1119 Westminster Avenue
Salt Lake City, UT, USA

National Register of Historic Places - Genevieve and Alexander Curtis House

Statement of Significant:

The Genevieve and Alexander Curtis House, built in 1921, is a one-story brick bungalow, located at 1119 E. Westminster Avenue in Salt Lake City. The house is significant under Criterion B for its association with the accomplishments of Genevieve and Alexander Curtis. The house was a single-family dwelling when built for the Curtis family and later divided into apartments within the period of significance between 1921 and 1951, a span of thirty years during which Genevieve and Alexander Curtis lived on Westminster Avenue. These decades were their most influential and productive years in the areas of Education and Commerce. Genevieve Raine Curtis was an educator who started her career as a kindergarten teacher. She was the first woman to serve on the Salt Lake City School District Board of Education, where she served three terms. She held prominent positions in the PTA and several teacher organizations. For her work in education, the Curtis Elementary School in Salt Lake City was named in her honor. In addition to her many accomplishments in education, Genevieve Curtis raised eleven children and was named Utah Mother of the Year in 1957. Genevieve Curtis was supported in all her endeavors by her husband Alexander Robertson Curtis. Alexander R. Curtis was a prominent businessman in the Sugarhouse area of Salt Lake City. He founded the Curtis Coal Company, which was the largest coal distributor in the state of Utah in the second quarter of the twentieth century. As one of the largest stake holders in the Sugarhouse business district, Alexander R. Curtis spearheaded a major development project that made Sugarhouse an important regional shopping center in the mid-twentieth century,

The Curtis House is also significant under Criterion C for its unique floor plan and as a rare example of an unusually wide bungalow in the Sugarhouse and Westminster area neighborhoods. The house is a distinctive residence, not only for its U-shaped plan and size, but also for its unique blend of the Prairie School and Neoclassical styles. The bungalow was designed specifically to accommodate the Curtis' large family and as an entertainment venue befitting their prominence in the community at the time. It was built by Alexander Curtis and has excellent historical integrity. Throughout their lives, Genevieve and Alexander Curtis achieved prominence in their respective fields while supporting each other. Their house on Westminster Avenue is the only building still intact that represents the shared contributions of Genevieve and Alexander Curtis within the areas of significance: Architecture, Education and Commerce.