Bishop Seely House/Relic Museum

HOURS: Mon., Tues., Wed., Sat.,11 am to 3 pm. Thur., Fri., 1 to 3 pm. The Blacksmith Shop is open on Thursday. OR Please call: Roxey Washburn at 435-462-2334 Cathy Haffen at 435-462-2633 Tudy Standley at 435-462-9739.

This two-story adobe home of Bishop William Seely, who also served as the Mt. Pleasant Mayor, has been stuccoed a pale, white color. A vernacular structure with a touch of Greek Revival, this house has a central passage, T-plan. Built in about 1869 the building was also used as the city hall.

The home has long served as a town museum or ‘relic house.’ Inside, visitors will find old photographs and artifacts that document the efforts of pioneers to colonize the valley. This is one of Sanpete’s most historic sites. Reportedly, it was here, on Saturday September 7, 1872 that the final treaty was signed ending the Black Hawk War between Mormon settlers and the Ute people, led by Antonga or “Black Hawk.”

Here, General Morrow from Camp Douglas signed the treaty on behalf of the U.S. Government. Sanpitch Chiefs Black Hawk and Indian Joe marked the treaty for the Native Americans. Although weakened by a battle wound received on Diamond Mountain, Black Hawk was “tall and stately and was dressed in black trousers and black shirt.” He wore “short-cut hair, symbolic of defeat.” This home was a logical place for the treaty to be signed.

William Seely was a prominent citizen, businessman and Mormon leader in Sanpete county. He served as bishop of the Mt. Pleasant ward from 1859-1890 and was the first and longest serving Bishop in Sanpete. Seely performed innumerable religious rites for area settlers, such a marriages, baby blessings and death ceremonies. He and his wife, Charlotte, had nine children. Seely was also an important community leader and landowner, owning massive amounts of acreage from Spring City to Indianola.

The building was purchased by Mt. Pleasant Historical Association in about 1949-50 to be used as a museum.

Next to the museum is a log hut used as a blacksmith shop where demonstrations are given twice a week.