“A park in Salt Lake County, Utah.” That’s how Block Twenty-Four Park is often described. But it is so much more. This wasn’t always a place for leisure and recreation. The land beneath our feet holds stories of struggle, resilience, and transformation.
Block Twenty-Four Park sits on land that was once part of Franklin Avenue. It was a mid-block alley within the original 13th Ward of Salt Lake City. In the 1840s and 1850s early Mormon settlers divided the land for residential and agricultural use.
After the transcontinental railroad came through Ogden in 1869, Salt Lake City saw an influx of new residents. Many were Black Americans seeking work. They often found jobs related to the railroad and hospitality industries.
By 1870 the original log cabins and adobe homes had fallen into disrepair. Land was subdivided and rented to newcomers. These rentals were often the only affordable housing. Scandinavian converts to the LDS church and later Black Americans lived here.
Franklin Avenue gained a reputation as a tough neighborhood. The street was known for raucous behavior. Newspapers even reported on families having loud arguments in Scandinavian languages. Brothels also appeared taking advantage of the area’s hidden location.
In the 1880s more Black residents moved to Franklin Avenue. Alice and Benjamin Nesbitt were among the first. Alice later became president of the Colored Women’s Republican Club. She fought for voting rights for Black women in Utah. Sanitary conditions were poor on Franklin Avenue. Many homes lacked proper sewage. The street remained unpaved adding to the unsanitary environment.
By the 1890s the neighborhood shifted from White to Black residents. The arrival of the 24th Infantry “Buffalo Soldiers” at Fort Douglas brought more families to Franklin Avenue. Some soldiers stayed after their discharge.
The 1900 census showed that almost all buildings on Franklin Avenue housed Black families. Ella Phelps and her family ran a rooming house for Black individuals. The Salvation Army’s Workingmen’s Hotel was the only exception with its White occupants.
As Salt Lake City’s Black population grew Franklin Avenue became known as “Darktown”. Today many Black organizations in Salt Lake City trace their roots to the residents of Franklin Avenue. Calvary Baptist Church and Trinity African Methodist Episcopal Church both started here. Early fundraising and church meetings took place on Franklin Avenue.
In 1906 Salt Lake City renamed Franklin Avenue to Edison Street. The goal was to rebrand the street from Black residential to White commercial. Businesses began to displace residents. By 1926 no residential buildings remained.
Many displaced residents moved to the south end of the Central City neighborhood. Today Block Twenty-Four Park stands as a reminder of this history. It is a place to reflect on the diverse stories and struggles that shaped Salt Lake City. It is a place where we can honor the resilience of the Black community that once called this place home.