Then and now...

The other day, Eric took me to the Utah State Archives where we both had the privilege to attend a lecture on the development of our neighborhood (the SLC East bench) between 1860 and the 1930's. The lecture was presented by retired paleontologist/"citizen historian" Laurie Bryant, who happens to be a neighbor of Eric's....

It was most fascinating and wonderful to find out about how our neighborhood was build around natural springs at first, then grew thanks in part to a water canal stretching from the Jordan River to the City Creek (close by downtown) and also the electric power. It was exciting to find out which houses were constructed first and which ones are still standing today. It was amazing to find out that a streetcar line was running on 1500 south, right in front of the Paris Bistro

Street Car in Salt lake City ca. 1912

Included in Laurie's presentation was a gem of a photograph.... The Folland Drugs and the East Bench Market Building as it was back in 1937 and still stands today. It houses, you guessed it..... the Paris Bistro.... Eric and I were utterly blown away....

Below this are the two pictures next to one another... In the old picture, the part that boasts an awning is the part that later became our bar some 70 years later.... also with an awning! What is even more amazing is the fact that Eric designed the Paris Bistro without having ever seen this picture before.... Also look at the mailbox and the postman collecting the mail by the corner of the building. The mailbox also still stands there after all this time.... Unbelievable!

The Folland Drug Store and East bench Market ca. 1937

The Paris Bistro as it stands today... Check out the mailbox!