How the Willey Cabin was found and restored.
Jeremiah Willey built this cabin in 1854 on 500 South east of the present day South Davis Community Hospital. Through the years the cabin and property have changed hands a few times, finally ending up in the hands of Grant Neath in about 1939. Grant, a descendant of Perrigrine Sessions, began adding onto the cabin and existing house, eventually enclosing the cabin inside his new home. Over the years, the cabin was soon forgotten. Grant Neath passed away in December 1990 and his estate was subsequently sold to the hospital. Their plan was to tear down the home to make way for expansion of the hospital and more parking.
It was during this demolition that workers found the cabin perfectly preserved for nearly a half a century still encased within the Neath home. Construction stopped immediately, and plans were put into motion by Councilman/Historian Les Foy to save the cabin and have it moved to the Bountiful Park on 400 North. This was accomplished in 1992, during Bountiful's Centennial Celebration of its incorporation, basically as a gift from the City. The cabin underwent some major restoration, putting on a new roof and restoring some of the original logs, and has been enjoyed by the community since that time.
In 2004, plans for a new South Davis Recreational facility at the 4th North Park made it necessary to have the cabin moved. New sites were discussed by the City and the Bountiful Historical Commission, and a final location was decided upon at this beautiful corner of the City Campus, south of the Art Center on Main Street.
Ironically, the cabin was moved by the same moving/construction company that moved it in 1992, which made for a good move with little or no damage to the structure. The cabin has since been cleaned up, retrofitted with a new pine floor complete with a wonderful garden and fencing for a final resting place for years to come.
May you enjoy a piece of Bountiful's past.
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