the hub 1870-1950 Ethnic Enclaves & Minority Neighborhoods

Greektown
On West 200 South between 400 and 600 West, was Greektown, the most extensive of Salt Lakes ethnic neighborhoods Along its two-block area were small hotels and boardinghouses, coffeehouses, saloons, grocery stores, bakeries, and import stores selling octopus, Turkish tobacco, olive oil, goat cheese, liqueurs, figs, dates, and Greek-language newspapers. In 1911, nearly sixty Greek businesses occupied the two blocks. The coffeehouse in particular was an important institution the real home of many Greeks It was a community center often providing their only social life. Thirty or so buildings were once part of Greektown. All were constructed between 1900 and 1910 Only a dozen buildings remain today. Most of the others were demolished in the 1980s, and those left are not likely to survive much longer. John McCormick, A Gathering Place: An Illustrated History of Salt Lake City Cruise lines advertised regularly in the Greek-language newspapers, offering transportation for friends and family to Ameriki, where there was work. Patriotism drew these men to fight for Greece in the Balkan wars of 1912 and 1913, below in front of the Holy Trinity Church The Greekowned businesses along 2nd south made appeals to icons and imagery from the home country. Ergatis, meaning The Worker, was the citys first Greek newspaper

HONORS THINK TANK

The numerous cafs along 2nd South formed the center of Greek life in the city, along with the Holy Trinity Church, originally along 4th South.

Leonidas G. Skliris This padrones or Czar of the Greeks was responsible for bringing thousands of Greeks to Utah in the first part of the 20th century. He secured them jobs on the railroad or in mines in turn for one dollar a month for the rest of their lives, or until his power was broken by a strike in 1912. His offices were on 507 W. 2d S.

Little Tokyo Little Syria/Lebanese Town

A miniscule Little Syria blossomed during the 1920s and 1930s in the vicinity of the residences and stores centered on Third South and Fifth West.
Robert F. Zeidner, Immigration from the Middle East, in The Peoples of Utah, ed. H. Papinakolas.

Salt Lakes many Japanese residents settled mainly on 100 South between West Temple and Third West, the area now occupied by the Salt Palace. Many worked on the railroads or in factory jobs such as chick sexing, advertised at right. In addition, they operated many businesses located across the valley, including the Fujimoto Soy company, located on 302 S. and 4th West, just opposite the Rio Grande Depot. The Utah Nippo, Japanese-language newspaper published until 1990s. Below, the composing room in 1917.
(future site of Fujimoto Soy Company

Sarah Attey, an early Syro-Lebanese immigrant, describing her experiences in Utah: We lived on the west side, by Greek Town, with Lebanese neighbors. You know, when you are far from home, you want to be with your people. Lebanese Town it was Called. Three Lebanese were very succesful. Bonos Shool had a grocery store in Greek Town, on Second South. George Katter and Kalil Fadel also, dry goods, stores. George Katter got men jobs at Bingham copper mine. Lebanese men peddled, sold lot of jewelry to Greeks. They peddled lace, linens, cloth, bedspreads all over Utah. They bought from New York stores. Lebanese men in some labor jobs made ten cents an hour for ten hours a day. Thats why some Lebanese women took in boarders. They had to. Interview with Sarah Attey, quoted in The Peoples of Utah, ed. by H. Papanikolas. John Attey and his bride, Sarah George, in 1909 Lebanese immigrants in Greektown in early 1900s.

Little Italy
Italian-owned gorcery stores, saloons, restaurants, and other shops were part of Little Italy that emerged along Salt Lakes 200 South Street between the Union Pacific and Denver and Rio Grande Western railroad depots.
John McCormick, A Gathering Place.

Hispanics
Spanish-speaking immigrants did not begin to settle in the area in large numbers until the 1930s and 40s. However, even before that, and certainly ever since, they have formed an important part of the community. As the latest immigrants, the Hispanics were often shoved to the bottom of the economic ladder. In one interview, John Florez summarized his experiences: People who talk about the good old days do so because they didnt have to live it. He recalled that his father, Reyes Florez, came to Utah after World War I to work for the Denver and Rio Grande Railroad. During the Depression he managed to hold on to his job as a traquero, and family members supplemented his salary by working the beet fields as betabeleros during the summer and early fall. The family lived on Salt Lakes westside in a boxcar divided into kitchen and living areas. The house was only twenty feet from the tracks.
John McCormick, A Gathering Place.

Import stores provided a taste of home, advertised at right. The Corriere dAmerica, headquarted at 253 Rio Grande Avenue, an important part of the Italian community.

The Catholic Church established a mission to help out in this struggle, called Our Lady of Guadalupe after 1930, and located at 524 W. 400 South. It was led by Father James Collins, pictured below with the nuns from the Order of the Perpetual Adoration, who arrived in 1927. The Sisters of Perpetual Adoration helped the children of the west side by teaching religion classes, Sunday school, and arts and crafts, according to Jorge Iber of the Oral History Institute. Although mostly Catholic, a significant number of Hispanics converted to the LDS faith, prompting the formation of the Mexican Branch, or Rama Mexicana, in 1921 (pictured at left by 448 South Third West wardhouse).

(future site of Our Lady of Guadalupe mission)

An Italian saloon, central to the life of the community. This left a negative impression on the more bigoted parts of the population. One University of Utah student thesis stated: The Greeks and Italians are perhaps the most careless and shiftless people found Comfort to them is unknown unless it is in the form of a smoke by the fire or a drink. Quoted from Peoples of Utah.

Others
A large Scandinavian population supported many local Nordic newspapers. They worked mainly in the mines or on the railroad but also in local factories such as the Jensen Creamery.

The Bikuben, Danish for Beehive, was both a Salt Lake City newspaper and a bank made to facilitate payments to those wishing to travel with the Latter-Day Saint emigration from Scandinavia.

This 1891 Rio Grande railway schedule was printed in German in the Beobachter, a newspaper which served the stillsmall yet growing German population, most having arrived due to LDS missionary work. Plum Alley, home to Salt Lakes Chinese residents