955 Norfolk
Jackson & Mary Fairhurst Home

Tax Photo - circa 1930s

Recent Photo

Jackson and Mary Fairhurst purchased this property from David McLaughlin of the Townsite Corporation in 1895 for $300. Jackson was from England and Mary from Dublin, Ireland. They had married in 1890 and immigrated to the United States on their wedding day. Jackson found employment at Ascheim Mercantile store on Main Street as a drygoods salesman. In 1895 they obtained a mortgage for $619 from Ascheim’s and built this house. The Park Record newspaper reported, “Mr. Pape has his hands full just at present, having the contract for the new schoolhouse, a residence for Jackson Fairhurst and two or three other important jobs on hand, all of which he is keeping on the move.” Pape was a local contractor and, at the time, his record for a building a house was 12 days.

The Park Record also reported, “the boys at the Ascheim Merchantile have organized a gymnasium.” Jackson was the instructor. He also belonged to the Knights of Pythias, was treasurer of the Fire Department and secretary of the Unita Lodge No. 7. In 1896 he formed and was elected president of the Clerk Union. “The roster being signed by nearly every clerk of the camp.” He eventually held the position of manager at Welsh, Driscoll & Buck Store’s drygoods department.

The Fairhurst had two boys, Cyril and Alfred. A third child was born in February 1893, a baby girl. The birth was difficult, the child only lived a few hours and Mary’s life in peril for more than a week. Conversely, Mary lived until the age of 106.

In 1902, the family sold the home for $1500 and moved to Seattle. “During their residence in the Park Mr. and Mrs Farihurst have made a large circle of friends who sincerely regret their departure form Park City.”

Lewis and Martha Pettit purchased the home. Lewis was manager at the local telephone exchange. The Pettits owned this home for four years, and then sold it to Florence and George Hanlon.