The Gardo House

The Gardo House By Susa Young Gates

Much interest has been awakened in the historic Gardo House, through the recent removal of its owner, Mrs. Edwin F. Holmes, from Salt Lake City, to California. It may interest the readers to have a recital of the building and the furnishing of this home, and later of its selling and its occupancy by non- "Mormons." The corner originally belonged to Colonel A. P. Rockwood, and the adobe house thereon contained his family for some time. His daughter, Ellen, was married to President Brigham Young, and died in her early wifehood. After Colonel Rockwood moved, the place was purchased by Brigham Young, and the house was occupied by the veteran pioneer and official barber, John Squires, who engaged Clem Horsley as his assistant. Brother Squires virtually barbered all of the Utah pioneers, and many interesting scenes were enacted within those four walls. Here quaint, home-made barber's arm-chair, the great men sat, in the of the pioneer community. Here it was that stately, dignified

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Brigham Young, and restless, witty Heber C. Kimball, had their beards trimmed and their hair cut straight across the neck, as was the custom in the early days. Erastus Snow was shaved here, in vain, for he was not a hairy man. Massive, powerful George A. Smith received what help he could to preserve the precious hair that later refused to sprinkle his shining bald head, and here was made the first light brown wig that graced his massive poll, the hair of which was taken from the luxuriant tresses of his niece, Julina Lambson, later wife of President Joseph F. Smith. Who does not recall his calm removal of that same wig in the midst of a sermon on a hot day, while he mopped his shining dome and returned the wig with placid un- concern. Imagine the consternation of the Indians who first beheld this hirsute accomplishment? An amusing incident oc- curred in Scipio at the home of Elder Jesse Martin, when Pres. George A. Smith was passing through there on one of his fre- quent trips south. He, with other men of the party, among them his nephew, President Joseph F. Smith, then a youth, went out to wash up for supper, at the bench on the porch. On the grass around Indians were squatted, while a crowd of curious children stood about studiously watching the doings of the famous visitors from the north. Filling the basin with fresh water, President George A. first took off his large hat, then he pulled out his teeth; Indians and children gasped at this curious phenomenon; but when he calmly removed his luxuriant brown wig, and the great bald head emerged into view, both Indians and children fled af- frighted from the scene. Brother John Squires was the official barber of President Young and the heads of the Church. When those historic trips were taken by President Young through the settlements, north or south, he had Brother Squires in the company, and all were barbered and trimmed and scented according to the latest pio- neer fashion. Many intensely interesting stories could be told of Brother Squires and his barber shop! Here Joseph F. Smith, handsome and debonair, had his moustache and sideburns trimmed and the rest of his face clean shaven. Squire Wells sat in the arm-chair to have his beard neatly trimmed and his glossy, luxuriant, sandy hair dressed a la mode. Here sat travelers, gold-seekers, on their way to Cal- ifornia, with the few actors who were lured by the fine theatre, the safe pioneer salary, and the keen dramatic appreciation of Brigham Young and his people. The actors Irwin and Paunce- fort were duly shaven and shorn in the official barber's chair. Burgamot, lavender, eau de cologne, and even homely winter- green, formed the basis of perfumes for the unctions and oint- ments compounded chiefly of bears' grease, which anointed the

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beards or added gloss to the curls of the occupants of that historic barber's chair. Sometimes Brother Squires permitted apprentices to come in and learn the art of hair-weaving. Among these was the youthful and studious little Julina Lambson, niece of Aunt Bathsheba W. Smith, a resident of her aunt's home, next door. Here the child listened to the recital of many stories from the bearded lips of those who sat under the hands of Bar- ber Squires. Among them was the actor, Irwin, who told the story of his life struggles to the interested pioneer listeners who sat about the barber shop which was the common cen- ter for men's interchange for their kind of gossip and pioneer yarns. Ladies did not disdain to enter the broad, green, wooden door and have their hair shampooed or cut in the fashion that once obtained of short-haired curls for all but mature pio- neer women. With the removal to Main Street of the old barber shop, the house was occupied by that famous pioneer midwife, Grand- ma Hardie, and her son James Hardie, the actor; her daughter, Phyllis, who married Stephen Lynch, — and these two married couples lived in the Hardie home for some time. Her daughter Grace was here also; she afterwards married Le Grand Young. With their removal the house was left vacant. Finally, just before the death of Brigham Young he decided to build here the official residence of the President of the Church. He employed Mr. Ridges who was the architect and builder of the Tabernacle organ, and was, therefore, somewhat noted as a pioneer architect, to draw the plans and superintend the construction of this official residence. There is no doubt that President Young had his inspiration concerning this Church headquarters from the 124th section of the Doctrine and Cove- of such a nants. The Prophet Joseph Smith began the erection house of entertainment in Nauvoo, but which was never finished. President Young had long and keenly felt the need of an distinguished guests could official residence where strangers and entertained. He often accepted for such visitors the prof- be fered hospitality of the generous merchant prince, William Jen- that he under- nings, and it was for such purpose, and such only, took the erection of the Gardo House. The building of the Gardo House went forward rather prosecuted con- slowly as President Young was persecuted and his mind was very much engaged with the comple- stantly and tion of the St. George temple. He died August 29, 1877, and that time. He was the Gardo House was not nearly finished at with style and fashion, for he said very much disappointed its pointing across to the once, rather sarcastically, to the writer,

