• Wes Long
• The Nettie Gregory Center (pictured here in 2023) recently received formal designation as a historic site as part of a new restoration effort.

"Nestled beneath the din of southbound Interstate 15 at the edge of Poplar Grove—facing the Folsom Trail and old Union Pacific railroad lines—stands a monumental site of local African American history," City Weekly reported in February 2023, referring to Salt Lake City's Nettie Gregory Center, located at 742 W. South Temple.

At the time, we—specifically, I—remarked that the unused building was in need of repair and, perhaps, historical designation. And never before have I been so happy that something I wrote stands out of date. This once-and-future community center was listed in the National Register of Historic Places by the National Park Service in March.

"Listing in the National Register is intended to encourage preservation as well as provide recognition of a property's significance," Utah State Historic Preservation officer Christopher Merritt wrote in a letter to the center's executive board. "A major benefit of listing on the National Register is the availability of tax credits for qualified restoration work on residential or income-producing properties."

Such restoration work may include upgrades to the interior and exterior—which is precisely what the center's board has in mind. They are currently preparing a capital campaign to raise funds for developing the exterior grounds and renovating the building's interior so that it may once again be used as a public venue for west side Salt Lake neighborhoods and visitors from elsewhere in Utah. The vision is to make the building an anchor point for local organizations and citizens for a variety of community uses.

When we originally ran our story on Nettie Gregory (1890-1964) and the center, I never imagined I'd witness its path to renewed life commence so quickly. A month after the article, Jordan Kiyak of the Utah Division of History introduced me to Women's History Initiative coordinator Katherine Kitterman, who had already been in talks with the Historic Preservation Office about nominating the center for the National Register. We arranged a meeting between representatives from the Division, the Preservation Office, the Nettie Gregory Center board and descendants of Nettie and William Gregory (1889-1979) about a nomination effort. In the months that followed, state history officials worked closely with the Nettie Gregory Center board to examine the building's condition, record oral histories and scan old photographs to build a case for the center's nomination.

In the course of that process, I was invited to join the center's board by president Duane Bourdeaux, a role I still hold today. This is not about me, however, except insofar as an observer who has now become a participant.

This is rather about a legacy that was developed by countless Utahns of many colors who created a space of safety and joy for the community at large. There's still a long way to go, but this recent designation helps to bring a venerable history and a lofty future nearer to a present in need of both.