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Written by Bob Dalley
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Tuesday, 27 June 2006 |
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The West Jordan Historical Society was established in 1998 with the goal of opening a West Jordan Historical Museum. Later in early 1999 the historical society was offered a surplus house that later became part of the city’s main park. The house, located at 7800 south and 2053 west, is a small West Jordan homestead including several out buildings, an orchard, tons of trees, chickens, and antique machinery. Some of our featured West Jordan and Utah historical memorabilia includes an original Saltaire carousel horse, the 1909 dedication stone for West Jordan’s 2nd LDS meeting house and tools once used by Archibald Gardner to build 31 different mills throughout the Salt Lake Valley. The museum features a working blacksmith shop that features an original forge once owned and operated by Willard Richardson, an early West Jordan resident. Many of Mr. Richardson’s original handmade blacksmith tools and hand forged items are on display. We also feature an 1867 granary building that houses unique West Jordan and Utah dairy items and displays. The museum has acquired and moved to the museum site, West Jordan’s first soda fountain/ lunch counter/small groceries business, the Cottage Inn. When fully restored, the Cottage Inn will look like it did in 1937, complete with booths, lunch counter with floor mounted stools and a soda fountain/ice cream counter. The Cottage Inn was owned and operated by Vivian Gardner Richardson and her sister Genevieve Finlayson Hogan. The Cottage Inn will feature many original artifacts used in conducting business by the two sisters.
Museum highlights:
- We have provided nearly 70 Eagle Scout projects since opening in 1998.
- Established a West Jordan history reference library at the museum.
- Sponsors an Annual Pumpkin Walk in October.
- Additional rotating historical displays in the West Jordan City Hall lobby.
- Museum grounds available for birthday parties, wedding receptions, family reunions, or other group events.
- We do not charge admission to the museum or events, but are happy to accept donations.
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Last Updated ( Wednesday, 11 July 2007 )
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