Fort Douglas, Officers' Duplexes, Officers' Circle, Salt Lake City

Source document Quoted word for word from HABS UTAH,18-SALCI,16A-. Not written, edited or summarised by this site.

Representative of few remaining early "buildings of Camp and later Fort Douglas, on a plateau east of Salt Lake City. PART I. HISTORICAL INFORMATION A. Physical History: 1. Originally built and still owned "by the U. S. Army. 2. Date of erection: Officer's Duplex c. C. 0. Residence c. 3. Builder, suppliers, etc.: U. S. Army k. Original plan and construction: a. Duplex substantially as existing except for front porch rebuilding and plumbing/heating modernisation. New kitchens have been installed. Some partitions added and substantial redecoration of interiors. b. C. 0. Residence added to several homes and substan- tially remodeled to a point where original form is questionable. B. Historical Events and Persons Associated with the Building: Fort Douglas was founded by Maj. Gen.

Patrick Edward Connor, Maj. Gen,. U. S. Volunteers, (182O-I891). Connor, who changed his name from his original surname of O'Connor, was born in Ireland on March 17s He enlisted in the First Dragoons of the U. S. Army on November 28, He fought on the western frontier, was wounded at the Battle of Buena Vista, and was discharged on May 2k, at camp near Mon- terrey, Mexico at the rank of Captain. He then joined the California Gold Rush and engaged in various business activi- FORT DOUGLAS OFFICERS DUPLEXES HABS No. U-67 (Page 2) ties in Stockton, California. He later became a select member of the California Hangers in their pursuit of the bandit Joaquin Murietta (Connor is reported, as the man who shot Murietta).

When Civil War clouds gathered, he was called back to duty (September 3, as Colonel of the Third California Infan- and on July 5, he received orders to move Ms column to Utah. A week later, with infantry, 500 cavalry, a battery of field artillery and 200 wagons of the 2nd & 3rd California Volunteers, he started the long trip. Then they reached Puby Valley, near Eureka, Nevada, Connor left the command to survey the situation in Salt Lake City. He returned quite disturbed, noting tha Fort Critten (earlier known as Camp Floyd) near Fairfield, Utah was in ruins. He proposed to move closer to Salt Lake City despite predictable opposi- tion from the Mormons to such a plan. He had already selected a site on a plateau east of Salt Lake.

The march was resumed on October 2, and reached Fort Crittenden October They proceeded to Salt Lake City on October arriving there on October 21, About 860 men were in this contin- gent, the remainder having been withdrawn or otherwise diverted while in Nevada. They were greeted with absolute silence by the citizenry, and stopped at Territorial Governor Stephen S. Harding's residence for a salute before continuing to the campsite. Their first camp was near the present Post Cemetery. The next day (October 22) they selected a site north of Red Butte Creek and four days later, on October 26, Order #lU was issued naming it Camp Douglas after Senator Stephen A. Douglas.

The reserve was described as follows: "Commencing at a post due north one mile distant from the garrison flag staff, and running thence west one mile, thence south two miles, thence east two miles, thence north two miles, and thence west one mile to the place of beginning, containing acres more or less." They constructed temporary quarters of 32 tents over h foot deep excavations with stone and adobe fireplaces. Officer*s quarters were 13 small log and adobe buildings, averaging h rooms each. The Commanding Officer's residence was built of adobe, and contained 5 rooms. They also built a guard house,1 bake house, commissary and quartermaster tents, hospital and stables.

There buildings were only used to weather the first winter, and were replaced with more permanent structures the following spring While there, Connor started the Union Vedette, a weekly news- paper (November 20, It was an instant success, and on November 25, when most of the volunteers were mustered out;, the paper moved to Salt Lake City, where it faltered and failed on Novenber 27, On March 13, I865 Connor was brevetted a Major General of Volunteers. He declined a Colonel's commission in the regular army, and relocated to Stockton, Utah to pursue mining interests. He continued in FORT DOUGLAS OFFICERS DUPLEXES HABS JSfo. U-67 (Page 3) mining until his death in Salt Lake City on December 17, in his year.

During the time of his command, the Headquarters of the District of Utah was moved to Salt Lake City (April, General Connor occupied the former home of Governor Harding until February, when on completion of his quarters he returned to the post. After Connor's departure in March Lt. Col. Milo George of the Nevada Cavalry assumed command of Camp Douglas. The U. S. Infantry moved in during July under Maj . Wm. H. Lewis. Maj. Gen. Henry Andrew Morrow took command in the early and was responsible for substantial changes in the camp. The post was almost completely rebuilt in under the command of Gen. John E. Smith, and renamed Fort Douglas. Wood buildings were replaced by stone buildings, constructed of Red Butte Canyon sandstone. The Infantry was garrisoned there at the time.

