John & Melvina Wootton Home

242 East 100 North

For more than a century, this home has been part of Midway’s history. With its distinctive brickwork, decorative trim, and ornate gable, the home reflects the Victorian architecture popular at the turn of the century. Its Eastlake-style details, particularly the intricate scrollwork and dentil trim along the roofline, give the house much of its character.

The home's story began in 1896, when Attewall Wootton Sr. sold or gave a parcel of land to his son, John Alma Wootton, around the time of John's marriage to Martha Melvina Huffaker. Here, the young couple established a home and raised their family of seven children—six sons and a daughter, Eva, who sadly died at just three years old.

John was a man of many pursuits. He worked as a teacher, served as president of the Wasatch County School Board, and was also involved in mining and farming. Melvina contributed to the community through her involvement in the Relief Society and the Daughters of Utah Pioneers. Together, they were part of the generation that shaped Midway's growing community.

The Wootton family owned the home for 64 years. At one time, their property included two adjoining lots and extended back to land belonging to John's brother, Attewall Wootton Jr., keeping the two families close together.

Like many historic homes, the house has evolved with the people who have lived in it. Over the years, owners have added second-story gable windows, a bay window in the original parlor, and other improvements. Later owners also repaired the brickwork, helping preserve the home's distinctive appearance. While some architectural details may have been added over time, the decorative scrollwork and dentil trim remain defining features of its Victorian Eastlake character.

After six decades in the Wootton family, the property passed through several owners, each contributing to its evolving story. More than a century later, it remains a reminder of Midway's early families and the lives they built here.

Early sketch of John Wootton home by Douglas Lee.