943 Park Ave
William and Lulu Reich House

Tax Photo - circa 1930s

Recent Photo

This t-cottage, the popular building style of Park City in the late 1880s and 1890s was constructed by William Reich. Reich had been born in 1848 in Racine Wisconsin; his parents were German immigrants. While William was still a boy, the family crossed the plains to Salt Lake City. At age 25 he moved to Park City, finding employment as a blacksmith at the Ontario Mine. William first lived in Ontario canyon with his wife, Jane and their three daughters. On February 17, 1884, an avalanche swept down the barren mountain above, demolishing their home, burying Jane and killing the three young girls (Laura age 9, Maggie age 11 and Irene age 5). Mrs. Reich was rescued but was seriously injured. She died two years later. In 1887, while back in Missouri visiting relatives, William married Miss Mabel "Lulu" McClellan. They returned to make Park City their home, and William purchased this lot for $200.00 and built this existing t-cottage. Unique to this house is the unusual wrap around front porch, extended by the Reichs prior to 1900. In 1902, Lulu and William sold the home but the couple continued to reside in Park City until their deaths in 1930. William died in March at the Miners Hospital after a five month illness. Grieving, Lulu left to visit relatives in California, but fell and broke her hip in Salt Lake and died in the Salt Lake Hospital in August.