Brigham walked here
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The Lion House and the Beehive House, Brigham Young's two primary Salt Lake City homes, are well-known visitor attractions. But a lesser-known residence belonging to President Young is also well-preserved and open daily for tours.
Located in the foothills of Emigration Canyon, at famed "This Is The Place Heritage Park" is Brigham Young's Forest Farmhouse." Constructed in 1863, the structure was relocated from its original site in the Sugarhouse area of the city, at 700 East and 2300 South, to the park in 1976. It had fallen into disrepair, but has been restored to its former stateliness.
Though President Young never lived in the home, which he co-designed with Salt Lake Temple architect Truman O. Angel and A. J. Downing, he used it as a show place for entertaining dignitaries and for dances and dinner parties. The farm on which the home stood was used for experimental agriculture, much like a farm belonging to Wilford Woodruff that stood on the outskirts of the city (see Church News, June 28, 2008; p. 14). Between 30 and 40 farm hands would be fed in its dining room, said Elora Twitchell, a historical interpreter at the park.
"It's the place," said Rod Clifford, park public relations director. "Brigham Young's boots walked on these floors. You can't say that about every place up here."
Among activities offered at the park is a program at the farmhouse designed to appeal to youth conferences and other groups of young men and women. During the program, park staff teach about pioneer etiquette, manners and courtship customs.
On a recent evening, a group of young single adults from the Murray (Utah) 23rd Ward listened as volunteer coordinator Holly Curtis said they were sitting in the parlor of the home where most of the social calls would have been made. "The girls especially would always have a chaperon with them," she said.
Historical interpreter Jaime Rasmussen told of an incident in which 10 couples were courting at one of Brigham Young's homes. "All they really wanted was some privacy, so one night, after their chaperon had drifted off to sleep, they decided to turn down the lantern. But they realized it would be much more effective to just stack books around the lantern. All seemed to be going well for quite some time until Brother Brigham walked into the room."
Instead of erupting in fury, President Young merely unstacked the books and calmly said to his daughters, "You may go to your rooms now; I will see the young gentlemen out."
"Needless to say," Sister Rasmussen recounted, "the daughters never again stacked books around the lantern."
Interested groups may arrange for the park activity at the Brigham Young Forest Farmhouse, usually occupying three to four hours with four different rotations, Sister Curtis said. "It can even include a dance and a dinner with the right arrangements," during which participants learn about dance cards and pioneer forms of dances.
For information, contact events coordinator Cliff Harris at (801) 582-1847.
E-mail to: rscott@desnews.com
