Roughly 100 years ago, things were a little different in Utah. These unique photos will take you on a journey through the past.
- When the temple was the most prominent building in the city.
“Salt lake view 1900”. Licensed under Public Domain via Wikimedia Commons In 1900, the LDS temple was the tallest building in the city.
- Where some Utah men earned a living in 1903.
“UtahMercuryMine1903”. Licensed under Public Domain via Wikimedia Commons Even in a black-and-white photo, the Mercur Mine looks hot and dusty.
- The Richmond Ward Tabernacle was built in 1904.
“Richmond Ward Tabernacle”. Licensed under Public Domain via Wikimedia Commons This photo appeared in the 1914 Improvement Era magazine. The tabernacle still hadn’t been dedicated.
- This is the 1908 version of a Utah minivan.
By Harry Shipler [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons The Studebaker Limousine was for wealthy Utah families, though. See that front seat? It’s for the chauffeur!
- What wealthy Utah women did for fun in 1909.
“SLC,1909” by Shipler Commercial photographers - Photographer:Shipler Commercial Photographers; Shipler, Harry. Licensed under Public Domain via Wikimedia Commons When you wanted to get away from your husbands for awhile, you just hopped in your Thomas Flyer Touring Car (notice the right-hand side steering wheel!) and cruised Salt Lake.
- What rural Utah women did for fun in 1909.
“Parowan Relief Society Building”. Licensed under Public Domain via Wikimedia Commons The Parowan LDS Relief Society Building was built in 1909. It’s where rural women went to get a few hours away from their husbands.
- What people in Roosevelt did for fun in 1910.
“Roosevelt Ward Amusement Hall”. Licensed under Public Domain via Wikimedia Commons The Roosevelt Ward Amusement Hall was built in 1910. I don’t know what they did there, but I doubt it involved gambling, drinking or carousing.
- Here’s where people shopped before City Creek Mall.
“Zion’s Cooperative Mercantile Institution 1910”. Licensed under Public Domain via Wikimedia Commons The first ZCMI, in Salt Lake City. Photo taken in 1910.
- When living in a tent seemed like a good idea.
“Clarion, Utah circa 1911-1912”. Licensed under Public Domain via Wikimedia Commons Clarion was settled in 1911 by the Jewish Agricultural and Colonial Association as a rural experiment. For several years, the crops thrived. In 1914, the weather was extreme and a severe drought killed the settlers’ crops. The population dropped drastically, and Clarion was a ghost town by 1916.
- This is who you hired to help you move before UHaul existed.
“Alex Pickering van”. Licensed under Public Domain via Wikimedia Commons Now you probably don’t hire anyone…you just call up your buddies and have them help you pack your UHaul.
- This is why people dressed up to go to town.
“NatCuBank” Licensed under Public Domain via Wikimedia Commons Back when you kept your money in a bank that looked like this, you put on your nicest dress and wore your hat and gloves. Now you just swing through the drive-through window wearing your gym clothes.
- When the produce on your float was actually real produce.
“Box Elder County Float 1912”. Licensed under Public Domain via Wikimedia Commons Box Elder County’s parade entry for the 24th of July, 1912. That’s Trolley Square in the background.
- Before you read everything on an electronic device.
“Murray City Library”. Licensed under Public Domain via Wikimedia Commons This photo of the Murray City Library was taken in 1912.
- This school didn’t have computers. It barely had students.
“Rochester (Moore Utah) School House 1912”. Licensed under Public Domain via Wikimedia Commons The Moore School House in 1912 was pretty tiny.
- It was probably better than working at McDonald’s.
“Telephone switchboard ca. 1914, Salt Lake City”. Licensed under Public Domain via Wikimedia Commons These women were switchboard operators in 1914. Google it if you don’t know what that means, or watch some early episodes of Mad Men. It was a real job for decades.
- If you needed a quart of milk, you got it at the company store.
“Bingham Canyon, Utah, in 1914”. Licensed under Public Domain via Commons This is Bingham Canyon in 1914. The copper mine provided housing and a company store where you could shop on credit.
- Mid-life crisis car, circa 1915.
“PierceArrowUtah1915”. Licensed under Public Domain via Wikimedia Commons The Pierce Arrow Town Car was stylish and classy.
- Back when you could get rid of your kid AND his tuba by sending him with the Boy Scouts.
