Sighting of a Railroad Switch at Central Warehouse

Brunswick-Balke-Collender Company in 1911, later known as Central Warehouse.
Located at 160 S 500 West SLC. Image from UDSH.

This is an interesting image that didn’t make the cut for my Central Warehouse post. 

This is a photograph of the Central Warehouse building in 1911 when it was known as the Brunswick-Balke-Collender Company located at 160 S 500 West SLC.

Note the railroad switch! 

There are a few of these historic switches left in SLC’S Warehouse District. This specific switch was removed long ago along with the railroad tracks that once ran along what is now 500 West (historically known as 400 West).

The 1911 Sanborn map indicates the original warehouse was located along the D & R G and W P  R R Joint tracks (Denver & Rio Grande and Western Pacific Railroad joint tracks).

Here is a link to some railroad switches still in existence in SLC.

Detail of railroad switch.

Detail of the 1911 Sanborn map

Historic Railroad Features in SLC

Railroad switch under the 900 South overpass exit and 300 West

Historic railroad features still exist in SLC, more than just the old tracks.

A railroad siding and 2 rail switches are still present in the Granary District of SLC (aka, SLC Warehouse National Historic District). They are located on the block bound between 300-400 West and 900-900 South I-15 Off Ramp.

This railroad is part of the Oregon Short Line (OSL) which was organized in 1881 as a subsidiary of the Union Pacific Railway. (Of note, what we call the Union Pacific Depot at South Temple and 400 West was originally known as the Oregon Short Line Depot).

The main railroad track was constructed in the 1890s. The main track is present on the 1898 Sanborn but the rail siding is not present until the 1911 Sanborn.

These rail switches were manufactured by the Pettibone Mulliken Corp in Chicago and are often called “star stand switches” or “star switches.”

A rail switch was used to change the direction of the rail track and allow a train to split from the main track. The attached lever was used to lock the tracks.

These tracks are no longer in service; they are owned by the State of Utah.

Please Please be respectful of these historic resources. There used to be historic crossing signs and a bell pole in this area as well, but those seem to have disappeared in recent years.

Railroad with divergent track to siding

Railroad switch at corner of 900 South and 400 West

Railroad switch at corner of 900 South and 400 West

Denver & Rio Grande Railroad with switch near 200 South, 1911, from UDSH.

Modern overview showing railroad switches location

Sanborn Map 1911

Railroad switch illustration from visual dictionary online

Historic Trolley Poles Reused as Modern Streetlights

South Temple streetlights today, 2021.

On SLC’s South Temple Street the old trolley poles have been reused for modern streetlamps.

Beginning in 1889, the trolley lines in SLC were electrified. Wooden poles to accommodate the electric streetcars were installed in the middle of roads.

By the turn of the century, downtown SLC was overwrought with numerous poles and wires that cluttered the city streets (Image 6).

In 1908, SLC made a beautification effort in the business district and along South Temple. Most of the overhead wires were removed and buried underground.

The wooden trolley poles were replaced with steel poles, most of which were tubular in style but along South Temple they were of a metal lattice style.

After WWII, when the trolley lines were discontinued the South Temple lattice poles were repurposed for streetlights. Sometimes climbing roses were planted to keep the neighborhood kids from climbing the poles.

SLC rebuilt South Temple between 2001-2004 and during the project the existing metal lattice poles were restored, repainted, and reinstalled.

Sources: Des News 1908-09-04; South Temple NRHP Amendment 2012

South Temple streetlights today, 2021

South Temple 1912, from UDSH

South Temple 1918, from UDSH

Crystal Palace Market on South Temple 1940

Main street with a maze of overhead wires, 1890.

SLC Once Home to a Large Municipal Rose Garden

Rose garden in early 1950s. From Deseret News
Jun 15 1952 and SL Tribune June 15 1951.

June is National Rose Month and Salt Lake City used to be home to one of the largest municipal rose gardens in the United States between 1937-1973.

The rose garden was located in the northeast quadrant of the Holy Cross Hospital block (now Salt Lake Regional Medical Center) where a parking structure and a medical office building now stand along South Temple between 1000 East and 1100 East.

