Martha Ann & Edmund Orson Wattis House

Martha Ann and Edmund Orson Wattis House. Utah Historic Site. Listed on the National Register of Historic Places and an Ogden City landmark, the Wattis House was built in 1914 and is significant for its remarkable Prairie Style design and its historic ties to the Wattis family. The home was designed by the well-known local Ogden architect, Eber Piers, who adapted the style from the famous American architect, Frank Lloyd Wright. Piers designed many other notable Ogden buildings, including the Berthana Ballroom, Central Junior High School, El Monte Golf House, St. Joseph's Parochial School, the First National Bank and Office Building, and several high-style residences. The original owner of the property, Edmund O. Wattis, a Utah native, became a director of the Utah Construction Company in 1901 and was later president of Six Companies, Inc. during the construction of the Hoover Dam. Under the guidance of Edmund and brother, William H. Wattis, the Utah Construction Company developed into one of the largest contracting firms in the West. They built hundreds of miles of railroad and oversaw major irrigation projects, including the construction of the American Falls Dam in Idaho, O'Shaughnessy Dam in California, and Deadwood Dam in Montana. Edmund's wife, Martha Ann Bybee, was an active leader in social and civic affairs and was a charter member of the First Church of Christ Scientist in Ogden. Four of the Wattis daughters were married in the house and garden of the home. Mr. Wattis passed away in 1934 and Mrs. Wattis in 1944. The house was then sold to Henry "Mr. Sugar" Benning, president of the Amalgamated Sugar Company. In 1964 it was purchased by William Stockdale. This historic home was repurchased by the Wattis family in 2004 and attentively restored 2005-2007.