This Is the Place Heritage Park's newest historic building, opened Saturday, ties together two components Utah is known for — medicine and quilting.
The building is a replica of the old Deseret Hospital but will also serve as the new home for the Utah Quilt Guild. On the main floor it looks very much the infirmary with hospital beds, chairs and lamps all holding a look of antiquity, with light hardwood floors and whitewashed walls. But the second floor's open rooms will be used largely by the Quilt Guild for shows and exhibits.
The project was Boyd and Jean Christensen's "labor of love." Boyd, a This Is the Place Foundation board of trustees member, and Jean, the founder of the Utah Quilt Guild, wanted to find a way to portray Utah's heritage of quilting at the park. In the process they decided that the Deseret Hospital would be a good place to share the history.
Though there is really no direct historical connection between the two organizations, Jean Christensen said the new building brings together the "two best groups of stitchers in the country."
Built originally in 1856, the Deseret Hospital was one of the earlier hospitals in the territory and was significant because it was operated and managed primarily by women. Dr. Antonia Novello, the first woman surgeon general in the United States, spoke briefly at the dedication about women's roles and contribution in the history of medicine.
"The dedication of the first Deseret Hospital was the germination of a seed planted by several women in the church who saw a great need in the community at that time and responded to that need even in the presence of great obstacles," said Novello. Those obstacles included medical schools' and medical communities' gender-based rejections as well as the hardships of the time.
Paul Williams, CEO of This Is the Place Heritage Park, said the structure cost just over $1 million. The funds were all raised from private donors, with Boyd and Jean Christensen as primary contributors.
"We hope that groups that come to this city will more fully understand what pioneerism really is and the art of caring," said Boyd Christensen. "We hope that you use it to the best of your ability and that is our gift to you."
Williams said the building is a great addition to the park and credited the Christensens for their tireless efforts.
"We try to give people a glimpse into what life was like in the 1850s, 1860s," said Williams. "This now will add the medicine and caretaking component — that combined with the ability to have exhibits and shows makes this just a huge asset."
E-mail: terickson@desnews.com