The rose garden came into being May 25 1937 and was a partnership among the Utah Rose Society, the Exchange Club, the Salt Lake City Parks, and Holy Cross Hospital. The garden started off with 600 rose bushes within 2 acres and eventually grew to more than 7,000 bushes, 400 varieties from around the world, and 3.5 acres. Several of the rose beds were given as a memorial to deceased relatives or friends.

The garden was enclosed with a wrought iron fence with climbing roses (a portion of this fence remains South Temple) and also featured several trellises, benches, walking paths, and a sundial.

The garden was one of the primary tourist attractions of SLC with up to 500 visitors per day and much more than that on the garden’s annual opening day each June. Each June the Utah Rose Society paid its “rent” to Holy Cross Hospital for use of the land for the garden, a dozen roses were clipped from the garden and presented as “payment” to the Sisters of the Holy Cross.

The last rose rent was paid on June 4 1972. Holy Cross Hospital was expanding and needed the land for a parking lot and Moreau Hall for their nursing school. In spring 1973, the City and the Utah Rose Society transferred the rose garden to its new home in Sugar House Park, behind the Garden Center building in the northeast section of the park. About 2,000 of the most vigorous roses were transplanted.

The Sugar House Park Rose Garden remained until just recently. In 2016 the City Weekly described it as having “all but lost the battle with weeds… Hundreds of rose bushes from Holy Cross Hospital, now just a few survive alongside a fancy, white arbor, which has the effect of making the six, weed choked beds, even more abject.” 

In 2020 the rose garden was replaced completely with a food garden operated by Wasatch Community Gardens. The once white trellis has been repurposed (and repainted black) to mark the entrance of the new garden.

The rose garden at Holy Cross Hospital was revived (although much smaller) in 1990. Continue to the next post about the new rose garden.

Marie Shields of the Utah Rose Society paying the rose rent. SL Trib June 24 1957.

Location of rose garden, 1950 Sanborn map.

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New Wasatch Community Garden, food garden, being constructed in Sugar House Park, June 2020. The arching trellis is from the original Sugar House rose garden and has been painted black from its original white.

Fort Douglas Rifle Range Stone Wall in Research Park

This wall of Red Butte Sandstone was built by Fort Douglas Soldiers in the 1860s. It served as the backstop of the Fort's Rifle Range, located just south of the Fort Douglas Cemetery.

It was eventually lost to history and buried, then uncovered with new construction in what is now the U of U Research Park. It was going to be lost again through demolition until it was saved by Salt Lake City resident Lorna Matheson. Thanks Lorna!

Heritage Trees in Liberty Park

These two rows of Fremont Cottonwood Trees in Liberty Park are part of the state of Utah’s Heritage Trees. These Fremont Cottonwoods were planted in the early 1880s, around the time that Salt Lake City opened Liberty Park to the public. Photo 4 is a Shipler photo of these same trees in winter from 1929 (photo courtesy UDSH).

Liberty Park, winter 1929. From UDSH.

Historic Clock from SLC's Main Street Now at Lagoon

This old street clock was relocated to Lagoon's Pioneer Village in 1977 from Main Street and 300 South in Salt Lake City.

Throughout much of the 1800s, street clocks were manufactured in the Eastern states and were costly to ship, making these clocks a sign of prestige in the West. By the turn of the century, however, street clocks could be found up and down Salt Lake City’s Main Street. 

The last clock from the 19th century still in operation in Salt Lake is the Old Zions Bank Clock at Main Street and 100 South. In its early days, water diverted from nearby City Creek drove an underground water wheel that powered the clock.

From the nameplate on one side of the base of Lagoon’s clock, it looks like the clock was constructed by a company in Boston, Massachusetts. It’s unknown how old the clock is or how long it stood at its former location.

In 1977 the old clock was removed from SLC and restored by Lagoon. Only one of the original clock faces remained and it was used as a pattern to etch three other faces in glass. The original motor, operated by 100-pound lead weights, was removed and is now displayed in the tool collection. The restored clock now runs on electricity.

Source of text: www.lagoonhistory.com