The Fort continued as a U. S. Army encamp- ment with the usual expansions during the Spanish American, World War I and World War II. It is presently being phased out to the state of Utah, University of Utah and assorted Government agencies, including a small U. S. Army- reserve contingent. Other early buildings still standing are the Chapel and camp theater Building 55 is reputedly the former residence of Base Commanding Officer Robert Pollock. C. Sources of Information: Primary and unpublished sources: History of Fort Douglas, Utah. October 22, to September 30, typewritten copy at University of Utah Library, author unknown. Prepared by John L. Giusti, AIA September 15, PART II. ARCHITECTURAL INFORMATION A. General Statement: 1.

Architectural interest: Part of a handsome military com- plex erected in 2. Condition of fabric: Excellent FORT DOUGLAS OFFICERS DUPLEXES HABS Ho. U-67 (Page k) B. Description of Exterior: 1. Over-all dimensions: This duplex residence has two stories and a "basement. It is a *T' plan US * 6" x 83' 1". 2. Foundations: Red sandstone with projecting water table. 3. Wall construction, finish, and color: Red sandstone coursed rubble. Later rear additions of red brick. h. Structural system, framing: Masonry vails. Wood framed floors and roof. 5. Porches and stoops: Single story porch across front. Original turned wood posts recently replaced with srought iron.. 6. Chimneys: Brick, Two each at gable ends of front wing. Single chimney centered in rear wing. 7. Openings: a.

Doorways and doors: Front entrances are paired glazed doors under three-light transoms. b. Windows and shutters: Double-hung six-over-six with a few exceptions at rear. Circular windows at second floor rear of front wing. c. All openings: Windows and doors have rowlock segmental arched openings. 8. Roof: a. Shape, covering: Gabled two-story portions. Kipped porch roof and rear addition. Composition shingles except standing seam copper on porch. b. Cornice, eaves: Eaves terminate against consoles at front dormers. Bargeboards trussed with spiked king post. c. Dormers: Gabled dormers. A large center one flanked by smaller ones across front. Two on each side of rear gable. C. Description of Interior: 1. Floor plans: Symmetrical - each half a.

First floor: Long entrance and stairhall with living room and library at one side, dining room at end with kitchen and servants' quarters at rear. FORT DOUGLAS OFFICERS DUPLEXES HABS No. U-67 (Page 5) b. Second floor: Bedrooms above living room and library. Nursery or dressing room adjoins front "bedroom above entry. Two baths and a bedroom above kitchen and dining room. 2. Stairways: Straight, open9 turned balusters and newel. 3. Flooring: Narrow maple ( 2 not original. k. Wall and ceiling finish: Painted plaster 5. Doorways and doors: Four-panel. Trim at second floor rear is probably original. 6. Lighting, type of fixtures: Modern, electric 7. Heating: Central heating with radiators in each room. Victorian cast iron mantels at working fireplaces in living rooms. D.

Site and Surroundings: 1. Orientation: Duplexes face generally southwest toward semi-circular drive and bandstand. 2. Outbuildings: Building is one of ten similar duplexes (numbered 6 through 15) in a curving row. 3. Landscaping and walks, enclosures: Fenced area at side of !A' half of building 12, walk to front door and para- llel to street, large trees shade lawns. Prepared by Paul Goeldner, AIA Supervisory Architect Utah Project August 22, PART III. PROJECT INFORMATION This record is part of a Utah Survey conducted in the summers of and under joint sponsorship of the Historic American Buildings Survey of the Office of Archeology and Historic Preservation of the National Park Service and the Utah Heritage Foundation.

Field work, historic research and record drawings were done under the direction of Project Supervisor Paul Goeldner, AIA (Texas Tech Univer- sity) assisted by Project Historian John Giusti, AIA (University of Utah). Photographs were made by P. Kent Fairbanks of Salt Lake City. Student Assistant Architects on the team were Robert M. Swanson and Charles W. Barrow, (University of Texas) and Kenneth L. Lambert and Keith Sorenson, (University of Utah). Student Assistant Architects were Keith Sorenson, Charles D. Harker and Robert Schriever, FORT DOUGLAS OFFICERS DUPLEXES HABS Ho. U-67 (Page 6) [University of Utah) and Donald G. Prycer, (Texas A. & M. University).