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Show 2 Fall 2001 Discover Dinosauriand Vernal's historical sites provide tour through time By Virginia Harrington Feature Writer Information courtesy of Doris Burton, Uintah County Historian Visiting Vernal's historical sites starts with an easy walking tour along Main Street. Get those cameras ready as you begin on the east end of Main. Visit the site of the old Uintah County Courthouse at 152 East Main. This was a three-story, handmade brick "castle" housing hous-ing county offices from 1900-1959. Rooms were heated with potbellied stoves and community events were often held in the gazebo or the rose garden. At 100 East Main is the Showalter Motor dealership, purchased in 1935. Showalter moved his Ford sales from a livery stable into this building, where he ran a gas station as well as his car dealership. dealer-ship. At 67 East Main is the John Lucurgus Johnson Memorial Park, established next to the Johnson home in 1904. The home is gone but the park has been preserved, sandwiched between two modern businesses. business-es. It is a refreshing stop along the tour, offering benches and lovely greenery in the middle of the city. Moving along to 40 East Main, the Vernal Theater, owned by the Shiner family since it opened in 1946, still invites movie goers with its marquee advertising the latest entertainment. Going to 13 East Main, find the site of Vernal Drug, which opened in 1900 with a soda fountain featuring hand-mixed soft drinks. Some of the fixtures from Vernal Drug are still in use at an ice cream parlor farther west on Main. At 10 East Main is the site of Cobble Rock Station. Built in 1925, it was one of the first service stations to offer a ladies' restroom and a small cafe. The empty site is now used for multiple purposes, including the placement of a large Christmas tree each year. Across the street at 3 East Main is the site of Cobble Rock Corner, a brick building constructed in 1910. The building was demolished in 1955 and a new bank, now Wells Fargo, was erected. Turn the comer at Main and Vernal Avenue and go to 87 North Vernal Avenue. There stands the Uintah Railway nnd Freight Company, constructed in 1905 to house a railroad depot for a train thai never reached Vernal. The building is currently undergoing restoration. West Main begins across Vernal Avenue. At 3 West Main stands Zion's Bank, built in 1916 of bricks shipped from Salt Lake City and originally known as the Bank of Vernal. It stands on the site of the Ashley Cooperative Mercantile Institution Building, build in the late 1890s. At 25 West is the Ashton building, Vernal's fore- most department store for many years. At 91 West Main is the site of the Acorn poofs Espresso Coffee Shop LJ 38 East Main Vernal 789-1154 VtSA Open 7 Days A Week - Espresso - Smoothies - Ice Blended Coffees - Roasted Coffee Beans - Specialty Drinks - Pastries - Bagel Sandwiches r t O v T T t J f 7 ' t " r'r ' A V i A , !. ,..v ! .. f North entrance to the old Uintah Stake Tabernacle before it was converted into a Temple by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Photograph is courtesy cour-tesy of the Uintah County Library. Mercantile, which became the Golden Rule Store. It was destroyed in 1954. Finally, at 92 West Main is the site of the Vernal Post Office, which served the community com-munity for 66 years. It was the first U.S. Post Office ever built off a railroad line. Leaving the walking tour, head to 65 East 100 North to see the old Wilcox Academy, built in 1905 by the Congregational Church. The historical marker is situated in the vestibule of the building. The Ward and Eliza Pack home, 87 North 100 East, was built in 1901 in the pre-Victorian style. Ward Pack died only five years later and the home has been sold to several families over the years with Terry Caldwell purchasing it in 1979. At See History on page 30 n I i (i 1 Serving Vernal's Finest ... ' BREAKFAST -LUNCH -DINNER Monday - Saturday: 6 am - 10 pm 1 Gift Shop Indian Items Novelties Greeting Cards T-Shirts Sweatshirts Banquet Facilities PRIME RIB servea tvery maay Nignt t i(! ! I Join us for some great eatin'! Every Saturday Night CHUCKWAGON BUFFET Broasted BBQ Salads Chicken Beef Ribs Galore Scones & Lots More! 1 If ' i! if- t 1 -i i4l IS 77 East Main 'Vernal -789-1170 |