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Brighton Hotel by Stella Brighton Nielsen
William Stuart and Catherine Bow Brighton established their home in a one-room cabin in Big Cottonwood Canyon at a time when there was a mining boom at Alta and Park City, with many men traveling back and forth between these places, either afoot or horseback. Mrs. Brighton was a good cook, and there was always freshly churned butter and nice cold buttermilk, hot buttermilk biscuits, and fresh trout, besides the mutton and beef which she would buy from farmers.
One of the early travelers, Joseph R. Walker, who was going between Park City and Alta often said, "Why don't you build a hotel here? I should like to bring my family here to spend the summers." So in 1874, the Brightons built the first Brighton Hotel, constructed of native lumber from the hills. It was of up and down boards with batting over the seams, a two-story building with seven small, clean bedrooms, a dining-sitting room, and a lean-to kitchen. The walls in the bedrooms were covered with white muslin. Mrs. Brighton would never allow the help to let the bedding touch the floor while the beds were being made.
Mr. Brighton put a fence around the hotel lot in order to keep livestock out of the yard. He and his son Willis planted extra pines in front of the hotel, there being trees only in the rear. The dry pine in the rear of the hotel was the one on which Brigham Young had the men unfurl Old Glory. The Brighton Hotel became very popular and people came from far and near — those who could afford it. They even came by way of Alta. A number of one and two-room cottages were built to accommodate guests with children so that the children wouldn't disturb the guests at the hotel. Each cabin had a box stove for heat.
These stoves were large enough at the opening for a fairly good-sized piece of wood. The lights were either candles or kerosene lamps or lanterns made from used lard buckets or tomato cans. By cutting a cross on the center of one side of the can, pushed up inside, a candle could be inserted. A bale or wire was attached to the top and bottom of the can for a handle. This was also a good way to warm the hands when they were cold. The Brightons were urged by friends to build a larger hotel. Journal History, May 1 6, 1893 gives the following account:
"A three-story structure to be erected at the resort at once. Mr. W. S. Brighton of this city has let contract to Taylor, Romney and Armstrong for erection of three-story frame rustic to be used as hotel at that popular little canyon retreat which bears his name and which is head of Big Cottonwood Canyon, near Silver Lake. The building will be 30 ft. by 1 00 ft. and will be modern throughout. Work will be rushed to finale. It is expected to be completed and ready by middle of June. Old hotel will be resumed for emergency." The contractor asked Mr. Brighton if he didn't think the hotel would look better with some dormers, and Brighton said that perhaps it would. With that they were put on; however, Mr. Brighton didn't realize it was going to cost him $2,000 more. The two floors of the hotel were used, but the upper floor was never furnished, being used as quarters for the help.
The summer after its completion on July 19, 1894, Catherine Bow Brighton died. She had prepared her husband's lunch and had gone to the pantry for a napkin when she was stricken by a heart attack. This death put a crimp in the summer's business, but Mr. Brighton carried on with the hotel for the remainder of the season. He died April 28, 1895. After his death, the new hotel plus all of his property which had been mortgaged to construct the new hotel was lost to the Brighton family. The James H. Moyle family became the owners. — Stella Brighton Nielsen Our Pioneer Heritage, p. 124-26.
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