WASHINGTON COUNTY HISTORICAL SOCIETY (Washington County, Utah)
JAMES G. BLEAK HOME
St. George, Utah
LOCATION
391 South Main StreetSt. George, UT 84770
Plat B, Block xx, Lot x on the old pioneer map of St. George.
37° 6' 5.99" North Latitude, 113° 34' 58.70" West Longitude ???
2,678 feet MSL
Tax ID# SG-XXX-x-x-x
HISTORY
Elijah Fordham obtained the land where this home stands in 1865.The James G. Bleak (pronounced "Blake") family purchased it in 1874. They built a granary (root cellar) and used it as a temporary home. It consisted of 3 foot thick adobe walls. The entire structure was sunk down into the earth and had three steps down to the floor level. It had double doors for insulation in keeping with the thick walls. The inside was all shelving to store heat and cool sensitive foods and grains. One room was built above that for cooking, sleeping, etc. There was also a leanto on the side for wood, tools, and implements.
The original part of the house was probably built during the next 16 year after 1874. It sits on a rock foundation like the St. George Temple. The inside and outside walls are adobe brick about 24 inches thick with 10 foot ceilings. It has four rooms on the first floor and three rooms on the second floor. The living room has a huge stone fireplace and there are pine wood floors throughout.
The home remained in the Bleak family until 1943, when the William L. Morris family bought it. Later owners included the Arnoldus, Rockwood, Putnam, and Pershon families.
At one time, it was used as a funeral service building.
Owners:
James G. Bleak
William L. Morris
??? Arnoldus
??? Rockwood
??? Putnam
??? Pershon
BIOGRAPHY
James G. Bleak click herePHOTOS
TBDREFERENCES
Landmark and Historic Sites: City of St. GeorgeFirst Edition, January 2, 2009, pp. 8-1 through 8-5
Compiled by the St. George Community Development Department
Landmark and Historic Sites: Informational Guide of Historical Sites within the City of St. George
Second Edition, Revised 2011, p. 101
Compiled by the St. George Community Development Department