Brooks Home
The original two-room rock house was built by George Brooks, Sr. in 1877-1878 using stone chips and irregular rocks from the cleanup of the Tabernacle and Temple yards where he worked as a stone mason.
History of the Home
George Brooks began the construction of the home in 1877. As a master stonemason trained by his stepfather, Edward Lloyd Parry, George was one of the earliest pioneers in Southern Utah. He was given the task of the most intricate carving on the St. George Tabernacle and St. George Temple, and at the end of each day would take smaller, unused stones up the hill to build his home on Mount Hope, completing it in 1878. This home currently stands today..
The honey locust tree in front was planted as a sapling in 1879 honoring the birth of George’s first son, George Jr. That tree is still on the property and is thought to be the oldest planted tree in St. George. It is on the National Register.
Juanita Brooks married George's second son, Will, in 1933. They moved into this home about 1944. This is where she did much of her writing and where they raised their family.
The 2-story bedrooms were added in 1949, and they converted the root cellar into a bedroom for the boys, eventually adding a bathroom.
A new kitchen and living room were added in 1954. The original root cellar was expanded to a full basement.
Will and Juanita’s son Karl and his wife Carla moved into the house in 1970, where they raised their family until Juanita moved back in. She eventually moved into St. George Care Center as she declined due to Alzheimer’s.
The property was purchased by Carla Fox in 1991, where she operated the Quicksand & Cactus Bed and Breakfast, named after Juanita Brooks’ autobiography.
Thirty years later, the home, now owned by St George City will preserve her legacy in a museum.
George Brooks
George Brooks was a significant figure in the history of St. George, Utah, during the 19th century. He was part of the wave of early pioneers sent by Brigham Young, the prophet of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, to settle in the harsh and arid region of southern Utah in the 1860s. The area was part of the larger effort known as the Cotton Mission, aimed at producing cotton and other crops in what was referred to as Utah’s "Dixie”.
Photo Caption: George’s sons
Quick Facts
Born:
6 March 1845
Point of Ayr, Llanasa, Flint, Wales, United Kingdom
Death:
26 April 1930
Saint George, Washington County, Utah, United States
George's Legacy and Impact
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Early Life and Migration
George Brooks was born in 1845, and like many early Mormon pioneers, he joined the westward migration of the Latter-day Saints in search of religious freedom and a place to establish their communities. Details about his early life before arriving in Utah are sparse, but it is known that he became a dedicated member of the Church.
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Role in St.George
Joining his adoptive father Edward Llloyd Parry, George Brooks was one of the original settlers of St. George, which was established in 1861. The town was founded under challenging conditions, including a harsh desert climate, scarce water resources, and limited infrastructure. Despite these obstacles, George and other pioneers worked tirelessly to develop the area. They constructed homes, dug irrigation canals, and planted crops, all while adhering to their faith and communal principles
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Legacy
George Brooks’ contributions to St. George are remembered as part of the broader history of the region’s early settlers. The efforts of Brooks and his fellow pioneers transformed what was once an inhospitable desert into a thriving community that would eventually grow into the city of St. George, now a significant hub in southern Utah.
