902 Norfolk
Milford & Sarah Bransford House

Tax Photo - circa 1930s

Recent Photo

The parents of one of Park City’s most famous millionaires, Suzanne Bransford Emery Holmes Delitch Engalitcheff, “Utah’s Silver Queen”, lived here. This home was built in 1889 by Milford and Sarah Bransford after they moved from California. They had lived comfortably in Richmond, Missouri prior to the Civil War. After they arrived in California’s gold country, their good fortune changed. Youngest daughter Viola married Willis Lamb and died after childbirth in 1886. Willis, Milford and Sarah were devastated. Suzanne and her husband Albion Emery offered to raise the baby, so Milford and Sarah sold their home and possessions and moved to Park City. Upon arriving, Milford was hired by his old friend (and now millionaire) R.C. Chambers, to work as a bookkeeper at the Ontario Mine.

Apparently Milford and Sarah’s financial troubles followed them to Park City. Milford purchased lumber, doors, window and shingles from Kidder Brothers Lumber company to build this house, but unable to pay, Kidder Bros. placed a lien on the property. On June 29, 1890 the house was sold at a Sheriff’s Sale for $460 to Meyer S. Ascheim. Ascheim owned the large department store on Main Street and was an old friend of the Bransford family. Susie had probably stayed with the Ascheim family when she first arrived in Park City and worked at their store. Meyer Ascheim offered Milford and Sarah a mortgage of $600 and sold them the home.

Milford died in May 25, 1894. Sarah sold the home in 1901 to George and Christina Morse for $800. George was a mining machinist and they lived here with their three daughters. The oldest Nellie worked as a clerk at the Post Office.

The one and a half story house is an unusual design for Park City with it steeply pitched roof enclosing a full attic. Maybe the plans were based on the Bransford’s home in California or Missouri?