Pre-1922
INDIVIDUAL WORK: Prior to the formation of Ashton & Evans, both Raymond Ashton and Raymond Evans had worked a variety of construction and architecture-related jobs. In 1912 — after Ashton's university degree and mission and after Evan's war service — they began working in well-known firms: Ashton as an architect, and Evans as a draftsman and structural engineer. Several of Ashton's buildings and architectural artifacts remain from this period including his first National Register of Historic Places sites (Booth-Parsons and G.A. Smith homes). Both homes are in the prestigious Yalecrest neighborhood, the site of much of A&E's future residential work.
1922-1928
BUILDING A REPUTATION: Ashton & Evans (A&E) created a partnership in 1922 and set about building a reputation. The Salt Lake City area was rife with well-known architects, so much of their early work was commercial storefronts and small (4-room) schools, many located in Southern Utah. They built on Ashton’s success in Yalecrest with several more commissions for high-profile residents (Mabey, McCullough). Their LDS meeting house additions in Salt Lake City (21st Ward, 27th Ward, Wells Ward) were especially well received.
Toward the end of this era, they received larger commissions (Bank of Southern Utah, Cedar City; Saltair restoration; and Sugarhouse library).
Everything changed in 1928 when A&E won the prestigious competition to design the University of Utah Student Union building on Presidents' Circle. Their buildings continued to appear on the National Register of Historic Places (Sugarhouse library, 21st Ward) and within Historic Districts (McFarlane and Bergstrom residences and the Iron County Nurses’ Home in Cedar City Historic District; the Student Union Building on the University of Utah Circle Historic District; and many residences within the Yalecrest Historic District).
1929-1939
THE DEPRESSION & NEW DEAL: As the US slipped into depression, A&E were reaping benefits of their reputation. A few examples include hotels (Temple Square Hotel, SLC; Kirk Hotel, Tooele), schools (Crescent Elementary), University of Utah buildings (George Thomas Library); and ill-timed large residences (Exhibition House). Since this was the era before the LDS Church’s standardized building plans, many of A&E’s most significant church designs were done during this period (Capital Hill Ward, Las Vegas Ward, Yalecrest Ward, Randolph Recreation Hall).
During the depression, A&E received many New Deal program commissions. A very few examples include schools (Highland Boy Elementary, Kamas Grade School, Las Vegas Elementary), University of Utah structures (Carlson Hall, George Thomas library, Einar Nielsen Fieldhouse), libraries (Heber City), and community buildings (Park City War Veterans Memorial Building).
A&E buildings continued to appear on the National Register of Historic Places (Crescent Elementary, Springville Mechanical Arts building). Many buildings from this era are significant or contributing structures within National Register Historic Districts. A few examples include the George Thomas Library on the University of Utah Circle Historic District; Capitol Hill Ward in the Capitol Hill Historic District; Teachers’ duplexes in the Copperton Historic District; and Yalecrest Ward plus many residences within the Yalecrest Historic District.
1940-1945
THE WAR YEARS: Commissions continued during the war years and at first, A&E received traditional New Deal program work including the Midvale library, Summit County hospital, and Rich County courthouse. As the war intensified, federal funding increased and focused on the war effort. A&E entered partnerships to meet the demand. Hodgson, Ashton & Evans received contracts for over 4000-units of war housing including eight federally funded schools, the 1500-bed Bushnell Military hospital, and the conversion of Hotel Colorado to a US Naval Convalescent Center. Other A&E partnerships during this period included large, multi-building contracts for the Clearfield Naval Supply Depot and Dugway Proving Grounds.
Utah's military-related industry required infrastructure upgrades. A few examples of A&E work include civic works (Kaysville city hall, Rich County courthouse, Utah State prison), public schools (Copperton Elementary, Wasatch Elementary), industrial plants (Lang Galvanizing), and upgrades of utility administration buildings. The long and lucrative relationships with Mountain States Telephone and Telegraph (MST&T) began during this time with the commission for the main MST&T building in downtown Salt Lake City. Eventually A&E built 25 MST&T buildings from Glendive, MT to St. George UT.
As a result of the nature of the work during this period, there are only a few A&E buildings on the National Register of Historic Places. They include the Kaysville city hall and Midvale library.
1946-1955
POST WAR EXUBERANCE: A&E's success continued, and the firm entered this era as Ashton, Evans & Brazier (AEB). As expected with the post-war population growth, new schools were built up-and-down the Salt Lake Valley (Bonneville Elementary, Sandy Elementary, Midvale Elementary, Rich County High School and many more) and on the University of Utah campus (Sterling Sill Center, Kennecott Research Center). The economic boom also resulted in many well-known AEB-designed industrial buildings (Fisher Brewing Brewhouse, Carver Sheet Metal, Clover Club factory, and Salt Lake Refining) and commercial buildings (Zions Benefit building, Redman Van & Storage, Sears Roebuck in Boise, Caldwell and Twin Falls ID). During this period AEB designed many homes, but also plans for residential developments (Clements Village, Murray-Hills Garden). Large multi-building commissions during this era included the SLC Veterans Hospital, the Idaho Falls Atomic Energy Commission operations site, and the build-out of Dugway Proving Grounds to support cold-war era warfare.
1956-1963
RECOGNITION: By 1955, AEB was recognized as a top architectural firm in the intermountain west. Their commissions included well-known commercial buildings (Federal Reserve Bank); high-rises (Beneficial Life Building); and additional government work (Thiokol Rocket Engine facility, Brigham City). Interestingly, they also took some one-off commissions: the bear and cougar grotto at Hogle Zoo and the clubhouse at Mountain Dell Country Club. Large, multi-building commissions include the University of Utah Medical Center, and the beginnings of the long-term SLC International Airport work.