John Crook and his wife Mary Giles were among the first families to live in the Heber Valley. They initially lived near London Springs and later in the Heber Fort, and together had nine children. Crook was one of the hardy pioneers who helped blaze the trails into the valley, assisted in the early surveys of farm land and town lots, and kept records of weather conditions, crop reports, and other statistics for many years. He was successful as a farmer, gardener, and fruit grower and, with his sons, opened one of the best sandstone quarries in the state. Their Victorian Gothic home was built in two stages: the brick section facing the street was built in 1866, and in 1870 Crook added the sandstone section to the rear; later, a small frame summer kitchen was added to the side of the home.