A pioneer log cabin has been carted away on a flatbed truck. An early stone building has fallen into rubble.
These and other recent events have contributed to a growing public concern over historic preservation in Sanpete County.And in response, the Sanpete County Commission has put together a preservation program that includes a far-reaching ordinance and a Preservation Commission.
According to Allen Roberts, chairman of the new commission, "Sanpete County has the largest inventory of historic sites of any Utah County."
The inventory includes around 200 buildings that are on historic lists. They're a valuable educational and economic resource, Roberts said.
The Preservation Commission's purpose, he said, is to preserve and embellish that resource.
Among its plans are heritage tourism, an awards program, funding for endangered structures, technical assistance, events and celebrations, National Register nominations, efforts to halt demolition and prevent inappropriate changes of historic buildings.
"We believe that public rights have precedence over private rights in the preservation of our historic heritage," Roberts said.
In addition to Roberts - who lives in Spring City and is a partner in Cooper and Roberts Architects, a firm that has been involved in historic restoration projects - the new commission includes Thomas Carter, who teaches in the Graduate School of Architecture at the University of Utah and did his doctoral dissertation on Sanpete County architecture. Nadine Nibley, Ephraim, president of the Sanpete Historical Society; Penny Hamilton, Mt. Pleasant, chairman of the Mt. Pleasant Historical Society; Ramona Harris, Moroni City councilwoman.
Also Arlea Howell, chairman of the Spring City Historic Preservation Committee; Albert Antrei, Manti, author of books and articles on local history and chairman of the Manti Historic Preservation Commission; and Corinne Clark, Centerfield, president of the Sanpete County Archeological Club.