Orem’s Pioneer History Comes to Life City of Orem – City of Orem

A small vacant lot at 1600 North and State Street in Orem, Utah, has garnered attention due to its historical significance. Eva Carlotta Andersson, a pioneer woman from Sweden who lived in the area roughly 130 years ago, lost two infants and buried them on this property.

Eva Carlotta Andersson was born in Sweden in 1851 and immigrated to Utah after meeting missionaries from The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. She kept a detailed journal of her journey from Sweden to Utah and eventually settled in Orem as a second wife, facing legal persecution against polygamy. Due to the Edmunds Anti-Polygamy Act of 1882, she had to live secretly to avoid persecution.

Andersson gave birth to two children in Orem, both of whom died shortly after birth and were buried on the property. Her story came to light when Becca Driggs, a BYU student, discovered it while researching Scandinavian women who helped settle Utah.

The Orem City Council is working on a resolution to support this initiative, which has gained the support of community members. The project aims to celebrate the strength of women, connect individuals through shared experiences, and validate the importance of womens stories.

Council member LaNae Millett told KSL, The minute I heard it, I knew it was a good thing and we are all in championing this cause for this women and childrens memorial, Millett said. Our city council is working on a resolution to put forth to show our support for this.

As a woman, Ive experienced some of these hardships that this Swedish woman did, Millett said. To me, I think it connects us as women, it shows our strength as women, and it gives women a place to really vocalize how they feel and how theyve come through some of these hardships to really hear and connect with other women in that arena.

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Orem's Pioneer History Comes to Life City of Orem - City of Orem