Carrie Vivian Hodgson arrived in Park City in 1904 and ran a jewelry store at 363 Main Street until her death in 1968. The store sold jewelry, watches, clocks, cameras, and lamps, among other electric or mechanical household items, and was well-known on the Wasatch back.
Originally, Carrie ran the store with her husband Charles. Almost everyone in town knew her and loved her – everyone except her husband, anyway. In defiance of societal expectations of women in the 1910s, Carrie divorced Charles, kept the store, and began a life of legendary romance with some of Park City’s bachelors while maintaining a highly regarded reputation in her business and social circles.
According to the divorce file, Carrie had regularly “sought the society of men” (and, reportedly, women) who were not her husband – both in their home and elsewhere. Charles, after learning of her infidelity, confronted Carrie, who told him the matter was “none of his business.”
Carrie not only managed a successful business, but she was an integral part of Park City’s operation. Until her eyesight failed her toward the end of her life, she was Park City’s weatherperson, keeping the town up to date on what to expect in the coming days and weeks. This would have been important to the ranchers in the area, but also for miners needing to hike to work each day, especially in the winter. Undoubtably, Carrie consulted the Farmer’s Almanac for Utah to make her weather predictions based on data available from prior years.
Credit: Park City Historical Society and Museum; PCHS Collection
She was also the official Union Pacific timekeeper in Park City for many years. Timekeepers had various roles depending on the station and the era. Carrie, spanning her work over several decades, likely took care of most of the duties assigned to timekeepers over the years. Duties included noting how many hours rail employees worked, taking care of their payroll as they arrived at or left from the station, and managing trains on the railroad section where they were stationed (coordinating the time) so that two trains would not meet each other unceremoniously. She perhaps endeared herself to the role due to her connection with watches and clocks at her business.
Aside from having an extensive social circle, Carrie also befriended many an animal, raising quite a few at her home. She was hardly ever seen without her dog, but her favorite animals were horses – and she was an avid rider. She was fond of American Paint horses and kept several in her own stables near Main Street. She also had land outside town with a pasture for her horses.
A cigar smoking, Model-T driving character, Carri Vivian Hodgson set an example for women in Park City of what they could do and be. She ran a prosperous business, lived independently, served her community, and cared for animals too. It’s no wonder Parkites recall her wonderful spirit in newspaper clippings, oral histories, and comments on social media posts about her.
The Park City Museum is hosting guided tours of the historic Glenwood Cemetery every Tuesday and Thursday from 10:30 a.m. to 11:45 a.m. through the end of August. Tickets are $15 per person. Sign up online or contact Diane Knispel at education@parkcityhistory.org.