Show LANDMARK FALLS BEFORE MARCH OF IMPROVEMENT Old Executive Mansion Demolished to toMake Make Way for Fine Union Passenger ger Station V i V J wv i t V 7 J t 2 I 1 4 41 1 1 r 4 fi f rs Old Executive Mansion of Governor Alfred Cumming Photo by Harry The executive mansion of Alfred Cumming in the early territorial days located at Third West Vest and an North Temple streets and of latter years ears the of dispatchers of the Oregon Short Line Railroad is to be betom torn tom down within a week Where this old oki landmark of the now stands is to be erected the new l passenger and freight station Work wilt m soon be commenced to level it to the ground and haul the material away When this building is removed Salt Lake will ill lose one of its oldest build buildings buildings ings where many of the prominent men of the territory resided and where the proclamation of peace Deace was issued by Governor Cumming It belonged to the Mormon church until about ISit 1870 and shortly after the ast spike was driven by President Brigham Young YounS complot completing ing the Utah Central it passed into the hands of the railroad In the early s when the house was I built by Amon Almon W V Babbitt it Was the most magnificent mansion in the terri tern territory tory of Utah At that time it was a al stout most the only building In the city Since it was as built it has been re remodeled modeled and overhauled a number or of times but there are many of the early emigrants to Salt SaIt Lake valley who re remember remember member distinctly as it looked when first built The adobes were in the western part of the city and the timber was as cut and sawed in Ct Creek canyon The Babbitt estate covered a considerable part of that portion of the cit city and was s well en irrigated Several springs were In the neighborhood of the theold theold old residence and drains had to be dug there and load after load of gravel hauled in to make a solid bed Career of the Builder Mr Ir Babbitt was as once elected to con congress gross gress front from the territory but his seat was denied him Later he was as secre secretary tar tary of the territory for three or four years In IS while se secretary of the territory he made a trip to Missouri with ox teams On his return his train loaded with government pro property erh for Utah was attacked near Wood river Nebraska and several of his teamsters were killed He was ass not with the train at that time but a fc few days later he was attacked b by the same band of Cheyenne Indians and killed For some sometime time hIs disappearance Was shrouded in mystery but Information of his un unI fortunate death Was afterward learned I Became Executive Mansion The Babbitt estates property was VaS shortly afterward sold to Father Thomas Tennant and he and his fam family ily lived there for a short time It was then transferred to the Mormon church After Governor Cumming was appoint appointed I ed by the government some notable his historic tone events took place In this building I It was in I about a year ear after his appointment that Governor Cumming brought his wife and family to Utah They o occupied this building and the proclamation of was issued there AU the executive work of the territory was done there while Governor Pum um ming was as here It is stated b by some of the pioneers that conferences were ere held in this hou house by Governor Cumming and ad adother other prominent men The terms of peace of Colonel Thomas L Kane were finally made out there after they were accepted by Governor Cumming before entering Salt Lake valley alley The building has been Wf well preserved as it was firmly built Since it has been n occupied by the railroad offices it has been remodeled a number of times and the interior changed but the walls have stood Intact for over oyer half a cen century century tury The ne new passenger and freight station will cover the site of this old residence and all the property to the south of it iL York Work was commenced sev several eral days ago to the grounds and start excavating f for r the station The round house has been torn down al already already ready and the material is being hauled away The old landmark will be the next in order and in aU all probability a aek week ek from now it Will be a thing of thE past |