835 Woodside
Lura LeRoy Fay House

Tax Photo - circa 1930s

Recent Photo

Lura LeRoy Fay purchased this property for $250 in 1887 and built this t-cottage. Lura's husband William had been a conductor on the Echo & Park City line of the Union Pacific Railroad, but transferred to the Denver & Rio Grande Western, where he served as conductor on the run from Salt Lake through Price to Grand Junction, Colorado. On June 20, 1900 William was tragically killed near Simpson Springs (north of Moab). He was leaning from the caboose watching the hot box when his head struck the timbers of a bridge and was crushed. Death was instantaneous. Lura was left to raise four children: Ada age 18, Celia Fay age 14, Nathan age 11, and Neil age 8. Surprisingly, Lura’s tenant in 1900 was Kimball Snyder, son of George Snyder (developer of the area) and his sixth wife, Rhoda Snyder. Kimball had been born in Snyderville, just prior to the family moving to Park City in 1872. He worked as a teamster, not surprising because of his father’s interest in the Dexter Livery, which was located on Heber Ave. This home was close to Kimball’s work and he and Lovisia lived here with their three children.

In 1905 Lura sold to Mary & A.J. Farrell for $600, and the house remained a rental property for many years.