov. William Spry's home is being moved from First Avenue to 128 I · St. to make room for a medical center. ' The turn--0f-the-century frame home / was saved from demolition by the Utah Landmarks Committee, the utah Herit­ age Foundation and professional and amateur historians. The house is listed on the State · Register of Historic Homes. Gov. Spry who served as governor I from 1909-17, may have been living in 1. the home when he received many death threats in a terroristic campaign insti­ gated by the Industrial Workers of the · World in 1915, during the nationwide furor over the "Joe Hill'_' case, his- . torians say.

The thr~ats included one that said, "Your home will be bombed!" The two-story house was remodeled into three apartments years ago, but it .i:•. ' will be restored as a private one-family dwelling by the new owner. " - Spry led the drive to build Utah's State Capitol, was a leader in water development, expanded the state's edu­ cational prograrn, initiated tax reform and was among the first to urge 1-Jcme advertising to bring in new citizens and of former pov,. Spry is being mov~ to l 28 I St. i.nve$tment capital.