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Show Building "tells all5 The photo of this priceless old handbill would not mean much without a few words explaining its historical significance to the community com-munity of Centerville. Early pioneer William R. Reeves was born in England in 1823. As a young boy he worked at Windsor Castle for Queen Victoria. His job was to keep the furnace running. After he joined the LDS Church he married Mary Ann Walton, a widow with two children, and they later emigrated to Utah. They had a little child of their own before they left England. Cholera broke out in the company in which they crossed the plains, and many died, including includ-ing the little boy, and were buried along the way. After arriving in Centerville, Wil liam became a carpenter. In 1866 he built a waystation for the Wells-Fargo Wells-Fargo Company. Overland stage coaches stopped there for refreshments refresh-ments and to change horses. With the arrival of the railroad in 1869 the building was abandoned as a stage coach station, and was purchased by William Reeves. He remodeled it into a hall, and it became the center cen-ter of the social and religious life of the community. Such events as dramas, musicals, music-als, dances, socials, church meetings meet-ings and funerals were held there for many years. It was known as the Elkhorn Hall, so called because of the large elkhorns hanging over the door. William also used the hall as a salesroom for organs, sewing machines, etc. It finally passed into the hands of the Fred Walton family, and they remodeled it into an apartment house in about 1910. Many families have called it home over the years. A number of years ago it was purchased pur-chased by Steven and Janet Plewe, and while converting it into a single-family dwelling they found some water-stained old papers left by Mrs. Reeves mostly advertisements advertise-ments for his sewing machine and organ business. The accompanying handbill was loaned by the Plewes. They no longer own or live in the building. Near the northeast corner of the building, a marker was placed by the Daughters of the Utah Pioneers of those stage coach days. |