SMITHFIELD - The Smithfield City Historic Preservation Commission is restoring the Douglas General Mercantile Store, the oldest remaining commercial building in Smithfield by William M. Douglas who was born in Glasgo, Scotland.

The town of Smithfield was founded in 1856 during the expansion of Mormon colonies in Utah.

Mercantile stores were used by pioneer families to order or purchase things they couldn’t make themselves.

William Douglas Miles, Douglas’ great grandson, wrote about him crossing the Atlantic Ocean in a ship as an 18-year-old, then found his way to Nauvoo and walked most of the way from the shore of the Mississippi River in Illinois to Salt Lake City. He was sent to Smithfield with a group of people to colonize the community. He operated a mercantile out of his home until

See Full Page