First Public Buildings

Before Centerfield had a name it had a building problem. The thirty families farming south of Gunnison raised their first public hall in 1882 — red pine logs, a slab roof sealed with clay, a stone fireplace, one coal-oil lamp — and used it for school, church, and socials all at once. Six years later they replaced it with a rock building, stone cut and laid by N.C. Tolstrup and Gustav Nielsen, with a stage at one end and a pot-bellied stove for heat. Both were built by everyone; the frontier had no other way.

What the plaque says

In the Early 80's Centerfield was known as "The Field" or "South Gunnison". The thirty families living there erected a public building in 1882 made of red pine logs with a slab roof covered with clay. A stone fireplace furnished the heat while the light came from a coal oil lamp. The building was used for school, social, and religious meetings until 1888 when a rock building was erected. N.C. Tolstrup and Gustav Nielsen cut and laid the stone. A stage was built in the west side of the building and a pot bellied stove furnished the heat. Both buildings were erected on a community basis.

Where it stands

Worth the stop nearby

• Gunnison — 2.3 mi
  Sanpete's southern hub, home to Utah's oldest operating theater
• Mayfield — 5.9 mi
  Gateway to Twelve Mile Canyon and the Skyline Drive high country
• Sterling — 8.5 mi
  A highway hamlet and the doorway to Palisade State Park
• Palisade State Park — 10 mi
  A pioneer-built lake turned central Utah's favorite state park

More markers nearby

• Centerfield — steps away
• Gunnison Pioneers — 2.6 mi
• Gunnison Valley Veterans Memorial — 2.6 mi
• Gunnison Honor Roll — 2.6 mi