by Doug Radunich
STAFF WRITER
Two men are looking to give Stockton's sleepy downtown area a massive makeover that will recapture its colorful past as a pioneer settlement and mining boomtown.
Ron and Mike Holmes, an uncle-nephew team who run a Magna-based company specializing in industrial construction, plan to open a boutique, social hall, and museum on Stockton's old downtown strip. Their first redevelopment venture was the conversion of the old Valley Lounge bar into the Stockton Miner's Cafe, which opened last week. The 139-seat restaurant features memorabilia from the town's rough-and-tumble mining past.
Ron, who moved to Stockton 18 months ago, said his desire to preserve the town came from watching his own hometown lose much of its history over the years.
"Both Mike and I grew up in Granger, which is now part of West Valley City, and we've seen that our hometown's history is now lost in sprawling new home subdivisions and new business buildings," he said. "We don't want to see that happen to more of Stockton's history, where people just tear down the old structures and build new ones. There is a lot of rich history in Stockton, and Mike and I decided to invest our money to keep it here."
The two men began purchasing property in the downtown area last year, according to Mike. They now own three major properties on Stockton's downtown strip, as well as a few old mining lots around town.
"We bought vacant lots around town last summer with a vision to revitalize Stockton, but everything is tentative right now and based on our resources," Mike said. "This area is actually the last block in the town that can be developed into historic sites."
Even as the new Stockton Miner's Cafe gets up and running, the two men are planning to convert the old Stockton Cafe next door into a boutique that would sell flowers, collectibles, old-time toys and other historical-themed gifts.
"The boutique will be kind of like a consignment store similar to Cracker Barrel, and you'll be able to find a lot of great old-time stuff relating to mining country," Ron said.
An old mechanic shop on the other side of the cafe is being converted into a social hall, which can be rented out for community functions.
"We want to have a place here in town where people can have anniversary parties, wedding receptions, live music and dancing, and other things like that," Mike said. "There used to be three dance halls in this town, so we need to bring at least one back."
Ron and Mike also have plans to build Stockton's first walk-through outdoor museum -- which would be similar to the museum in Ophir -- on Stockton's downtown strip. The museum would also be free to the public.
"We want the museum to feature pictures, old mining tools and other artifacts, and anything else that is part of Stockton's history," Mike said. "We'd also like to include a blacksmith shop on the site. We have been hard at work collecting old pictures, and we already have a bunch saved up that have been donated to us. We've been working with the mayor and city council on how to develop our history museum."
Ron pointed out that during Stockton's boom days of the 1870s, there were 4,000 residents, at least 12 bars, three dance halls, a hotel, a railroad station, and a number of general stores, churches and schools. After the silver ran out, floods of people left and many of the old buildings were burned or torn down, but Ron said he's determined to bring the town's Old West spirit back to life.
"Right now we're working on this project with our own money, but we will be applying for some historical money to help us out," he said. "This project is well-worth our time because we don't want to see such a great town like Stockton lose its history like our hometown of Granger did. Stockton also has one of the richest histories in Tooele County."
Mike said that in the past Stockton City has tried to revitalize the old downtown, but that there have not been a lot of funds available to support such a project.
"In the past, there had been limitations for revitalizing, based on how much money can be received or spent, but as the town grows it will make more money available," Mike said. "The town is also now working on getting local grants for the historic downtown development project. Both the mayor and the city council are helping us with the development plan and see a need for it."
Mike said continued growth of the South Rim area will help his projects as well as future Stockton businesses.
"There are three phases of large single-family homes being planned there at South Rim, and a lot of professional people are moving out there because they want to get out of the sprawling suburbs and big subdivisions," Mike said. "We'll have manageable growth happening there, which will allow more businesses to start up in Stockton. We want to preserve the city's history in the wake of progress."
dougrad@tooeletranscript.com