This chapel is beautiful. At the front are some stained glass windows, and more ornate ones are high on the sides of the chapel. There is a beautiful sounding pipe organ that I took the opportunity to play, too. The floor gently slopes toward the pulpit.
At the back is a mural of Cache Valley pioneers (I'll provide detailed pictures of it later):
The mural was originally at the front of the chapel, where the stained glass is now, as you can see from this old picture:
(Image Source: Church History Library)
The mural was moved to a back in a later renovation, as seen below. I guess I'm OK with this, only because it was replaced with stained glass, and it stayed in the chapel.
(Image Source: Church History Library)
Also, here's a picture I found where wooden beams around the ceiling and walls were removed. The mural was already in the back at this time, too. I'm wondering if they weren't removed at some point and put back in later.
(Image Source: Church History Library)
In any case, my next few posts will focus on details of this chapel.
I have no personal knowledge of this chapel, but I would guess this last photo is the earliest and the chapel originally had no mural and no wooden beams. It seems unlikely the beams would be removed and later replaced. The new mural might have covered the original stained glass for a time, before being moved to the rear of the chapel.
ReplyDeleteThat actually might be the case, Grant. I'll have to see if I can find some more history on the building, but I could see the mural having been added later.
DeleteThe mural was put over the stained glass I believe in 1962. An Earthquake collapsed the ceiling of the choir loft as well as the east wall in the gym. My thought was they put the mural over the windows because the light was to bright when sacrament meeting was held in the evening at sunset would beam in. I was a young boy at the time.
ReplyDeleteThe building was originally built with the same stone as the Logan tabernacle about the same time and the brick facade was added later in the 20s or 30s. As you walk into the chapel the walls are about 3 feet thick from the original stone. The building was remodeled in the med 70s mainly classrooms on the south side, gym and northeast corner jr. Sunday school room. If you go behind the choir loft in the basement you could see the original organ bellows that were hand pumped until they got an electricity they were well preserved when I was there in the 90s.
ReplyDeleteThanks for sharing your knowledge, Dave! It's a real gem of a building, and it's nice to know the history!
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ReplyDeleteI love these photos. Thank you so much for putting them together. (I only removed my previous comment because of typos :) I was raised visiting this ward whenever we were in Logan because it was my grandparents' ward. My grandpa loved this building and was particularly proud of the mural. The artist is renowned Cache Valley artist Ev Thorpe.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the information kacard! I'm going to look up to learn more about Ev Thorpe. Seems like he was really well known.
DeleteI am copying here some information my sister had on the mural. It was written by Gordon W. Haws at the time the mural was going to be removed for cleaning. At that time it was still at the front of the chapel. I am also including his handwritten note with further information that was on the back of the document. The Cecil Jones referred to is my grandfather -- that's my connection to the painting. Enjoy! This won't accept the whole document, I guess I'll have to do it in sections :)
ReplyDeleteA BRIEF DESCRIPTION AND HISTORY OFTHE MURAL IN THE LOGAN FOURTH WARD CHAPEL
ReplyDeleteIn 1951, Newell Cahoon served as Bishop of the Logan Fourth Ward, and Charles Tate served as Bishop of the Logan 16th Ward.
During that year, N. Wilford Christiansen, a member of the Fourth Ward, asked a well known local artist, Everett C. Thorpe, to paint a mural to fill the space between the two organ chambers in the chapel. At the time the space consisted of a large window. In the earliest years, this space had been the entrance to the chapel, the benches then facing in the opposite direction, and the stand and podium being at the opposite end.
Brother Christiansen felt that a beautiful mural depicting the early settlement of Cache Valley would be more comfortable to look at than the window, which permitted the glare of the afternoon sun in the eyes of the congregation during sacrament meetings.
When the painting was first brought in and showed to the members, it brought a mixed response. While the majority were pleased, there were some who felt it didn't fit. Cecil Jones, who succeeded Bishop Tate in the 16th Ward, took it out and framed it with oak, six inches wide, and brought it back and installed it permanently, where it has been ever since. It wasn't long until all ward members and visitors loved it.
The mural is 6 1/2 feet high and 12 feet long. Including the oak frame, it is 7 1/2 feet by 13 feet. The background shows the Logan Temple on its hill with the mountains behind it. In the foreground are about six prominently displayed figures engaged in different aspects of settling a new land; plowing, planting, harvesting, laying stone foundations, driving oxen, and caring for children. According to Doris Thorpe, the artist's widow, live models were used for the various figures, but no one remembers their names.
The mural narrowly survived an earthquake in 1963. A large granite capstone dislodged and fell through the roof, missing the painting by inches and crashing into the choir seats. Sometime after that, water seeping through the room ran down the face of the painting leaving a few water marks which should remove easily. There is now an accumulation of 43 years of smoke and dust. Probably the biggest threat to the painting is constant sun rays through the window behind, causing gradual deterioration to the canvas. We propose covering the window with plywood while the painting is being cleaned.
Over all, the mural is in pretty good condition, but it needs to be expertly cleaned, and steps take to protect the canvas from further deterioration.
Written by Gordon W. Haws, August 1995
Bro. Haws added this handwritten note on the back:
ReplyDeleteThis history was written by me at the request of Brad Sorenson who was the Bishop and who had submitted a request to Church Headquarters to have the mural cleaned. Since this is a costly process (around $10,000 for a mural this size) the church wanted to be sure of the murals' value. When approval was finally obtained, it was removed from it's place and carefully packed and shipped to Salt Lake City. Unfortunately, the lady who was in charge of this work had become ill and was unable to do any work for several months. About a year later it was finally returned to the Fourth Ward. Against my objection and the objections of others, the physical facilities people decided to put it on the rear east wall instead of up front where it could be seen by all. Maybe someday this can be rectified.
Gordon W. Haws
And here is a little bit of info on Ev Thorpe, the artist:
ReplyDeleteEverett “Ev” Clark Thorpe (1907–1983) began his art career as a sports artist for The Deseret News and The Salt Lake Tribune. Thorpe taught art at Utah State University for 40 years, and his work ranged from illustration to portraiture to mural projects.
The Bluebird Restaurant in Logan has a timeline mural Thorpe painted. The mural begins with trappers and Native Americans and ends in 1988. Included are references to Watergate in the 1970s. There is also one in the old Cache County Courthouse of early trappers.
Thanks for including this information kacard! I really appreciate it!
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