Riverton, UT
N 40° 31.062 W 111° 56.358
12T E 420429 N 4485643
The Riverton City Offices are located in an historic building that was originally home of the Riverton School.
Waymark Code: WMB6VA
Location: Utah, United States
Date Posted: 04/12/2011
Views: 7
Early Years of Riverton
Located in the southern end of Salt Lake Valley, the first people to live in the area that is now Riverton settled in the mid-1850's. These early settlers lived in a widely scattered condition along the river bottom in crude dugout homes. Although the early accounts disagree, Archibald Gardner may have been the first to live on Riverton land. For this reason and because he was the largest landowner, the bottom land along the Jordan River and the region around it was called Gardnersville.
Early in Riverton's history, a branch of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints was organized. Nicholas T. Silcock was named as the first branch president in 1870. In 1879 a meetinghouse was constructed of adobe brick on 1300 West at 13150 South. This building also served as a schoolhouse and a community meeting place for the small town.
As Riverton continued to grow a judicial precinct was established. This took place in 1879. At this time the name of the settlement was officially changed from Gardnersville to Riverton by Judge Charles Smith.
Riverton City Offices
The property where the Riverton Civic Center stands has been home to education/civic buildings for more than 100 years.
The first Riverton School House at this location housed grades 1 through 8. As Riverton’s school age children continued to increase the need for more school rooms brought the construction of an additional north school house in 1909. In 1927 a new Jr. High replaced the 1892 south building. At this time the 1909 Elementary was being remodeled caught fire and was destroyed. A new matching elementary building was constructed and both buildings comprise today’s Civic Center.
The Civic Center North Building was constructed in 1927 and housed elementary classes. The South Building housed Riverton Jr. High Buffalo pupils from 1927 to 1958. The Sandra Newman Lloyd Performing Arts Center was constructed in 1930 as the gymnasium, lunchroom and vocational shops.
The buildings served as Elementary and Jr. High School facilities until 1958 when Riverton Jr. High age children were bussed to the new West Jordan Jr. High. Elementary children continued attending school here until 1995 when a new Riverton Elementary was constructed a few blocks south.
An estimated 10,000+ local area students have received education in these buildings. Utah Governors, officials, LDS Church Presidents and General Authorities have conducted meetings and business affairs in these building. Funerals, weddings, town board meetings, countless plays, productions, dances and recitals have happened within its walls.
Riverton Mayor Sandra N. Lloyd’s administration negotiated the purchase of the Riverton Elementary and surrounding 9 acres for $225,000 with vision the buildings had many more years of potential service to yield the community. Lloyd organized the Riverton School Preservation Society in 1996.
Annual improvements to the property gained the support of citizens. Volunteer public committees and professional consultants concluded restoration of the buildings filled community meeting space needs and made economic and sentimental sense.
April 6, 2005 the Riverton School was rededicated as the Riverton Civic Center after a multi-million dollar restoration project bringing the buildings to earthquake-safe and historic code standards.
Today, it houses Riverton City Offices and personnel. The Sandra N. Lloyd Performing Arts Center is booked solid for community arts programming, functions and family rental space.
The Riverton School landmark has served as a focal point and community gathering place for well over a century and will likely serve another hundred years as the heart of the community.
Name: Riverton City Offices
Address:
12830 S Redwood Road
Riverton, UT USA
84065
Date of Construction: 1927
Architect: Scott and Welch
Memorials/Commemorations/Dedications:
The National Register of Historic Places - Utah Historic Site
Web Site for City/Town/Municipality: [Web Link]
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Visit Instructions:
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