Murray City Diesel Power Plant

The Murray City Diesel Power Plant was built in four major phases between 1927 and 1959. It is located at 157 W 4800 South in Murray, Utah.

The plant is a brick building in the early twentieth century commercial style with Roman-style arched windows.

The building appears to be two-stories tall on the exterior, but is one-story with a small mezzanine on the interior.

Each time the building was expanded exterior walls were removed to allow additional diesel generators to be moved in and to maintain the open floor plan.

The original section was built in 1927 and is in the southwest corner of the current building.

In 1934, the building was doubled in size to the east. In the southeast corner of the building, a Fairbanks-Morse diesel generator (installed in 1934) is in its original location.

Between 1947 and 1948, the building doubled in sized again to the north. The last major modification came in 1959 when the roof structure over the south half was replaced.

A neon sign installed in 1952 is a prominent feature on the façade.

The Murray City Diesel Power Plant has excellent integrity and is a contributing historic resource in the industrial corridor just west of Murray City’s historic downtown business district.

Text/images from NRHP nomination, Utah Historical Society

Christmas Street, aka Glen Arbor Street

Christmas Street, aka Glen Arbor Street (1735 S 1500 East), in Salt Lake City is a tradition that began in 1946. Every family on the street helped pay for Christmas lights and a tree. Each family also decorated their own house to make it a Christmas community.

Christmas Street, Salt Lake City. December 2024.

In 1947, the celebration took place on December 21st, also without any outside advertisement, for fear of congestion should word get out beyond the neighborhood. But the event was described by the Deseret News after the event occurred, and after 1947 the street became a Christmas destination to see.

Every house featured colored lights, bright ribbons, and decorated trees. A large Christmas Tree was decorated in at the end of the cul-de-sac. At the 1947, celebration there were 68 children in attendance, who ran through the street telling their neighbors it was time to celebrate. There was popcorn, caroling, a live nativity scene, and Santa who drove up in a sleek blue roadster.

Christmas Street in 1947 and 1971

Roy A. Menlove is credited with starting the tradition. He was the founder of Menlove Construction and built some of the homes on the street. He was a known as the co-founder of Menlove Dodge-Toyota in Bountiful. A neighborhood Christmas committee was established to plan each year.

The Christmas Street tradition continues today. The Deseret News recently had a story about how it nearly died this year but was rescued by donations to repair the vintage neon Christmas Street sign.

Mi Casita Ghose Sign

Ghost sign, old Southeast Market building. April 30 2024.

A ghost sign on the old Southeast Market building at 422 E 900 South, SLC. This sign is for the Mi Casita Mexican Restaurant and dates to about 1992.

The building is undergoing a reconstruction but it seems like the original facade will be preserved.

The building was constructed in 1941 as the O.P. Skaggs Market (last slide, showing neon sign from 1947).

O.P. Skaggs building and sign, 1947. From Utah State Historical Society.

The building was sold by Skaggs in 1945 but kept the name for several more years, eventually becoming known as Sudbury's Foodtown, after long-time manager, turned owner, Ray F. Sudbury.

Sudbury sold the building in 1966 to William and Mae Tang, who operated it as Super Save Discount Market in the late 1960s.

Many businesses have used the space over the decades. The last ones to occupy the space were Southeast Market, Melewa Bakery, and Pho 28 (Photo 3, from Google Street View 2022).

Ghost sign, old Southeast Market building. April 30 2024.

Google Street View 2022