Utah Heritage Foundation

There's been lots of news in the world of Utah historic preservation lately, so I thought a summary would be in order.

Yes to Granite

On Monday, October 17, The Salt Lake Tribune endorsed the bond election in South Salt Lake to buy and rehabilitate Granite High School.  So has Utah Heritage Foundation.  The UHF Preservation Round-up blog talked about the benefits of this bond on three separate occasions (here and here and here).

Utah Heritage Foundation has officially provided their support for the upcoming bond to save and rehabilitate Granite High School in South Salt Lake.  This would be a fabulous project that not only conserves an important historic structure, but could provide much needed flexible community space in the center of the valley.

Please join us to help inform voters in your neighborhood about the important Granite Bond election on November 8th. The City of South Salt Lake has proposed a $25 million bond to purchase former Granite High School and upgrade the campus into a community park, recreation center, arts center and public charter school. City residents are asked to vote to fund this project or not. This will be the only opportunity for the city to do so and the only way for your voice to be heard is to vote. We need your help informing voters!

Thursday September 15th 7:00 - 8:00 pm

Meet at the 500 East Entrance to the “S” (main classroom) building

South Salt Lake is pleased to announce its first annual arts festival at Granite High School.

Saturday, September 10, 9 am - 4 pm

This event combines the work of artists and crafts people, dancers and musicians, classic car artists and a reunion picnic for Granite High alumni. The Arts Council is well known for the visual arts programs it sponsors at the Pioneer Craft House and Columbus Center. Granite High School was legendary for its performing arts programs. South Salt Lake is known for cultural diversity, grassroots arts scene and its sense of fun! Put it all together for a rocking arts festival - Granite Rocks!

Most people probably don’t think of farming and sheepherding when they think of South Salt Lake today.  The once bucolic town was the crossroads of rail lines and sheep trails into Parley’s Canyon, but also sought out for entertainment as families made their way to Wandamere Park (now Nibley Park Golf Course) for rides and amusement.  Yesterday, Mayor Cherie Wood announced that the city is “on the move” as the crossroads between interstates, industry, neighborhoods, recreation, and the arts.  And she’d like to make the centerpiece of the town’s new move a renovated and adaptively used Granite High School.

We couldn’t agree more!

As one of the oldest high schools in the Salt Lake Valley, Granite carries great tradition.  Its prominent location on 3300 South and across from the Pioneer Craft House should be leveraged to provide a centerpiece for central valley arts and cultural groups to expand, recreation to foster, and community to feel welcome.  In my opinion, the historic building would also serve as a fabulous city hall.

Pulling t