Samuel Pierce Hoyt House, U.S. Route 189 Vicinity, Hoytsville

Source document Quoted word for word from HABS UTAH,22-HOYT,1-. Not written, edited or summarised by this site.

At. end of access lane 1 1/2 miles vest from U.S. Route I89. Hoytsvi lie , Summit County, Utah Property described as follows: "Beginning at Southwest corner of S.E. l/k Section 28 Township 2 N, Range 5 East, Salt Lake City survey, thence North U.T chains, East Chains, South 8 09* East chains, West chains, to beginning, containing 5 acres with right of way." Latitude: k0 52' 2h" N Longitude: 23' 10" W. Present Owner Mr, & George C. Crittenden

Source document Quoted word for word from HABS UTAH,22-HOYT,1-. Not written, edited or summarised by this site.

An extremely handsome example of a country mansion, belonging to one of the early pioneers of a settle- ment which bears his name. m PAET I, HISTORICAL INFORMATION A. Physical History: 1. Original and subsequent owners: C. Emma Burbridge to Samuel P. Hoyt (March IT, 3rd District Court, Summit County to Mary H. Lee et al decree to Mary H. Lee and Elizabeth Hoyt family (June 22, Mary H. Lee to Fay W. Lee (April 20, Fay W. Lee to Eugene Ralph et ux (June 9, Mary Lucile Ralph to George C. and Luella Crittenden (February 29, Date of erection: 1862-Grist Mill; 1870-Residence (Started 3. Architect-Builder: Samuel P. Hoyt Alterations: The house is substantially in its original form although some remodeling has been done, mostly in plumbing, modernization and new finishes.

SAMUEL PIERCE HOYT HOUSE HABS No. U-62 (Page 2) B. Historical Events and Persons Associated with the Building: Samuel Pierce Hoyt was born on November 21, in Chester, New Hampshire. In I83H he married Emily Smith, cousin to the founder of the Mormon Church, Joseph Smith. It was through.-his wife that he converted to the Mormon faith. On Marchii5l851 he joined an emigrant company under the leader- ship of Captain John Brown departing for Utah. The company arrived in Utah September 29, He was then called to join a party under Anson Call to settle the area now known as Fillmore, Utah, where he arrived in November, He was placed in charge of construction of Utah's first terri- torial Capitol there in to I85U.

In Hoyt moved north to the Weber River to build a mill upon advice from Brigham Young, on the site now known as Hoytsville. He completed his grist mill in and in the spring of the following year journeyed to Missouri to secure machinery. Shortly after his return he commenced work on his mansion, northwest of the grist mill. The house was described in a newspaper account in when it was being constructed "up above the first story" as being built of "an elegantly white sandstone, with a light bluish tinge; front 50 feet by 35, rear wing 30 x 28 - front and ends of finely chiseled work. It will be two stories high, with an attic and observatory.

The first floor of (the) main building has 12 feet ceilings.:' It also quoted the cost as "some During September, when a retinue of church officials, including Brigham Young, visited the home, they described it as not yet com- pleted. Although the home never was completed, Hoyt finished his efforts in the early The home had lU rooms, nine of which had fireplaces. Three living rooms, two hallways, and a number of the floors were beautifully painted. Murals painted by a local artist named Olson on the main floor, walls, and ceilings may still be seen in some areas. A spiral staircase extends through all three floors, and a smaller staircase ascends through the rear of the house. The main staircase also evidences Mr. Olson's paintings on the side walls.

A full basement extends under the entire building, including a well in the west part to supply fresh water, located near the north wall of the basement kitchen. A four foot thick rock wall separated the kitchen from the remainder of the basement. A dumb waiter system extending from the basement to the upper floors provided for food delivery to those loca- tions . The three foot thick basement walls kept the kitchen cool in summer and a fireplace warmed it in winter. The basement was also used as a meat culling and storing room. A notable feature in the basement is the main center beam cut from a single tree, approximately ^5 feet long and one foot thick. SAMUEL PIERCE HOYT HOUSE HABS No.

U-62 (Page 3) The mansion -was originally surrounded "by a rock wall enclosing approximately 1 1/2 acres, originally 5 to 7 feet high. The wall contained three small iron gates and one double main gate, still remaining in the present shorter "wall. A school was originally held in the machine house south of the grist mill, and when the mansion was "built, the school was moved to two rooms on the third floor. Mr. Hoyt's first wife, Emily, was the teacher. Hoyt spent his time farming, stockraising and mining during the and in the moved to his ranch near Kamas, Utah, where he died on August 12, I889. His wife Emily remained at the old mansion with two children. The old grist mill stands in ruins, hut the old mansion is still sound and serves as a residence for Mr. & George C.

Crittenden, who purchased the home in "but did not move in until May The Crittendens.have made an effort to restore the residence. 0. Sources of Information: 1. Primary and unpublished sources: Abstracts of Title, Summit County, County Courthouse, Coalville, Utah. 2.

Source document Quoted word for word from HABS UTAH,22-HOYT,1-. Not written, edited or summarised by this site.

