Building the Brighton Bowery 1966
2010
This is a photograph of the construction of the Brighton Bowery in Big Cottonwood Canyon outside of Salt Lake City, Utah. It was built on the property owned by Everest Raymond Watrous where he owned and operated the Brighton Village Store. It was built in 1966 from logs cut and transported from Oregon. Ray and his son Tom helped with the construction. It was a beautiful building designed for large gatherings. Upstairs it had a dormitory-style room where youth groups could sleep. The Watrous family held many family gatherings in the building. The children and grandchildren loved to play the jukebox and roller skate on the cement floor.
When the Brighton Village Store and surrounding property was sold about 1972, the bowery was part of that sale. It still stands today but resembles the original building only somewhat and on the outside only. The inside has been divided into rooms including a store and a cafe.
The Brighton Village Store itself has been razed. In its place is an overflow parking lot for skiers.
