You can tour the William Derby Johnson House, currently known as the Purple Sage Inn, located at 54 South Main Street, across from the post office. This two story frame Italianate home was built in 1884 as apartments for each of the four wives of William Derby, then sold to George C. Neagule in 1889 when Derby fled to Mexico to avoid prosecution for practicing polygamy. It was sold again to Alfred D. Young in 1890 and still again in 1901 to George Hicks who turned it into the Cole Hotel. Currently, it is a bed and breakfast run by Art and Alice Brown. Perhaps no other building in Kanab has been the residence of so many early visitors who passed through town, among them the famous western writer Zane Grey.
You can tour the William Derby Johnson House, currently known as the Purple Sage Inn, located at 54 South Main Street, across from the post office. This two story frame Italianate home was built in 1884 as apartments for each of the four wives of William Derby, then sold to George C. Neagule in 1889 when Derby fled to Mexico to avoid prosecution for practicing polygamy. It was sold again to Alfred D. Young in 1890 and still again in 1901 to George Hicks who turned it into the Cole Hotel. Currently, it is a bed and breakfast run by Art and Alice Brown. Perhaps no other building in Kanab has been the residence of so many early visitors who passed through town, among them the famous western writer Zane Grey.
You can visit the John Robertson and Leah Ford Findlay House, 300 South 100 East, a two story brick central-passage style home with gable roof and three dormers, built in 1894. Robertson was a leader in our community as well as a cattleman and rancher. He served as Kane County Sheriff and carried mail between Kanab and Panguitch. Current owner Beatrice Vaughn Carr will welcome you to her home to hear more about the place and its collection of interesting people.
You can visit the John Robertson and Leah Ford Findlay House, 300 South 100 East, a two story brick central-passage style home with gable roof and three dormers, built in 1894. Robertson was a leader in our community as well as a cattleman and rancher. He served as Kane County Sheriff and carried mail between Kanab and Panguitch. Current owner Beatrice Vaughn Carr will welcome you to her home to hear more about the place and its collection of interesting people.
Four of Kanab’s oldest surviving historic homes will be open to the public from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m. on October 23 as part of the Fourth Annual Kanab Heritage Storytelling Festival. These houses, built early in the history of our town, display stunning architectural features and their rooms hold intriguing tales of early Kanab people who lived in them well over a century ago.
This is a rare opportunity for anyone interested in the history of Kanab as well as those who enjoy being in places where people making history spent important moments relaxing with families and friends. It is the golden opportunity for you to enter these places and hear some of the stories of what took place there, told by those who know them best.
It has been many years since the Kanab Heritage Board has arranged tours of our historic homes, so don’t miss this opportunity. Tickets may be purchased at Zion Pharmacy, Willow Canyon or just prior to the home tour. Meet at the Kane County Visitor Center between the hours of 10 a.m. and 2 p.m.
Following the home tour, from 3 to 7 p.m., the festival will continue at the Kanab City Jacob Hamblin Park with music, old-time games, contests, demonstrations of home making skills and tales told by master storytellers. Refreshments, including western BBQ, will be available for purchase. For further information, call 435.644.5532 or email tommar@kanab.net.