The Deseret News , October 2, Salt Lake City, Utah. Pedersen, Lyman D. Jr. Samuel Pierce Hoyt and His Home on the Weber, Utah State Historical Society Quarterly, Salt Lake City, Utah. Prepared by John L. Giusti, AIA August 8, PART II, ARCHITECTURAL INFORMATION A, General Statement: 1. Architectural interest: This is a very fine house with superb stone detailing and interior finish. Utilization of wall thickness for built-in-closets and cupboards is unusual for the early date. 2. Condition of fabric: Good - owner is working hard at maintenance. SAMUEL PIERCE HOYT HOUSE HABS No. U-62 (Page k) B. Description of Exterior: 1. Over-all dimensions: This two-and-a-half story house with full basement has a front portion 50' x 35' and a rear wing 18' 5" x 30' forming a "T" plan. 2.

Foundations: 2' 9" thick sandstone with 6' wide foot- ings (owner's information). 3. Wallconstruction, finish, and color: Light gray sand- stone from Spring Canyon five miles away. Cut range ashlar. Uncoursed ashlar at rear wing. k. Structural system, framing: Masonry and heavy timber. A single log runs the length of the basement ceiling to support the first floor joists. 5. Porches and stoops: Three stone steps at front entrance with stone rail curving and terminating in a diagonally placed square. Steps from grade to basement sheltered by gabled stone "dog house" with arched doorway. Three concrete steps at kitchen door. Southwest porch removed. 6.

Chimneys: Three cut stone chimneys - those in the gable ends each serve four fireplaces by arching over the gothic windows and combining at the roof line. The third chimney is at the connection of the rear wing and serves basement fireplace and kitchen stove. 7. Openings: a. Doorways and doors: The front entrance is a single door designed to look like a pair with two 15-light glazed panels above a horizontal guilloche band, four panels below. Wood pilasters on either side fit with- in a flat-arched stone opening with an ornamental keystone. b. Windows and shutters: Double hung six-over-six. Flat arched openings first floor; segmental arched second floor. Ornamental keystones at front south gable end. G-othic-arched center-hinged windows, at third floor gables. c.

All openings: All windows and doors are set in deep paneled interior recesses. Window recesses are splayed. 8. Roof: a. Shape, covering: Gabled. Original roof said to have been lead. A second complete roof was built above the first. Wood shingles are now covered ^ith. gray composition shingles. SAMUEL PIERCE HOYT HOUSE HABS No. U-62 (Page 5) m b. Cornice, eaves: Cornice of cut stone is a relative- ly simple cyma recta moulding. Stone gutters must have proven unsatisfactory requiring the second roof to "bridge them, C. Description of Interior: 1. Floor plans: Symmetrical plan reflects functional re- quirements of poly garni st with two wives. a. First floor - Central stair and entrance hall with large dining room behind.

Large sitting room on either side of stair hall, small sitting rooms or bedrooms behind on either end of the dining room. Large kitchen In rear wings with small pantry at extreme west end. b. Second floor - Bedrooms, one in each corner of the front section. Two over kitchen wing at rear. c. Third floor - Two finished rooms at each gable end, once used as schoolrooms. d. Basement - One open room under front portion; ano- ther room under kitchen was finished with lath and plaster and wood floor. 2. Stairways: Open from first to third floor. Continuous curved walnut railing, elaborate octagonal newel post. Rear stair from kitchen to bedroom; open rail at top. Stair from kitchen to basement with winders. 3. Flooring: Pine boards, random widths k 1/2 to 5 1/2 inches.

Originally painted with patterns which remain only in stair hall. k. Wall and ceiling finish: Generally plaster. Originally all first floor rooms with ornamental painting but deter- iorated condition required papering, repainting and acoustic tile except in stair hall. Painter employed for two years decorating yet upper floors were left unpainted. 5- Doorways and doors: Four-panel doors (two vertical panels with horizontal panels above and below), in heavy moulded frames. 6. Decorative features and trim: A variety of mantels: Black and gray Italian inlaid, indised and turned mar- ble (SE room); white marble (HE: enameled metal in NW downstairs and SE and NE upstairs (SE has pointed scenes); wood in NW and SW upstairs. 7. Notable hardward: Porcelain knobs. SAMUEL PIERCE HOYT HOUSE HABS No.

U-62 (Page 6) 8. Lighting, type of fixtures: Electric fixtures are replace- ments. An attempt has been made to keep them in character. 9. Heating: Four fireplaces (three remain) on first floor. Four fireplaces (four remain) on second floor. One fire- place in "basement. House now centrally heated (hot air) hut all fireplaces still operate. D. Site and Surroundings: 1. Orientation: House faces east and is surrounded "by a stone wall which includes a large garden area on the south. Outside the vail to the east is a parking area and the lane to highway 189 is 1 1/2 miles long. 2. Outbuildings: The stone walls of the Hoyt Grist Mill remain standing southeast of house and the old three- story barn is southwest. Both mill and barn are out- side the wall. 3.

Landscaping and walks, enclosures: A concrete walk goes from the front:entrance to the front gate and from the front entrance aroung the north side of the house to the kitchen door. Both house and "barn were built over natural springs for a convenient water supply. The surrounding stone wall encloses more than 1 1/2 acres. Portions of it are now missing but its broad flat coping was once 0.2 miles in length. Prepared by Paul Goeldner, AIA Supervisory Architect Utah Project August.8, 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 Build- ings 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 Giusti9 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, (University of Utah) and Donald G, Prycer, (Texas A. & M. University).