411 East 100 South
Salt Lake City, UT, USA

411 East 100 South, Salt Lake City, UT, USA

Statement of Significant:

The Henry Dinwoody Home was designed by Richard Kletting, the architect for Utah's State Capitol. I t was built in 1890 for Dinwoody's third wife, Sara Kinersley. Mr. Dinwoody was a polygamist who had joined the Mormon Church in his native land England in 1847. Henry Dinwoody and his first wife, Ellen Gore, left Liverpool for the United States in September 1849. After landing in New Orleans the Dinwoody's journeyed upriver to St. Louis where they remained until 1855 when they emigrated to Utah.

Once in Utah, Dinwoody began to practice the skills of a carpenter and builder that he had learned in England. He constructed a frame building and began manufacturing furniture. This business, known as the H. Dinwoody Furniture Company grew to become the leading furniture establishment west of the Missouri and east of San Francisco. The furniture store served all of Utah and parts of Wyoming, Idaho, Nevada, and Arizona. The store was an important part of the Mormon economy; and through his enterprise, Dinwoody became one of Utah's wealthiest and most influential citizens.

In addition to his furniture business, Dinwoody was director of several local businesses, banks, and insurance companies He was also active in local political affairs serving as a member of the city council.

During the polygamy raids of the mid 1880's Henry Dinwoody was incarcerated in the territorial prison for unlawful cohabitation. During his incarceration Ellen, his first wife, died. Dinwoody was allowed to attend the funeral but was returned to prison without being permitted to attend the burial.

Henry Dinwoody died in 1905 and his third wife, Sara Kinersley Dinwood| in 1908. The home was inherited by their daughter Mrs. James H. Moyle. The Moyle family lived in it from 1908 to 1917 and 1920-1929. From 1917 to 1920 the home was rented to U.S. Senator William H. King. The home was vacant from 1929 to 1931 at which time James D. Moyle, a grandson of Henry Dinwoody, purchased the home and lived there until 1952. The present owners, Mrs. & Mr. Nephi E. Maclachlan, acquired the house in 1952 and have been successful in their diligent efforts to preserve the integrity of the home.

The significance of the home is primarily in its association with Henry Dinwoody. After his arrival in Utah, Dinwoody worked his way from a poor emigrant to become one of the Intermountain West's most successful businessmen.

The home also has great merit as one of the state's most beautiful Victorian style homes.