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building from his office where he sat, "What do you think of my tabernacle organ over there?" Truly the resemblance is remarkable, if not ridiculous, when one's attention is called to it. The Brigham Young Estate sold the Gardo House to the Church. It is one of those mysterious and inexplicable things which gave this place the name of the "Amelia Palace." There are enough true things connected with the building to make the un- derlying untruth all the more annoying to members of the Young family. It is true that President Brigham Young planned and partly built the house; it is true that he had a wife named Amelia; it is true that she might possibly have lived there, or any other one of his wives might have lived there no one could ;

possibly say as to that, for surely Brigham Young said nothing about it, so far as is known. However, the curiosity-seeker, the scandal-monger, and the searcher for sensations, have altogether dubbed the place the "Amelia Palace," and such it will doubt- less remain to the end of the chapter, but not without this pro- test which ought to enlighten people of the truth. On the death of President Brigham Young, President John Taylor assumed charge of the official residence. The cost of remodeling it, and furnishing it, was over $30,000, and it was not ready for occupancy until 1880, when President John Taylor took possession of the Church's official residence, as was his right. Not a stick of furniture in the house was ordered or seen by President Brigham Young, not any of the finishing or the furnishing was planned by him or his wife, Amelia, nor did either one of them know anything about the many things that are falsely associated with their names and spurious residence there. There is some beautiful hand carving, done by young Earl Cummings, in one of the drawing-rooms, but it was ar- ranged for and carried forward under the direction of President John Taylor. On the death of President Taylor the house was rented. Mr. and Mrs. A. W. McCune and family occupied the place for some time. President Wilford Woodruff, who succeeded to the Presi- dency always lived at his old farm place. The Gardo House was, therefore, rented, as has been said. Mrs. A. W. McCune added many beautiful touches to the furnishings and finishings of this house. Her artistic sense of values gave many a nook and corner the atmosphere of the home dwelling which is very much a part of her character, but on removing she took with her all of her things, except a pair of andirons which she could never get back. Finally, on the 13th of October, 1898, under the adminis- tration of President Snow, and after the troublous times suc- ceeding the escheating of the Church property, he decided to

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sell the whole place to assist the Church in paying the enormous debt accrued because of the numerous debts engendered through the Edmunds-Tucker law which escheated all Church property, and which it cost hundreds of thousands of dollars to reclaim. The house and furnishings were sold to Colonel Holmes for the sacrificial price of $46,000. It had cost the Church origin- ally very much more. On acquiring the place, it was evidently decided to emphasize the Brigham Young note in the house, with the Amelia attachment, to draw the stops on every tune that was played on these two interchanging notes. The house certainly has its historic atmosphere. It certainly was begun by Brigham Young, and became the official residence of President John Taylor, and was the home for some years of Mr. and Mrs. A. W. McCune and family. There is no value nor importance in ex- aggerating or misstating the actual historical facts, and we who understand the whole situation are often annoyed by the per- sistent untrue reports concerning this house. Colonel Holmes built the beautifvil picture gallery which is attached to the house, and his public spirited wife has enter- tained very elaborately, while the fame of the house has gone far and wide. Their absence from the city will certainly be noted in social circles. It is hoped, however, that the house will lose the sensational title attached to it, and that it shall be known in the future as the Gardo House.

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