Granite Stake Tabernacle: Cultural Hall

This is the overflow area that divides the cultural hall and the chapel. The door on the left leads up to the balcony; the door on the right has some offices. The chapel is to the left of this picture; the cultural hall is on the right.

Orem 4th and 5th Wards

Note: This post is one in a series that focuses on LDS architecture that is not historic, but that departs from standard cookie-cutter plans to become unique and beautiful in a different way. To see all of these posts, click here.

The Orem 4th and 5th Ward Meetinghouse is one that I am well acquainted with--it's the meetinghouse I attended for most of my childhood and youth. It was constructed in the 1950s.

The meetinghouse is on a large hill in the neighborhood, and is visible from most of the adjacent blocks.

The chapel juts out from the rest of the building, so I'm used to a chapel with lots of natural light.

The building has its quirks. There is a large basement that is used by the young men, and the primary meets on the second floor.

The hallway that leads to all of the primary classes is directly above the chapel, though, so it's not uncommon for those in sacrament meeting to sometimes hear the thump, thump, thump of children running down the hall. Maybe not the most efficient building--but I just love it's unique character. This building helped me to gain an appreciation for LDS architecture.

Seventeenth Ward (Salt Lake)

The Salt Lake Seventeenth Ward is less unique because of its actual building and more unique because of the stained glass depiction of the first vision that it houses.

This is the original Seventeenth Ward chapel:

(Image Source)

The structure was (most unfortunately) demolished in 1966. I can't help but notice its strong resemblance to the Malad City 2nd Ward Chapel and the Brigham City 4th Ward Chapel. At least the stained glass was preserved.

The only other thing of note is the fact that the stake center's steeple is clearly a recent addition--you can tell without looking at an older photo, but here's one, anyway:

(Source: Church History Library)

I guess the goal was to make it look more like a Church--and it sort of does--but it sort of makes it look like the building can't decide which type of architecture it is. In any case, I will provide interior pictures soon.

Manti Tithing Office

Granite Stake Tabernacle: Lincoln Ward Chapel

In 1951, Harold B. Lee asked the Lincoln Ward to add their own chapel onto the building, which would free up the main tabernacle chapel to hold stake conferences and offices. So the tabernacle has two chapels.

That's the lobby outside of the Lincoln Chapel.

It is a very simple chapel, but it has a nice feel to it.

Provo Sharon East Stake Center

Note: This post is one in a series that focuses on LDS architecture that is not historic, but that departs from standard cookie-cutter plans to become unique and beautiful in a different way. To see all of these posts, click here.

The Sharon East Stake Center is next in our Modern Architecture series. It's located near the mouth of Rock Canyon, behind the Provo Temple. I have to apologize that these pictures aren't as high in quality as the other posts--my camera was dead when I visited this church, so I had to make do with my phone.

It has an impressive set of organ pipes:

The chapel walls are all made of the same type of rock on the exterior. It seems fitting.

There are even more pipes behind the first set.

Too bad all chapels can't have organs this nice!

Granite Stake Tabernacle: Exterior Details

I believe that the seal has the initials "LWC" and "GST": Lincoln Ward Chapel & Granite Stake Tabernacle.

The small balcony comes off of a classroom by the chapel:

Granite Stake Tabernacle: Chapel Interior

The interior of the tabernacle's chapel is impressive. It is expansive and has ornate details.

(Source: Church History Library)

This is an old picture of the chapel that I was able to find. The mural above the organ was painted by Lee Greene Richards. It looks mostly the same, although there were some details above the mural that are now absent.

The mural has many types of wildlife pictured in a nature scene.

This is the back of the chapel. One renovation had covered the gold words with wood paneling. A later renovation removed it and restored the lettering. Above them is the balcony.

It is one of the largest balconies I've seen in the Church; it has a dozen rows of pews.

Granite Stake Tabernacle

This tabernacle was completed in 1930, but not dedicated until 1938. The original Granite Stake Tabernacle was a few blocks away, and was torn down in the 1950s.

(Source: Church History Library)

The building was almost torn down in the 1970s; thankfully, it was saved. One member told the committee that the building would be razed "over my dead body." It is a beautiful building, inside and out.

Sunset Heights Fourth Ward

Note: This post is one in a series that focuses on LDS architecture that is not historic, but that departs from standard cookie-cutter plans to become unique and beautiful in a different way. To see all of these posts, click here.

Today's "Modern Architecture" post looks at the Sunset Heights Fourth Ward:

What drew me to this building was the window that goes into where the chapel would be. other than that detail, it is a standard-plan building in almost every way.

The same theme is above the entryway.

I wasn't disappointed by the view in the chapel:

I think the reason I like these "Modern Architecture" posts is that they could be applied to buildings in the future quite easily. Most of the buildings in this series are standard plan, but they have one or two little things that make a big difference, and could be applied to new buildings. It's what I hope for, anyway.

Provo First Ward: Third Floor

The first ward actually has a third floor with more classrooms, which I find unusual for a church building. It is accessed by two staircases. One is normal, and the other is this metal one:

 

It is so small that I felt cramped on it. It also looks out of place compared with the rest of the building. I have a suspicion that there was originally only one staircase up to the third floor, and this one was added for safety/fire code reasons.

 On the third floor are a few classrooms and a much larger one that currently serves as the Young Women's room.

I love the hexagonal windows, which add to the recurring theme of the building. Similar windows are also at the front of the chapel.

Pleasant Grove Tithing Office

I have to apologize for sometimes falling behind on posting. Between school and work, I sometimes fall a day behind, but I will try to schedule the entries to post automatically.

According to the Utah State Historical Society, the Pleasant Grove Tithing Office was constructed around 1908. I'm wondering if it was a bit earlier, since I found a Deseret News article talking about thieves breaking into the tithing office in 1902. It may have been referring to the nearby Lindon office, I guess.