Ulrich and Louisa Kuhni House
391 East Main Street
Have you ever wondered about the old pot rock house on the corner of Main Street and River Road—the one with the weathered wooden clapboard addition at the back, insulated with adobe bricks? This humble yet historically rich home belonged to Ulrich Kuhni and his family, among the last Swiss converts to emigrate and settle in Midway.
The Kuhnis arrived in 1906, and by 1910, Ulrich had saved enough to purchase the prominent corner lot. A hardworking man, he soon constructed the one-and-a-half-story hall-parlor home, likely doing much of the work himself. With experience as both a farmer and a mason’s helper, Ulrich poured his energy and craftsmanship into building a lasting home. In 2009, the Hardy Foundation initiated a restoration and stabilization project to preserve this significant local heritage site.
Ulrich Kuhni (1863–1952) married Louisa Badertscher Mossman (1861–1943) in Switzerland in 1892. Together, they had five children, all born before they emigrated. Accompanying them to Utah was Louisa’s mother, Elizabeth Badertscher Mossman (1842–1926), and later, in 1913, her sister Rosetia Mossmann Augsburger and her three children also made the journey to Midway.
Before immigrating, Ulrich worked for the Swiss postal service. In Utah, he became a farmer and worked tirelessly as a hog-carrier for brick masons on numerous building projects throughout Heber Valley—including the Social Hall, three LDS chapels, and the high school. His strength and work ethic were legendary among the masons, who said he did the work of two men. He later served as custodian for the Midway First Ward for nearly two decades and also worked as a janitor at the Midway grade school.
Louisa, meanwhile, was beloved for her thriving vegetable and flower garden, which she generously shared with neighbors and friends. The Kuhni home stands today as a quiet tribute to the enduring spirit, labor, and legacy of one of Midway’s dedicated pioneer families.

