The Columbus School, 2531 S 400 East

The Columbus School building today, 2021.

The city of South Salt Lake has decided to close the County Library in the Columbus Community Center at 2531 S 400 East and is now looking for a new occupant to fill the space of the old library. A perfect time to dive into the history of this fantastic building!

In 1916 the Forest Dale area was growing and a new elementary school was needed. The area chosen was located just outside the city limits so SLC annexed the 5-acre parcel and proceeded with plans to build a new school.

Architect Charles S McDonald designed the school. In a break from previous school design in SLC, this was a single-story building which was emphasized as being safer during a fire and preferable in areas with lower cost of land. McDonald also designed Irving Jr High, Auerbach’s, Walker Bank Building, and the Alta Club.

The Columbus School opened on Jan 22 1917 and served as an electuary until 1968 when it became a technical school for disabled individuals.

Two large additions were made in the rear including a gymnasium in 1954 and a shop area and commercial kitchen in in the early 1970s.

By 1992 the building was vacant and still owned by the Salt Lake School District. The City of South Salt Lake had set its eyes on the property and considered it a neighborhood asset. Two problems with this: the building was still in the city limits of SLC and not SSL, and the SL School District was looking to sell the property to a real estate developer.

In 1995 SSL offered a bid of $800K (lower than the developer’s bid) but the District sold to SSL because the Developer’s bid was contingent upon approvals for a zoning change.

SSL began the process to convert the old school to a community center and SSL and SLC adjusted their boundary so that the building was now in SSL.

SSL was pleased with the $5M price tag the feasibility study for rehab produced because it was less than the cost of a new building. SSL worked with local architects CRSA on a phased approach to renovation.

During the renovation CRSA found that “structurally, the building was extradentary fragile.” But SSL persevered and worked to stabilize the building and improve the landscaping. The new community center officially opened in 2002.

Currently, the County Library has vacated the south wing of the building and SSL is looking to fill the 8,700 sq ft space. Most of the building is still in use by the Promise SSL program, Recreation Department, and Senior Center.

SSL is solicitating public input and request emails be sent to connect@sslc.com.

Sources: SL Trib 1916-05-23; SL Trib 1916-07-30; UT Preservation V6

Bell tower 1939, From UDSH

School and grounds 1939, from UDSH.

School in 1917, from UDSH.

Darrell Kinder and Renee Sessions, 1956, From UDSH.

Floorplan, from SL Trib 1916-07-30.

A SLC Original: First KFC Restaurant Franchise

KFC Bucket, 1969, from Smithsonian
National Museum of American History

SLC is home to the first Kentucky Fried Chicken restaurant franchise.

Leon W. “Pete” Harman (1919-2014), a native of Granger and a graduate of Cyprus High School in Magna, pioneered the first Kentucky Fried Chicken (KFC) franchise and helped build one of the world’s most prolific chicken brands.

In 1941, Pete and Arlene Harmon relocated from San Francisco back to Utah and opened their first restaurant, the Do Drop Inn, with a total capital investment of $15. Located at 3890 S State their new hamburger and root beer stand only sat 15 people.

The restaurant succeeded and every year Harmon would add to the menu and expand the restaurant’s building, except for his two years in the Army when he served in the infantry during WWII. Eventually, he renamed the restaurant Harmon’s Café which had amassed a seating capacity of 240 people, plus car service.

The biggest change to the menu took place in 1952 with the addition of “Kentucky fried chicken.”

Colonel Harland Sanders had perfected his chicken recipe through the 1930s and 1940s and operated his own restaurant, the Sanders Court & Café, in Corbin, KY. When I-75 bypassed Corbin, Col Sanders sold his restaurant and traveled the US to sell his chicken recipe to other restaurant owners. He was an early pioneer in the concept of franchising.

The first to accept his offer was Pete Harman in SLC. With a handshake agreement, the Harmans agreed to pay Col Sanders five cents for every chicken sold. For $3.50, customers received 14 pieces of chicken, mashed potatoes, rolls and gravy.

With the success of this handshake agreement Col Sanders incorporated his company under the name Kentucky Fried Chicken in 1952. By the early 1960s, KFC was sold in over 600 franchised outlets.

The partnership between Harman and Sanders continued to work together through the years. Harman invented the famous “to-go” paper bucket, developed training manuals and product guides for other franchisees, and emphasized the “Finger-lickin’ good” motto.

The first KFC (Harmon’s Café) at 3900 S. State in SLC was demolished in 2004 and rebuilt in the same location as a museum and an updated restaurant.

Vintage Harmons Café photo on display at Café/Museum

Harman and Sanders at the SLC Airport 1954, from UDSH.

Harman and Sanders photo on display at Café/Museum

An original Col Sanders suit on display at Café/Museum

An original pressure cooker on display at Café/Museum

Harmans Café 2002, before the demolition. GettyImages

Harmans Café 2019, after 2004 demolition and rebuild.

Statue of Harman and Sanders outside of the Cafe/Museum