History of the Roulett/Graf Home
The John Graf home in Santa Clara, Utah, was built by Frederick Roulet, most likely in the early 1870’s. It was constructed of handmade adobe block and had a double-cell floor plan. Later, the stairway was reconfigured, a kitchen and then a dining room were built onto the home, and stucco was added on the exterior. The home has a one-room cellar built of lava rock, which maintains a fairly constant 55-degree temperature year-round. The small granary outbuilding on the property was also made of lava and sandstone, with mud mortar and a rubble floor. Some believe that buildings of this type in the area may have been constructed from rocks dislodged when the old Fort Santa Clara was destroyed in the flood of 1862. Sometime between 1885 and 1890, Mr. Roulet sold his home to John and Emma Hafen Graf. The Grafs raised their family and lived there the remainder of their lives.
John and Emma had ten children. They saw many sorrows, heartaches, and tragedies. John became mentally ill from a mule kick in the head, and wasn’t himself for years before he died in 1916 at the age of 57. Emma lived to see seven of her ten children pass away. One of their sons, Walter, had a hunchback and required much care. Another son, Otto, shot himself accidentally at age 18. Kenneth, when eight years old, was injured by a mule while helping his father, and died from blood poisoning. Their little girl Orpha got a throat disease and died from choking. The oldest child, Charlotta, died from breast cancer in 1947.
While Emma was still alive, her son Elgin and his wife Vivian Tobler Graf, lived in the two front rooms until they built their own home down the street in 1939. Emma suffered greatly from arthritis later in life. As she was a widow for 30 years, she worked hard to care for the needs of her family. Emma loved her children and grandchildren very much and would do anything for them. Emma was a most thoughtful and unselfish mother and mother-in-law, beloved by her family. She passed away at the age of 83 in 1947. The three children who survived her were Tessie Graf Reber, Oliver Graf, and Elgin Graf.
After her death, the Max Hunt family purchased the home. They raised their family there and then sold the home to Jose and Darlene Rivera. The Riveras, from California, made many improvements to the home by upgrading it mechanically, tending the landscape, and keeping the old home in good repair. They also raised their family there. Jose was employed by Santa Clara City for many years and Darlene worked at times at Freis’ fruit stand across the street. After retirement, they desired to be closer to their children and grandchildren in New Mexico, and sold the home in November 2002 to Herb and Wendy Basso of Santa Clara.
The Bassos wanted to preserve the home and adapt it to a commercial setting. They renovated the second floor into an apartment by adding a bathroom and a small kitchen, and creating a living room from one of the original bedrooms. The wide plank pine floors were refinished, and a driveway and private entrance were created on the east side of the home. The main floor was leased to several tenants over the years. The first establishment was Grandma Tobler’s Bakery and Kitchen. Lark Taylor and her sisters remodeled the main floor into a bakery and catering establishment, which opened in 2003. It was named after their Grandmother Tobler, a Swiss descendant. When the bakery expanded to another location, Simply Delicious, Sweet Emma’s, and Strawberry Creek Bakery were tenants that followed.
In 2013, the Bassos refinished the original floors in the two front rooms, added central air, and repainted over the trademark pink exterior to open their restaurant- Kaili’s. Herb is originally from Hawaii, has always loved to cook, and finally has a restaurant of his own! We hope you will enjoy the great food and good company.
John and Emma had ten children. They saw many sorrows, heartaches, and tragedies. John became mentally ill from a mule kick in the head, and wasn’t himself for years before he died in 1916 at the age of 57. Emma lived to see seven of her ten children pass away. One of their sons, Walter, had a hunchback and required much care. Another son, Otto, shot himself accidentally at age 18. Kenneth, when eight years old, was injured by a mule while helping his father, and died from blood poisoning. Their little girl Orpha got a throat disease and died from choking. The oldest child, Charlotta, died from breast cancer in 1947.
While Emma was still alive, her son Elgin and his wife Vivian Tobler Graf, lived in the two front rooms until they built their own home down the street in 1939. Emma suffered greatly from arthritis later in life. As she was a widow for 30 years, she worked hard to care for the needs of her family. Emma loved her children and grandchildren very much and would do anything for them. Emma was a most thoughtful and unselfish mother and mother-in-law, beloved by her family. She passed away at the age of 83 in 1947. The three children who survived her were Tessie Graf Reber, Oliver Graf, and Elgin Graf.
After her death, the Max Hunt family purchased the home. They raised their family there and then sold the home to Jose and Darlene Rivera. The Riveras, from California, made many improvements to the home by upgrading it mechanically, tending the landscape, and keeping the old home in good repair. They also raised their family there. Jose was employed by Santa Clara City for many years and Darlene worked at times at Freis’ fruit stand across the street. After retirement, they desired to be closer to their children and grandchildren in New Mexico, and sold the home in November 2002 to Herb and Wendy Basso of Santa Clara.
The Bassos wanted to preserve the home and adapt it to a commercial setting. They renovated the second floor into an apartment by adding a bathroom and a small kitchen, and creating a living room from one of the original bedrooms. The wide plank pine floors were refinished, and a driveway and private entrance were created on the east side of the home. The main floor was leased to several tenants over the years. The first establishment was Grandma Tobler’s Bakery and Kitchen. Lark Taylor and her sisters remodeled the main floor into a bakery and catering establishment, which opened in 2003. It was named after their Grandmother Tobler, a Swiss descendant. When the bakery expanded to another location, Simply Delicious, Sweet Emma’s, and Strawberry Creek Bakery were tenants that followed.
In 2013, the Bassos refinished the original floors in the two front rooms, added central air, and repainted over the trademark pink exterior to open their restaurant- Kaili’s. Herb is originally from Hawaii, has always loved to cook, and finally has a restaurant of his own! We hope you will enjoy the great food and good company.
