UtahStories.com began in December 2007, with one main idea: to build a living, on-line historical document on Salt Lake City and eventually all of Utah. We began by producing video interviews with long-time Salt Lake City merchants asking their opinions on the growth development of downtown Salt Lake City. The interviews were excellent and their insight is unlike anything you have read in history books. Now we are getting back to our original intent: to continue collecting stories to better understand our region of Utah in a greater context. We are still actively seeking stories that provide greater insight into our collective history. If you or someone you know has a great story to tell that can shed more light on the history of Salt Lake City, we would love to hear from you click here to send us a brief synopsis of your story.
In this effort we are producing a full-length documentary film examining the growth and development of Salt Lake City for the past 100 years. Begining with Mormon Pioneer History and concluding with the present day city rebuilding efforts. We are focusing our interviews on people whose stories are closely tied with the history and growth of the Salt Lake Valley. Besides collecting stories and working to build a historical study, "A People's History Of Salt Lake City" will also examine modern growth and urban development issues such as: Post WWII Suburban Growth, The Great Divide religious and cultural issues, as well as the controversial subject of urban development projects in Salt Lake City that some claim have been very harmful for local merchants. Below are some of the merchants we have interviewed thus far. Click here for details on this project.
Lambs Grill Cafe is Utah's oldest restaurant. Located on Main Street next to the Walker Building, John Speros has worked here since he was ten-years-old. Speros has dedicated his life to the quaint old restaurant, starting out working for his father at age ten. Speros has seen downtown change dramatically in his lifetime. Speros describes how the building around his restaurant were once full of unique retailers and restaurants such as Baker Shoes, Broadway Music and Auerbach's Department store. Speros attributes the closures of all the shops to the ongoing hassles Salt Lake City planners have inflicted on merchants through on-going beautification projects.
Located directly across the street from the L.D.S. Salt Lake City Temple, Utah Woolen Mills has been around long enough to see downtown flourish in the first half of the century to stagnate in the last twenty-years. Bart Stringham is the third generation owner of Utah Woolen Mills and he believes building the Crossroads Mall was a big mistake. Stringham is very articulate in his opinions and treads lightly when talking about church ownership and dominion over downtown Salt Lake City. Stringham is very grateful that his business is one of the few remaining open during the reconstruction.
After 56 years of doing all he can to maintain downtown Salt Lake's vitality, Richard Wirick is known officially today as "Mr. Downtown". He owns Oxford shoes and he is a charismatic supporter of all downtown projects. He doesn't regret the malls or any work that has gone on downtown. Hear Wiricks opinions on why he believes the malls weren't a mistake. Learn what a boot-jack is and find out how and why Wirick has so much support from Mayor Rocky Anderson, Peter Caroon and everyone who meets him.
Tony Weller is a third-generation bookseller who has passion for rare books. Weller's collection of literature, philosophy, fiction and Mormon works is uncomparible to any other Western book store. Tony Weller has no fear of sipping a huge cup of coffee while showing us his massive, $30 thousand dollar eighteenth century Bible. Weller also showed us their huge collection of rare Books of Mormon; poems by Eliza R. Snow; and books on the planning of Central Park among many others. Weller has recently partnered with Salt Lake Coffee Garden to add a coffee shop to his store, but you would never confuse Sam Weller's for a Barnes and Noble. Sam Weller's Zion Bookstore is a giant store in the heart of downtown full of history and long-time employees who are dedicated career book sellers. Concerning the downtown projects of the past, Weller, is of the opinion that Crossroads Mall was the biggest mistake the city ever made. Hear Weller's opinions on downtown development and get a rare look inside their collection.
L. Lorenz knife shop is the The oldest knife shop in Utah, selling some of the nicest pieces of steel money can buy. Tom Warner began coming to the Lorenz shop as a young boy with a great facination for knives. Over the years Tom became great friends with Mr. Lornez and was hired as a shop keeper. To hear Mr. Warner talk about Mr. Lorenz its clear that he was a father figure. "In these old shops the employees become a part of the family." Warner describes the "old men with their shops" as "great characters, hard working...never missed a day." Warner remembers when the downtown Salt Lake City streets were so full of people it became nearly impossible to your lunch in half and hour.
Warner isn't a very opinionated about the issue of the redevelopment. Warner spend much of his time in the back as master grinder, using the same tools old man Lorenz used 100 years ago, to grind every sory of kinfe and blad. Warner shares his 100-year-old techniques as well as some of the most beautiful knives the Lorenz shop caries.
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