I’m deep enough into this research that nearly every new piece of evidence sends me into a day-long research mission. For example, take a look at my page on the Hancock residence (1302 Yale). We didn’t have blueprints, only Mr. Ashton’s name on the building permit as the builder. The home is on the National Register of Historic Places (as the Geo. Albert Smith home) and there the architect is noted as “possibly Raymond Ashton.” But then I came upon a very old reference on the Utah State Historic archive information showing Miller, Woolley & Evans as the architects of a Geo. A. Smith residence on Yale Avenue. So what is the truth: did Ashton really design this home, or did Miller, Woolley & Evans (for the record, this isn’t my grandfather Raymond Evans, but is my great uncle Cliff Evans).

So when my sister, Diane, visited the Marriott library last month, I had her ask for this reference (Manuscript 495, Cabinet 1, File 32, Folder 2). The archivists couldn’t access it for her, so just last week, Gina at the library sent me photos of every blueprint in that folder (46 pages worth including plot plans and specifications). And it just wasn’t all that easy, those 46 pages included:
1. Exterior and interior blueprints of a home for Mr. G.A. Smith by Miller, Woolley & Evans (1917) in the Yale Park subdivision. But using Google maps and the Yalecrest Historic District research material, it appears as though this home was not built, at least not in Yale Park.
2. A 2-page survey of the 1302 Yale property (1951).
3. Exterior and interior blueprints of a one-story, Prairie Style home. No architect, no date, no address. This matches the photos of 1344 Yale (Geo. Albert Smith’s mothers home).
4. Exterior and interior blueprints of a two-story home. No architect, no date, no address. But using Google maps and the Yalecrest Historic District research material, it appears as though this home was not built, at least not in Yalecrest.
5. Specifications for a home at 1344 Yale, H.J. McKean contractor. No architect.

Turns out that none of them were of the Hancock residence at 1302 Yale, but there were blueprints and specifications for 1344 Yale. While this archival material doesn’t explicitly name Geo. Albert Smith, nor for his mother, my research of Utah newspapers showed that ‘mother’s’ home was built next door to Edward Ashton (Raymond’s brother at 1352 Yale) and she lived at 1344 Yale at her death (1921).

So what did I learn from all of this: I’m still not 100% sure that Raymond Ashton designed 1302 Yale, but the 1344 Yale reference was a ‘red herring.’ It was for Geo. Albert Smith and it was by Woolley and Evans (or maybe by Miller, Woolley and Evans).

I’ll need to access the material (Manuscript 495, Cabinet 1, File 32, Folder 2) at the Marriott next time I am there to see if I can sort out anything more specific.