Jul 14, 1982
National Register of Historic Places - Asahel Hart Woodruff House
Statement of Significant: The Asahel Hart Woodruff house, built in 1907, is significant in its relation to the other Woodruff houses in its neighborhood as they demonstrate the process of assimilation of Mormons within American life. Asahel Hart Woodruff was a son of Wilford Woodruff and represents the rising generation at the time of intense conflict between the LDS church and the Federal Government. His successful business career, while certainly not spectacular, nevertheless paralleled that of many of his generation; they achieved business success in a free-enterprise environment in contrast with the cooperative setting sponsored by the church in the period of time preceding accommodation. Asahel Woodruff began his career in business early. Though he helped farm the family's holdings in the Big Field, in 1886 when he was only twenty-two, he wrote his father the details of a lease agreement for the land. One account does not state when he supposedly began operations. By 1892 a grocery store did exist on this property and for part of the time, he apparently lived in the same building as the store, but he apparently did not operate it. During these years when the grocery store existed at the corner of Fifth East and Eleventh South, Asahel worked for ZCMI. The Utah Gazeteer for 1888 indicates that he worked for ZCMI, and by 1898 he had become a department manager. Most of these years until he retired in 1930, he managed the wholesale dry goods department. In the interim he became involved in banking and at the time of his death was on the board of directors of Zion's Savings Bank and Trust and of Deseret Federal Savings and Loan. Asahel Woodruff's house is significant for local history as well. He became involved in the Farmers' Ward of the LDS church, which was created to serve those families who lived in the Big Field instead of in Salt Lake City. As the city spread south into the Big Field, further ecclesiastical units became necessary. When church authorities created Waterloo Ward in 1905, Asahel Woodruff was called as its first bishop.6 Under his direction, the ward built a brick chapel and cultural hall which was dedicated 13 October 1907. After he was released as bishop, Asahel Woodruff served as a counselor in the stake presidency and later as a patriarch for the stake. In both of these ecclesiastical callings he exerted considerable influence on the lives of Latter-day Saints living in the Waterloo area. Emma Rose Woodruff Christiansen indicated that on the same night that the newly finished Waterloo Ward chapel was dedicated, a special dedication service was held for Bishop Asahel Woodruff's newly completed house.
National Register of Historic Places - Asahel Hart Woodruff House
Statement of Significant: The Asahel Hart Woodruff house, built in 1907, is significant in its relation to the other Woodruff houses in its neighborhood as they demonstrate the process of assimilation of Mormons within American life. Asahel Hart Woodruff was a son of Wilford Woodruff and represents the rising generation at the time of intense conflict between the LDS church and the Federal Government. His successful business career, while certainly not spectacular, nevertheless paralleled that of many of his generation; they achieved business success in a free-enterprise environment in contrast with the cooperative setting sponsored by the church in the period of time preceding accommodation. Asahel Woodruff began his career in business early. Though he helped farm the family's holdings in the Big Field, in 1886 when he was only twenty-two, he wrote his father the details of a lease agreement for the land. One account does not state when he supposedly began operations. By 1892 a grocery store did exist on this property and for part of the time, he apparently lived in the same building as the store, but he apparently did not operate it. During these years when the grocery store existed at the corner of Fifth East and Eleventh South, Asahel worked for ZCMI. The Utah Gazeteer for 1888 indicates that he worked for ZCMI, and by 1898 he had become a department manager. Most of these years until he retired in 1930, he managed the wholesale dry goods department. In the interim he became involved in banking and at the time of his death was on the board of directors of Zion's Savings Bank and Trust and of Deseret Federal Savings and Loan. Asahel Woodruff's house is significant for local history as well. He became involved in the Farmers' Ward of the LDS church, which was created to serve those families who lived in the Big Field instead of in Salt Lake City. As the city spread south into the Big Field, further ecclesiastical units became necessary. When church authorities created Waterloo Ward in 1905, Asahel Woodruff was called as its first bishop.6 Under his direction, the ward built a brick chapel and cultural hall which was dedicated 13 October 1907. After he was released as bishop, Asahel Woodruff served as a counselor in the stake presidency and later as a patriarch for the stake. In both of these ecclesiastical callings he exerted considerable influence on the lives of Latter-day Saints living in the Waterloo area. Emma Rose Woodruff Christiansen indicated that on the same night that the newly finished Waterloo Ward chapel was dedicated, a special dedication service was held for Bishop Asahel Woodruff's newly completed house.
Jul 14, 1982
Posted Date
Jul 10, 2023
Historical Record Date
Jul 14, 1982
Source Name
National Register of Historic Places
