Continued Street Light Restoration-CIP Application

After completing restoration of an original street lamp at the apex of Yale and Yalecrest, we began to survey, assess and inventory all the original street lamps in the Yalecrest neighborhood. There are several styles, generations and hybrids of street lamps. See pictures below.

Restored Street Lamp Basket

Restored Street Lamp Basket

Currently, we are waiting for our second restored street lamp cage and working with the city to replace on a post that is missing its cage entirely.

A few original lamp baskets in disrepair.

A few original lamp baskets in disrepair.

There are many, MANY more, that need attention; and in realizing this restoration project is too big a task for our neighborhood non-profit, KEEP Yalecrest has submitted a CIP (Capital Improvements Program) application for the restoration of the existing original street lamps within Yalecrest. It is important to restore these original street lamps as they are an integral part of Yalecrest’s history and a recognizable icon as people visit our National Register Historic District.

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The rare and disappearing Cape Cod

The Yalecrest Neighborhood, listed on the National Register of Historic Places, continues to experience tear downs. Most recently Yalecrest lost a 1937 Cape Cod. At 3%, Cape Cod types of homes are rare in Yalecrest. Three additional and original, contributing status Cape Cods have been lost as well, dating back to 1935. Since this plan is rare, the four that have been torn down result in a 9% loss of our Cape Cods. It is unfortunate that this type of home continues to disappear, especially since it is rare to begin with.

1863 Hubbard

Built 1937-torn down 2015

1815 yalecrest (2)

Built 1938-torn down 2013

This property was singled out and recommended for intensive level research in the 2005 Reconnaissance Level Survey

1750 Hubbard 1750 East Hubbard

Built 1935-torn down 2015

1711 E Yalecrest

Built 1935-torn down 2007

The Yale/Yalecrest Street Lamp Restoration Project

The Street Lamp restoration of the original fixture where Yale and Yalecrest split (at about 1600 E. Yale) @ the ‘triangle park’ is complete! This project was unanimously supported by KEEP’s board and enthusiastically supported by the Street Lighting Program Manager of Salt Lake City. With expertise help from Zach at Cottonwood Security and Don Hartley from the State Office of Historic Preservation the restoration really is magnificent. This is the only street light and basket/cage that we know of that actually contains ‘names’ of the streets it illuminates in Salt Lake City. It is truly one of a kind and we are happy to have restored and reinstalled it in our national historic district neighborhood.

The dismantling of the street lamp.

The dismantling of the street lamp.

Street names nearly gone and barely visible.

Street names nearly gone and barely visible.

The dilapidated basket/cage.

The dilapidated basket/cage.

The restored lamp basket/cage, YALE side.

The restored lamp basket/cage, YALE side.

The YALECREST side of the restored baskety/cage.

The YALECREST side of the restored baskety/cage.

Hand crafted letters of the street names.

Hand crafted letters of the street names.

Restored lamp basket/cage. This was the inspiration for our logo.

Restored lamp basket/cage. This was the inspiration for our logo.

Installation of newly renovated lamp.

Installation of newly renovated lamp.

Street Lighting Program Manager Dave and installer Tony. Thank you to both for their support and coordination.

Street Lighting Program Manager Dave and installer Tony. Thank you to both for their support and coordination.

Thanks Tony!

Thanks Tony!

Yale side.

Yale side.

Yalecrest side.

Yalecrest side.

Board members attend reinstallation. Kelly, Jill, Lynn, Jon and mascot Norman!

Board members attend reinstallation. Kelly, Jill, Lynn, Jon and mascot Norman!

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Third Annual Historic Homes Walking Tour

Join us Saturday, October 24th, to learn about the first homes built in the Yalecrest National Historic District. The area’s first subdivision was platted in 1911, with homes constructed as early as 1912 and 1913.

Docents along the way will provide information about the earliest residents, architects and builders of the 100+ year-old homes, and you can journey at your own pace on this self-guided tour of exteriors only. The walk is three to four blocks long, generally heading up 900 South. Learn about architecture, changes to street and rail lines, and the “sunken gardens” of Red Butte Creek.

Meet at the grassy island on 9th South and 14th East, any time between 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. The tour is free to members of K.E.E.P. Yalecrest, and a $5 donation is suggested for those who are not members. Join K.E.E.P. Yalecrest today or at the tour!

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Uinta(h) School 100 Year Celebration – Art Project

On Friday September 18th, Uintah School held its 100 year celebration.  It was a fun and exciting afternoon.  The Uintah PTA did a fabulous job organizing the celebration of which KEEP got to be a part of.  As you may remember from previous posts, KEEP got the original Uinta(h) concrete sign from Phil Snow who had rescued the sign when the original school was replaced with the new school.  This sign was framed by KEEP and put into the foyer of the school.  In addition, KEEP installed a plaque above the sign – honoring the schools history and the sign.  As part of the celebration on Friday KEEP hosted an art project for the children.  A long banner was created where the children signed their names and then put an imprint of their hand over their name.  This art piece will hang in the school for a while after which it will be put into a time capsule.

