Preparing for Progress: The Early 1970s Plans and the Historic Homes of West Valley
Preparing for the West Valley Freeway: A Look at the Historic Homes of 3600 West and 4100 South
In the early 1970s, West Valley City was experiencing rapid growth, and plans for the West Valley Freeway required careful consideration of the homes and properties along its proposed route. Several historic homes, farmsteads, and long-standing residences were identified along 3600 West and 4100 South, each with a unique story to tell.
3883 West 3800 South / 3825 South 4000 West
The adobe home at 3825 South 4000 West was originally built by William Barton, who homesteaded the surrounding area between 1866 and 1870. Robert W. Grant, a descendant, owned the home at the time of the freeway planning. The home reflected a century of family legacy and West Valley’s pioneer roots.
3775 West 4700 South
Owned by Mrs. Katherine Smith, this white shiplap single-story home had been in her family since 1922. Built around the turn of the century, the house was a typical example of early 1900s architecture and contributed to the character of the neighborhood.
3825 West 4700 South
Raymond Coates resided next door to Mrs. Smith in a white shiplap house originally moved from the Valley Fair Mall area. Purchased by his father, Robert Coates, in 1900, this home connected generations of Coates family history with the local community.
3767 South 3600 West
This white frame shiplap house, owned by Mrs. Florence Lossee, had parts dating back over eighty years. It had been home to multiple generations of the Lossee family, representing continuity and family legacy in the area.
4387 South 3600 West
The Arnold home, purchased in 1910 by Samuel Arnold, was built by Bishop Daniel McCrae. Constructed in a distinctive “L” shape with a brick foundation and gables, it included a granary at the rear. The home stood as a testament to early 20th-century farm life and family enterprise.
4100 South 3600 West
Owned by Mrs. Fred Eldredge and her sister, this home was built in three stages between 1902 and 1915. Its saltbox shape and brick-lined adobe walls reflected thoughtful construction and the endurance of early West Valley architecture.
3406 West 4100 South
This one-story shiplap building served as a bunkhouse for a local farm. Estimated to be over seventy-five years old, it was an example of functional farm structures that supported local agriculture and family livelihoods.
3609 South 3600 West
This property later became the parking lot for the Macey’s Grocery store and strip mall, which housed community favorites like Frostop, Thomas Time, and the Post Office. While the original home was removed, its location continued to serve as a central hub for the neighborhood.
Each of these homes represented decades of local history, connecting pioneer settlers, farming families, and the growing post-WWII community. While the construction of the West Valley Freeway necessitated changes to the landscape, the stories of these homes and the families who lived in them remain a vital part of West Valley City’s heritage.
