Leeds in Washington County, Utah — The American Mountains (Southwest)
From Schoolhouse to Town Hall
A Building on the Move
Soon after the schoolhouse was built, Silver Reef began to decline in population, and by the early 1900s the building was no longer in use. At that time, the building was divided into two parts and moved on logs pulled by horses along the road, two miles from Silver Reef to it present site in Leeds. For more than five decades, until 1956, it served as the Leeds Schoolhouse. During most of that time, its two classrooms housed students in eight different grades.
After the school closed, the building was leased to and used by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints as a recreation center. Eventually it was remodeled and turned into a town hall and community gathering place for Leeds. The old school was reroofed and the small porch on the original building was expanded across the full length of the new town hall's front.
Leeds Peaches: Did you know?
In the 30s, 40s and 50s when peach farming was booming in Leeds, peaches from the community were shipped throughout the West via rail from Cedar City. The local people working in the orchards, and packing the bushel baskets with ripening peaches became curious about the cost consumer's were paying for their peaches. So they began writing on the slat of the baskets asking for people to write them back and let them know what they were paying. It was common to receive replies from as far away as Texas and Michigan. Compliments about how good the peaches tasted were often included with the replies.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Agriculture • Education • Notable Buildings. A significant historical year for this entry is 1880.
Location. 37° 14.321′ N, 113° 21.534′ W. Marker is in Leeds, Utah, in Washington County. Marker is on North Main Street (Utah Route 228), on the right when traveling north. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 218 North Main Street, Leeds UT 84746, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. A Tale of Three Towns (here, next to this marker); Water Is Life...The Shovel Is Divine (approx. 0.3 miles away); The Leeds Tithing Office (approx. 0.3 miles away); From Native American Trail to Interstate Exit (approx. 0.3 miles away); The Sarah Ann and William Stirling Home (approx. 0.3 miles away); Leeds CCC Camp (approx. 0.6 miles away); Leeds Historic CCC Camp (approx. 0.6 miles away); Civilian Conservation Corps, Leeds, Utah (approx. 0.6 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Leeds.
Credits. This page was last revised on June 16, 2016. It was originally submitted on September 21, 2012, by Bill Kirchner of Tucson, Arizona. This page has been viewed 406 times since then and 11 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on September 21, 2012, by Bill Kirchner of Tucson, Arizona. • Syd Whittle was the editor who published this page.