A big thank you goes out to everyone who made this project happen:

  • Jill Greenwood whose vision, creativity, hard work and artistic genius made this art project happen and who also helped on the design of the plaque.
  • Amy Reid for helping with the organization and execution of the art project.
  • Jon Dewey for helping with the installation of the original sign, plaque and the art project.
  • Kelly Marinan for helping with the history and design of the plaque by spending countless hours doing research and for taking the fabulous photos below.
  • Kim Childs for helping with the history and design of the plaque, his great knowledge of the original school as well as providing old photos for the celebration.
  • Lynn Pershing for helping with the art project.
  • KEEP board members Tracey Harty and Lisette Gibson who attended the celebration.
  • Phil Snow for saving the original sign.
  • Uintah PTA for planning and executing this great celebration.
  • The Children of Uintah for their participation in this art project and their enthusiasm for art and all things fun.

Here is to another FABULOUS 100 Years at Uintah!

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Miller Park Art Project – Completed Art

Here is a picture of the finished children’s art shown at The Miller Park Celebration.  The picture’s permanent home will be in the Salt Lake City Parks Building but at some point will be on loan and displayed in The City County Building at 451 So State Street.  Congratulations to all the children for creating a beautiful art piece.

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Uinta(h) Centennial Celebration!

Celebrate Uintah Elementary School’s Centennial! Friday September 18  3-5pm.  Come and reminisce, participate in a time capsule art project and see the original Uinta Elementary sign newly placed in the school, courtesy of KEEP Yalecrest!Uinta 2Original school building circa 1915.

005 119Original sign salvaged, stored and stabilized.

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Plaque commemorating and explaining the history and spelling of Uinta.

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Uinta(h) Sign Installation 044In place in time for Sept. 18 celebration!

Miller Park Art Project

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It was a fun morning creating art in Miller Park.  We had a great turnout of Yalecrest children and everyone was very excited.  We started at the Miller Park entrance on 900 South and was met by  Lynn Pershing, the Chair of The Yalecrest Neighborhood Council and a very knowledgeable Red Butte Garden Volunteer.  She took everyone on a guided walk through the park and talked about the wildlife, birds, plants and trees as well as the bubbling stream.  Everyone then proceeded down to the Bonneville Glen where the children created a canvas related to the sights and sounds of Miller Park.  The art that the children created is going to be assembled into a large frame to make one cohesive mosaic of art and will be displayed at the Miller Park Grand Re-Opening Celebration on August 27 from 6:00pm – 8:00pm.  Please join us in this celebration of Miller Park and to see the beautiful art that the children created.  Thank you to everyone who attended – this was a great show of community spirit.

A big thank you goes out to everyone who made this project happen:

K.E.E.P. Yalecrest Volunteers

  • Jill Greenwood – Resident Artist and Creative Genius
  • Amy Reid – One Awesome Community Organizer (not to mention fantastic mom)
  • Megan Gibbons – Creative Support and One Big Smile
  • Lynn Pershing – Knowledgeable Miller Park Aficionado and Awesome Tour Guide

AND Most IMPORTANTLY All the CHILDREN!

See You on August 27th at Miller Park.

Early Yalecrest Preservationists

DUP May 1933

You can call this group “early Yalecrest preservationists” because historic preservation is really about people and building community.  It’s people coming together to learn, honor and celebrate our past and present… and working together on our shared future.  That’s what I see in this picture of the Yale Camp Daughters of Utah Pioneers.

This May 1933 Yalecrest photo, taken in front of Blanche Bower’s home at 1097 S. 15th East, shows the gals participating in a “Silver Tea” (an older fancy term for fundraiser).

Over the years, lots of Yalecrest women were active participants in Daughters of Utah Pioneers.  Meetings were held in various homes in our neighborhood.  Yale Camp’s first official meeting was held at “Daughter” Cecil Besley’s house, 955 S. 1300 East, in 1924.  At that meeting “Captain” Elizabeth Liddle made a plea for the preservation of historical material and relics… kind of like K.E.E.P. today.

This is by no means an exhaustive list, but here are some of the neighborhood women that hosted meetings in the 1920’s:

Mary Ellen Rockwood @ 1317 Gilmer
Ethel Scalley @ 1327 Yale
Amy Pratt Romney @ 1337 Gilmer
Ida Kirkham @ 1345 Normandie Circle
Rose Hall @ 1432 Gilmer
Bernice Rogers @1452 Gilmer
Odelia Tebbs @ 1515 Laird
Flora Collett @ 1515 Princeton
Margaret Eccles @ 1521 Harvard
Ida Miller @ 1527 Michigan
Laura Silver @ 1539 Harvard
Zelpha Yates @ 948 Greenwood Terrace
Mildred Jenkins @ 1646 Yale

Sources:
“Yale Camp” by Daughters of Utah Pioneers, 1933.
Salt Lake Telegram

–Kelly Marinan

Where Is It?

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Where is it?  If you said, “Yalecrest,” you are absolutely correct.  Yalecrest is one neighborhood that was originally created as multiple subdivisions.  This snapshot is from a map of the Douglas Park Subdivision.  As to exactly where in Yalecrest this area can be seen today… here are a few hints to help you:

  1.  That is Michigan Ave coming in on the west/left and veering north.
  2.  Replace “Vista” with “Hubbard Ave”
  3.  Replace “Williams” with “Michigan Ave”
  4.  Replace “Roeber St” with “1500 East” and move that street east/right a bit.

Douglas Park was platted by the Douglas Heights Land and Improvement Company in Jan 1911.  E. W. Williams and Lou D. Sweet signed the Owner’s Dedication as officers of the company.  The streets didn’t turn out exactly as they were initially envisioned when this subdivision was platted over 100 years ago.  But, it’s pretty darn close!

— Kelly Marinan