Joseph Smith, Sr. Frame Home, Manchester, New York, USA

A few years after the completion of the Smith’s log home, Alvin Smith began constructing a home in which his parents could live comfortably. He would often say to the neighbors, “I am going to have a nice, pleasant room for father and mother to sit in, and everything arranged for their comfort. They shall not work any more as they have done.”¹

Alvin was able to finish raising the frame in 1822 and all the materials had been purchased at the time of his death.² As consequent of Alvin’s death, the Smith’s hired a neighbor, Russell Stoddard, to finish the home.³ The Smith’s probably moved into the frame home in 1825.

Key Events at the Sacred Grove Joseph and Emma Smith were living here when Joseph received the plates from Moroni. Oliver Cowdery stayed here with the Smith family while teaching school in the Manchester area. The farm was purchased by George Albert Smith in 1907 and thereafter donated to the Church.

Joseph and Emma returned to this home after being married in January 1827, and they were living here when Joseph first received the plates from Moroni. The Smith family endured several mob attacks here in an attempt to get the plates from Joseph. The plates were hidden under the hearth in this house as well as in the cooper’s shop on the farm.⁴

Due to financial difficulties, the Smith’s lost the farm in 1825 and it was sold to Lemuel Durfee. He allowed them to stay on the farm until they gathered with the Church to Fayette in the fall of 1830.⁵

Oliver Cowdery stayed with the Smith family here while teaching school in the Manchester area.

The farm was purchased on behalf of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints by George Albert Smith in 1907. The man from whom it was purchased continued to live in the home for a while.

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SOURCES

¹ B. H. Roberts, A Comprehensive History of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 6 vols. (Salt Lake City: Deseret News Press, 1930), 1: 32 – 33.

² Donald L. Enders, “A Snug Log House.” Ensign, (August 1985), 15.

³ Ibid, 15.

⁴ Lucy Mack Smith, History of Joseph Smith by His Mother (Salt Lake City: Stevens & Wallis, Inc., 1945), 112-113.

⁵ Enders, 22.

Map & Directions

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Hours of Operation:
November – March
Monday – Saturday: 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM
Sunday: 1:00 PM – 5:00 PM
April – May
Monday – Saturday: 9:00 AM to 8:00 PM
Sunday: 12:00 PM – 6:00 PM
June – August
Monday – Saturday: 9:00 AM to 6:00 PM
Sunday: 11:00 AM – 7:00 PM
September – October
Monday – Saturday: 9:00 AM to 6:00 PM
Sunday: 1:00 PM – 6:00 PM

Admission: Free

Ownership Status

The Smith Frame Home is a Church Historic Site owned and maintained by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Visitors are welcome to tour the home while escorted by the missionary hosts. Tours begin at the Welcome Center, 200 yards north of the home. Welcome Center hours are listed above. Admission is free.

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