Mapleton Heritage Museum may get new lease on life - with new owners
Deseret News 17Jun99 L2
By Rodger L. Hardy: Deseret News staff writer

MAPLETON, UTAH -- The City Council in Mapleton, Utah, is looking at issuing a license to a private museum corporation to operate an historic home that is used as a museum. The license would be in lieu of a lease to operate the facility. The house, known as the Bird Home, is an 1885 cabin built by Mormon pioneer Levi Kendall. It is considered to be one of the outstanding cabins in Utah.

The Mapleton Heritage Foundation wants to take over the home, a city-owned museum located in the city park, but the City Council wants to stay in control. The museum group says it "is not comfortable" with the historic house under city management, because they constantly have to go to the city for money. The city claims that under the group's control the museum is rarely open and available to the public, while the city pays the utilities and provides other funds from the city budget.

The city is considering granting a one-year license to the group to operate the museum and to open it to the public. If that proves satisfactory, the agreement could be renewed in five-year increments.