Visitors to Scandinavian Days May 26-27 need to make a point to visit the Ephraim Square, located at about 90 North Main in Ephraim. The historic Ephraim Square encompasses three buildings, the Ephraim Co-op, the Old Granary Art Center and the Bishop’s Storehouse, all of which are historic.

Events at Ephraim Square kick off Friday and Saturday, May 26-27, from 10 a.m.-6 p.m., with the annual quilt show held upstairs in the Ephraim Co-op, 96 North Main. Don’t worry about climbing the stairs; there is an elevator if needed.

Visitors to the co-op will also find lots of Scandinavian items for sale. There will be flags, Viking hats, collector’s items, flower headbands, aebleskiver pans, ornaments, Danish peppernuts, Swedish Bratzlies, the Co-op’s famous fudge and Lingonberry jam which is very hard to get!

On Saturday, May 27, the Ephraim Co-op will be open from 9 a.m.-6 p.m. and will feature a yummy taster’s table, with lots of items to sample. Ephraim Square explorers will also find the Olde Crafter’s Village and art for kids.

Various traditional artisans will demonstrate trades such as a blacksmith, wood worker, Swedish rug weaving, soap maker and doll carver.

In addition artists will also demonstrate bobbin lace, tatting, harbinger, black work, crocheting, knitting, and yarn spinning.

New this year will be a bread maker and a brave fellow that is going to get children involved in making butter! Anyone that wants to learn about a craft or have some fun will need to be there.

The Old Granary Art Center, 86 North Main, will have a huge booth with lots of children’s art activities to keep them busy.

Crafters will charge a small fee for the items children can make in the Olde Crafter’s Village. Items the crafters have made will be available to purchase.

History

The Ephraim Co-op building and the Old Granary Art Center were constructed of Oolite stone between 1871 and 1874. They are a rare example of Greek revival architecture with a King Post Truss roof.

The co-op building was built to serve residents of the area with merchandise from the parent ZCMI company in Salt Lake City, through which many items became available in the area for the first time, including store-bought shoes and lace.

The building also housed the first post office, a dance hall, and the upstairs housed the Sanpete Stake Academy from 1888 to 1904, which later became Snow College. It was the center for many town meetings and educational activities.

The granary was built for the LDS Church Relief Society to feed the hungry. The granary is now the location of the Central Utah Art Center and the co-op is now a gift and craft store.

For more information call (435) 283-6654 or visit http://ephraim-coop.org.