“CAB with Scouts”. Licensed under Public Domain via Wikimedia Commons Now moms are stuck listening to the kid practice so he can get another merit badge.
- 1917: The year the groundskeeper forgot to turn off the water to the fountain before the first freeze.
“Hotel Roberts”. Licensed under Public Domain via Wikimedia Commons This is the Hotel Roberts in Provo. I wonder if they had a busted water pipe?
What do you think? Does the Utah way of life back then look harder than it is now, or was it a simpler, easier time?
“Salt lake view 1900”. Licensed under Public Domain via Wikimedia Commons
In 1900, the LDS temple was the tallest building in the city.
“UtahMercuryMine1903”. Licensed under Public Domain via Wikimedia Commons
Even in a black-and-white photo, the Mercur Mine looks hot and dusty.
“Richmond Ward Tabernacle”. Licensed under Public Domain via Wikimedia Commons
This photo appeared in the 1914 Improvement Era magazine. The tabernacle still hadn’t been dedicated.
By Harry Shipler [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons
The Studebaker Limousine was for wealthy Utah families, though. See that front seat? It’s for the chauffeur!
“SLC,1909” by Shipler Commercial photographers - Photographer:Shipler Commercial Photographers; Shipler, Harry. Licensed under Public Domain via Wikimedia Commons
When you wanted to get away from your husbands for awhile, you just hopped in your Thomas Flyer Touring Car (notice the right-hand side steering wheel!) and cruised Salt Lake.
“Parowan Relief Society Building”. Licensed under Public Domain via Wikimedia Commons
The Parowan LDS Relief Society Building was built in 1909. It’s where rural women went to get a few hours away from their husbands.
“Roosevelt Ward Amusement Hall”. Licensed under Public Domain via Wikimedia Commons
The Roosevelt Ward Amusement Hall was built in 1910. I don’t know what they did there, but I doubt it involved gambling, drinking or carousing.
“Zion’s Cooperative Mercantile Institution 1910”. Licensed under Public Domain via Wikimedia Commons
The first ZCMI, in Salt Lake City. Photo taken in 1910.
“Clarion, Utah circa 1911-1912”. Licensed under Public Domain via Wikimedia Commons
Clarion was settled in 1911 by the Jewish Agricultural and Colonial Association as a rural experiment. For several years, the crops thrived. In 1914, the weather was extreme and a severe drought killed the settlers’ crops. The population dropped drastically, and Clarion was a ghost town by 1916.
“Alex Pickering van”. Licensed under Public Domain via Wikimedia Commons
Now you probably don’t hire anyone…you just call up your buddies and have them help you pack your UHaul.
“NatCuBank” Licensed under Public Domain via Wikimedia Commons
Back when you kept your money in a bank that looked like this, you put on your nicest dress and wore your hat and gloves. Now you just swing through the drive-through window wearing your gym clothes.
“Box Elder County Float 1912”. Licensed under Public Domain via Wikimedia Commons
Box Elder County’s parade entry for the 24th of July, 1912. That’s Trolley Square in the background.
“Murray City Library”. Licensed under Public Domain via Wikimedia Commons
This photo of the Murray City Library was taken in 1912.
“Rochester (Moore Utah) School House 1912”. Licensed under Public Domain via Wikimedia Commons
The Moore School House in 1912 was pretty tiny.
“Telephone switchboard ca. 1914, Salt Lake City”. Licensed under Public Domain via Wikimedia Commons
These women were switchboard operators in 1914. Google it if you don’t know what that means, or watch some early episodes of Mad Men. It was a real job for decades.
“Bingham Canyon, Utah, in 1914”. Licensed under Public Domain via Commons
This is Bingham Canyon in 1914. The copper mine provided housing and a company store where you could shop on credit.
“PierceArrowUtah1915”. Licensed under Public Domain via Wikimedia Commons
The Pierce Arrow Town Car was stylish and classy.
“CAB with Scouts”. Licensed under Public Domain via Wikimedia Commons
Now moms are stuck listening to the kid practice so he can get another merit badge.
“Hotel Roberts”. Licensed under Public Domain via Wikimedia Commons
This is the Hotel Roberts in Provo. I wonder if they had a busted water pipe?
OnlyInYourState may earn compensation through affiliate links in this article.
