Brigham Young's birthday party was held yesterday, and if Rod Clifford is any judge, he was one happy 205-year-old.

This is in sharp contrast to the past three years, when the staunch advocate of industry and author of the quote "The biggest labor problem is tomorrow" might not have been in such a good mood.

In 2003, 2004 and 2005, Brigham Young's large house that is located below the This Is the Place Monument, the one called the "Forest House" that once anchored an 823-acre farm in Sugar House, was boarded up. The place was falling into disrepair. It was only a matter of time before rusted cars appeared in the front yard.

As Clifford put it, "the upkeep was proving to be too hard."

But then, as if moved by the sheer historical weight of the lingering presence of the modern Moses, the attitude toward the old farmhouse changed.

New management that came in to run Heritage Park immediately targeted Brigham Young's house as priority one.

"Brigham Young's home is the cornerstone of Heritage Village," said Clifford, recently hired as marketing and public relations director for This Is the Place Heritage Park. "It just doesn't do to have it closed."

Through the winter and spring, volunteers polished, cleaned, repaired and decorated, all with an eye on getting the huge house ready for the 2006 tourist season in general and in particular the Brigham Young Birthday Party that was held at the Forest House yesterday.

The place was the place, a regular beehive of activity, with a butter churn going in the kitchen, quilt-making in one of the bedrooms and flirting in the parlor.

Dozens of volunteers dressed in period custom, partying like it was 1899.

Clifford said he hopes it's a harbinger of things to come at the pioneer-themed park.

As a privately managed entity, Heritage Park has experienced financial woes the past few years, "but this is the year we get the ship turned in a different direction," predicted Clifford.

He enumerated improvements that have taken place over the winter, including more parking, more access roads for easier mobility and lower entrance fees.

"There aren't any new buildings this year," he said, "but there is a new spirit of making it work. One of our mottos for this season is 'Have a blast in our past.' "

The P.R. man looked around at the polished farmhouse filled with volunteers and visitors.

"This year Brigham's happy," he said confidently. "He's a jovial old fellow today."

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Lee Benson's column runs Sunday, Monday, Wednesday and Friday. Please send e-mail to benson@desnews.com and faxes to 801-237-2527.