Outside of strictly religious buildings--temples, tabernacles, chapels--what architectural examples could we find for the LDS Church? There are a few surprising finds, and probably more waiting to be discovered.
Relief Society Halls used to be built, usually adjacent to LDS chapels, specifically for sisters to meet and hold events together. The first was built in Santaquin in 1882. A few of these buildings can still be found in some places.
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| Old Salt Lake 19th Ward Relief Society Hall |
Tithing Offices (also known as
Bishops Storehouses) were built in the late 1800s and early 1900s to accommodate the various forms in which members paid tithing (ranging from money to commodities to animals). A few of these can still be found across the Mormon corridor, sometimes serving as stake offices, although almost all have been sold. One tithing office in Pine Valley, Utah is used as a classroom! See all the tithing offices I have visited
here.
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| Bishops Storehouse in Manti |
Education Buildings are another good example. The Church has been heavily involved in education since its beginning. Once the Church moved to Utah, this was largely expressed in the form of stake academies, with some stakes building schoolhouses that were good examples of architecture at the time. The only remaining stake academy building that is really used by the Church is found in Colonia Juarez, Mexico, where the Church runs a high school (called Academia Juarez) that is over 100 years old. The high school has about 400 students and teaches in a dual-language model.
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| Academia Juarez in Colonia Juarez, Mexico |
Other education buildings are found closer to the Mormon corridor; in 1892, the Brigham Young Academy opened a new building that is a beautiful example of Romanesque architecture, designed by Don Carlos Young. Karl G. Maeser designed the plans, and claimed that he was shown the building by Brigham Young in a vision. The academy now serves as the Provo City library.
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| Brigham Young Academy Building |
BYU began moving to its current location in 1912, with the opening of the
Karl G. Maeser (1912),
Heber J. Grant (1925), and
George H. Brimhall (1918) buildings, all of which continue to be used:
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| Heber J. Grant Building |
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| George H. Brimhall Building |
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| Karl G. Maeser Building |
Of course, you can also find some historic seminary and institute buildings, as well.
Administrative Buildings at Church headquarters are also beautiful architectural examples of the periods in which they were built; examples include the Joseph Smith Building (formerly the Hotel Utah) and the Church Administration Building. (While the Church Administration Building is not open to the public, the Church News published an interior tour here.)
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| Church Administration Building |
These are architectural examples that people tend not to think of when they consider the LDS church and its buildings.
Another building to look up is the Oneida Stake Academy in Preston, ID. It was built in 1890, moved to its new location in Benson Park in Preston in 2003, and is now being restored as a museum and community center. Some famous graduates of the Academy are Ezra Taft Benson and Harold B Lee.
ReplyDeleteThe Harold B. Lee Hall in the Pioneer Utah Stake is a gymnasium. Between 600 and 700 South on 900 West. Just west of Welfare Square in Salt Lake City. Still standing and used church activities and private family related events by reservation. I also houses the stake genealogical center. Named for after President Harold B. Lee was a stake president over this area.
ReplyDeleteAlso, 25th Ward Meeting House, just south of of 400 south on 900 West in Salt Lake City. Used for ward meetings until the River Park Building was built and the 25th, 26th and 32nd wards moved ther. Donated to the Salvation Army by President Thomas S. Monson. He was the stake president of the Pioneer Stake. Still standing. The kitchen is used for preparing meals distributed to the poor, gymnasium is used as a "drop off/pick up center for used goods for the needy. Chapel is used as a meeting hall and the cry room with windows looking into the chapel is used for banquets, lectures, etc. Classrooms used as administrative offices.
A historic building that I’ve been interested in lately is the Joseph Smith Memorial building. I don’t know if it falls under something you would write about because it wasn’t originally a church building but it looks like they are doing massive renovations there right now while they renovate the temple. I would be interested in learning about the history of the building and past/present renovations.
ReplyDelete