945 Norfolk
John & May Williams Family House

Tax Photo - circa 1930s

Recent Photo

In 1896, the Williams family obtained a mortgage for a $700 from Ellsworth Beggs. Beggs was a local contractor who built 703 Park Ave (also on the tour), so he probably built this home too. John and May Williams moved to Park City from England in 1885 with their four children. They had previously lived in Brazil and Nevada. Both John and his oldest son Nathaniel were miners but John was apparently very active in the community. When he died in 1912, the city honored him with an impressive funeral service at Society Hall on Main Street. Park City Military Band led the funeral procession to the Glenwood Cemetery. Park City’s schools were closed for half a day to allow teachers and pupils to attend.

His wife, Mary, continued to live in this home until her death in 1925. Son Nathaniel married Elonora Peterson in 1903 and by 1910 the couple was renting a house at the top of Main Street. Daughter Mae married Edward Paxton in 1907 and the couple lived with her parents, eventually purchasing the home from her parent’s estate. Mae taught grade school in Park City for forty years. The Paxton’s owned the house until 1965.

The house is a one-story pyramid house, although a larger six room rectangular version. The attic space was made functional by piercing the roof with dormers on the east, west and south sides.