WEST BOUNTIFUL -- Anita Winegar has a lot of great memories associated with her historic home, but her memories extend beyond the 35 years she's had the address on 800 West. Her grandparents owned the home for the 50 years prior.
Winegar remembers many fun family get-togethers in her grandparents' home when she was growing up in the area.
"We often visited our grandparents on Sunday evenings. The whole family would gather here. My grandfather played in a dance band. Sometimes he and his friends would get out their instruments and play for us," Winegar said.
Her father, Keith Winegar, grew up in the home along with the other children born to Lawrence and Sylvia Winegar. Winegar raised her own two children in the home. After her divorce, she bought out her ex-husband's share to enable her to stay in the home she loved.
She's made several changes to the home to better accommodate her needs. A 600 square foot family room was added to provide extra space for the family to spend time together. She opened up the two upstairs rooms that were closed off when Winegar bought the home; she surmises the rooms were too costly to heat. She transformed a back bedroom into a bathroom and laundry space. She raised the ceiling in one area and added a skylight. In one area, she uncovered a window; in another, converted a closet into a shower space. The stained glass found in many of the windows is the work of her son, Landes Holbrook.
As the oldest house in West Bountiful, Anita Winegar's home has a long history. It was built in 1854 by Jedidiah Morgan Grant who, according to www.lds.org, was the father of Heber J. Grant, seventh president of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Jedidiah was a counselor to Brigham Young and was the first mayor of Salt Lake City, serving from 1851 until his death in 1856.
Winegar said she's always been interested in history and historical architecture. She's served in many different capacities on the West Bountiful Historic Commission and helped write many of the ordinances requiring compliance to build in the city's historic district. Winegar's biggest project yet is now underway; a 32-lot subdivision on the acreage behind her home. The Heritage Point subdivision, sold in association with Maple Hills Realtors, will consist of homes built to Historic Commission standards.
While owning an historic home that lacks the bells and whistles of new construction certainly has its challenges, Winegar said she doesn't mind.
"Old houses have a spirit and a soul that new houses don't have."
Additionally, a modest home allows Winegar the freedom to travel. She recently returned from a month in Spain. She's been to New Zealand, Australia, Fiji, Israel and St. Petersburg, countries all over Europe and South America, and many other amazing places.
"I live in an old house, so I can travel the world," she said.
During a yard sale, Winegar found out her home had even more history than she thought.
"A lady told me that she'd lived in the small building my grandfather built behind the house as a granary. She said many young couples lived in the building for the first year or so after they were married and it had become known as the 'Honeymoon Cottage of West Bountiful.'ââ"
The home has unique characteristics that require a bit of additional effort. When she bakes a cake, Winegar has to be sure to put a spoon underneath the pan or it will bake crooked, at an angle that matches the slanted floor of her kitchen. The home is well worth the minor adjustments she has to make to live where so many loving family members lived before.
"I've always felt the presence of people in the house that are close to me ... It's a quirky little house, but I've loved it."
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