5580 South 220 East
Sandy, UT, USA

National Register of Historic Places - Mary Ellen Parmley House

Statement of Significance:

Built c. 1898, the Mary Ellen Parmley House is significant under Criterion A as part of the multiple property nomination Historic Resources of Sandy City.1 Under Criterion A, the house is significant for its association with the Mining, Smelting, and Small Farm Era [1870-c. 1910] of community development in Sandy City. The house is a typical example of a hall-parlor residence for the earlier working-class citizens of Sandy. The original portion of the house has been restored and retains its historic integrity, and is a contributing historic resource of Sandy City.

HISTORY

Located twelve miles south of Salt Lake City, Sandy City was founded in the 1850s as a farming settlement. The majority of these early farmers were members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS or Mormon Church) who were encouraged by their church leaders to pursue agricultural activities and establish self-sufficiency. When work on the Salt Lake LDS Temple began in 1852, Sandy became an essential way station as the granite for the building was cut from Little Cottonwood Canyon, located just east of Sandy. During the 1860s and 1870s settlers came to Sandy with the promise of easy land grants in the less crowded south valley. In 1863, precious metals were discovered in the canyons located just east of town, and the early history and development of Sandy parallel the history of the mining industry. The farming town soon changed to suit the clientele; hotels, saloons, and brothels dominated Main Street. Sandy became an important diversified hub for farming, granite cutting, mining, and smelting. In 1873, LDS church leader Brigham Young christened the town "Sandy" for its thirsty soil.

The first major period of development in Sandy is known as the Mining, Smelting, and Small Farm Era, 1871-c.1910.2 In 1871, a 160-acre town site was platted; a number of sampling mills and smelters were built and Sandy became a strategic shipping point. While the dominant economic force during the 1870s through the 1890s was mining, a local agricultural community also developed. New business enterprises arose to support the local agricultural community, new schools were built, and in 1893 the city was incorporated. By 1930 production in the mines had ceased; without the presence of miners, Sandy City began to clean up the saloons and brothels and concentrate on civic improvements.

The Specialized Agriculture, Small Business, and Community Development Period, 1906-1946 is the second period of development in Sandy. The mining, smelting, and small farm era was gradually replaced by a more diversified economy. The population of Sandy remained at approximately 1,500 between 1900 and 1940.6 During this time the city was defining itself as the political, economic, civic, and social center for the southeast Salt Lake Valley. This second period of Sandy's history laid the groundwork for the city's eventual transformation from a small town to a suburb.

One of the earliest signs of community development was the creation of subdivisions from large farm parcels. During the first four decades of the twentieth century, the majority of Sandy residents continued to live on farms. Most of these residents survived economically by combining subsistence farming with other occupations, primarily cottage industries, and mercantilism; other farmers created large specialized agricultural enterprises such as sugar beet, poultry, and dairy farms. Sandy residents also continued to work in the mining and smelter industries in nearby communities even after the smelters in Sandy closed down.

The core of the initial settlement in Sandy has several unique characteristics. The width of the residential streets is significantly smaller than most Utah towns laid out with the requisite ten-acre blocks as directed by LDS church leader and founder Joseph Smith. The residences are primarily one-story residences with modest floor plans. The Mary Ellen Parmley House is located in the square-mile core of historic Sandy where the combination of small-scale homes and narrow streets lend a distinctive quality to the neighborhood.