Through the years: Compton Corner
In 1883, Alma W. Compton came to Brigham City and initially set up his photography business near the Capitol Theater and rented the shop of another photographer, Jens Gasberg, for a few months. He then built a building for his business between Forest and 100 South and Main. Around 1890, he was able to secure the lot on the northeast corner of the 100-200 South block. In 1900, he had a large, brick building erected and moved his business there, where it stood for 98 years and passed through 2 more generations of Comptons.
In the early morning of February 8, 1967, a truck trailer rolled out of its parking spot across the street, rolled 297 feet, and knocked down the stone pillar that supported the upstairs of the northeast section of the building and cracked the northeast tower. Contractor Wayne Jensen's services were secured to fix the building and the east 1/3 needed to be removed and a new front was built.
Smith's Food tried to buy the property with the rest of the block in an effort to build their new grocery store and parking lot in 1979. A swell of public support for the old building led to its survival while the other buildings on the block fell.
In 1994, Glenn Compton retired and sold the building to Robert Wilson. His family ran their business, "Corner Creations," until 1998, when Smith's was finally successful in securing the property and the building was demolished.
The corner is now the site of the First Community Bank.
Photos are from the Compton Collection and from AI enhanced photographs from newspaper articles from the time. They are used for educational only.
Comments