| This house at 60 South and 100 East is the oldest house in Wellington at over 120 years. |
There will be a pot luck reunion on May 28, Memorial day, celebrating and remembering the history of the first home built in Wellington city.
The home belonged to William Jefferson Tidwell and is over 120 years old.
Although the house has been abandoned and derserted for several years, the home still stands and is located at 60 South and 100 East in Wellington.
According to members of the Tidwell family, Jefferson Tidwell was sent by Brigham Young to explore the new central Utah territory in 1887, and determine if it would be a good place for Mormon settlers.
After returning with a favorable report about the area, Tidwell was later called to mission in the Utah country, by the new Latter day Saint church president, John Taylor.
Soon afterward, Tidwell and his son, William Jefferson Tidwell, moved to what is now known as the city of Wellington.
After settling the Wellington area, William Jefferson Tidwell built this home for himself and his family.
Tidwell later went on to become a surveyor for 20 years for the Price City Courthouse. He was also one of the first school teachers in Wellington and taught in Price and Emery County as well.
According to family history, Tidwell later married Emma Clarrisa Jones, and together they raised 12 children in the Wellington home. Several years later a second generation resided in the residence; Wiley Pierce and Clarissa Tidwell Pierce. They made their home there and raised eight children.
The house was moved from it’s original location below the tracks, where the family farm was located, to where the home currently sits.
This was also the first residence to have telephone service, so the home became a messenger center and somewhat of a gathering place for citizens of the area.
The home has a lot of historical value and certainly many memories for the families who lived there. Unfortunately the property that the home resides on has recently been purchased.
The new landowner would like to clear the property for preparation of future development.
He has been very patient in working with the family. But nonetheless, still needs to move forward with his plans for developing the property.
Family members of the historic site are holding a reunion to reminisce and share memories about the home they have loved for generations.
They are trying to figure out a way to raise funding for possibly moving the house to another location or maybe erecting a monument in memory of the home.
The public is welcome to join in the festivities on May 28 at the Wellington city park.