Inside the Utah Territorial State House
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four wing Capitol Building was completed. Even so, after lawmakers had moved to Salt Lake
City, the town made good use of the building. The spacious, open top floor, called the
"Legislative Hall," was used for dances and plays and became the focal point for large social,
religious or civic gatherings. (See below)
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Above: An arrangement of chairs and lecturn in the north end of the room
represents the possible setting for legislative meetings. Notice the coving where the
walls meet the ceiling.
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Above: The Utah Territorial Seal |
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The rooms on the main floor have seen many uses, but the most frequent use
has been for classrooms: first as a school for Mormon pioneer children, then as a Presbyterian
Mission school, and later as a public school. Now many of the rooms have been set up to illustrate
typical rooms in Utah homes of the late 19th and early 20th centuries. |
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Above: A bed often had two or more mattresses, one filled with straw (often
called a "straw tick") and
one or more with feathers or down. A feather mattress (often called a "feather bed") could be
placed on top in winter for more warmth, and the straw mattress on top in
the summer for cooler rest. Bedding, including linens, quilts, coverlets and feather beds,
were usually prepared by a bride and her family well before the wedding day. At the same
time, the groom and his family were busy arranging for the house and the furniture. |
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Above: Furnishings under the bed may include a storage chest and, of course, a
chamber pot. Notice the construction visible on the foot of the bed. As "elegant" woods were
not available to pioneer builders, furniture was often painted to resemble something besides
pine. Since quilts or coverlets were expected to drape over the bed and nearly to the floor,
only the posts were painted in this case.
"Bedsprings" were created by wrapping rope around pegs in the bed frame
and weaving it from one side of the bed frame to the other. The firmness could be adjusted by
making the weave tighter or looser with a special wooden wrench. This is likely the origin of the saying, "Good night, sleep
tight. Don't let the bedbugs bite!" (The bedbugs lived in the straw tick.) |
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Above: Common kitchen furnishings are shown in this room. Notice the baby
chair at the left which may be pulled up to the table. A dishtowel, or similar cloth, was
frequently wrapped around the baby's middle, taken through the back of the chair, and tied to
keep him/her from falling out. |
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Above: The parlor was reserved for visitors. The best furnishings were on
display, frequently including either a piano or organ. A young man was invited to court his
girl in this setting. Courtship sometimes lasted for years, while the couple made preparations
for their future home. Grandma or Auntie may be sitting on a nearby sofa, knitting and making
sure everything was done properly, at least until an engagement was announced. |
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The basement rooms have also seen many uses, including a jail where prisoners
were held prior to transport to Salt Lake City. (The most famous outlaw said to be held here was
Butch Cassidy, of course.) Now they hold a variety of relics of life in early Utah. |
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A milk separator and butter churns. |
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Implements used by Native American tribes of the area. |
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Spinning wheels were loaded with either wool from local sheep or with
cotton grown in St. George, 150 miles to the south. |
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Having little access to shops, early settlers were pleased to have a
loom available. |
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Above: The basement hall not only provides
a gallery for photos of early residents of Fillmore, it also allows a view of the foundation of
the State House. Also constructed of native rock, these walls proclaim the polished skills of the
early builders of Utah, undoubtedly learned in their own native lands. On a personal note, my own
great great grandfather, Hans Larsen, helped build this building. |
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*Unless otherwise noted, all photos on this website were taken by
Venita, who also holds the copyright.
Should you wish to download any of them for any reason (other than your own enjoyment),
please credit Venita
as the photographer and add my URL:
http://homepage.mac.com/venitar/home.html
Comments are appreciated!
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