Montpelier Stake Tabernacle: Exterior Details

Montpelier Stake Tabernacle

The Montpelier Stake Tabernacle was built in 1918. It follows an Art Deco style, and is one of the most unique buildings in the Church.

(Image Source: Church History Library)

The building has been wonderfully preserved, including a huge project from 2013-15 where it was carefully restored (which earned a preservation award).

The building was closed, but here are some good views of the interior. The building is shaped like a semi-circle, with the curved pews radiating out from the center. Here is an image from the recent restoration:

And here are some images from the Church History Library. As you can tell, it really was a well-done preservation project.

(Image Source: Church History Library)

(Image Source: Church History Library)

(Image Source: Church History Library)

Preservation Update: Montpelier Tabernacle Rededicated, Tabernacles Map & Series

Note: Preservation Updates are a regularly occurring series of posts where I round up recent information on historic LDS buildings and their futures. Depending on the age of the post, there may be newer information available. Click here to see all Preservation Updates.
 
I recently had the opportunity to present at the BYU Religious Education Student Symposium regarding the destruction and preservation of LDS Tabernacles. My research will be published in the symposium journal; however, I am going to take the opportunity to post a series on the history of LDS Tabernacles on this blog over the course of the summer. It won't be as detailed as my original research, but I look forward to also delving into some more details that I couldn't fit into my original paper.

Until then, I've created a Google Map that includes all of the tabernacles listed by Richard Jackson in his book, Places of Worship. I'll try adding more details to the map later, too. Green markers indicated tabernacles used by the Church; orange ones are tabernacles that have been sold but are still standing; red ones are tabernacles that have been demolished. I look forward to working more on this project.

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The Montpelier Idaho Tabernacle's renovation is complete. It was rededicated on Sunday, April 26.

 

(Image Source)

 For more information on the renovation, including the restoration of the two Minerva Teichert paintings, see my earlier post on the tabernacle. I'm glad to see that it has been wonderfully preserved. If I find more details on the rededication, I'll post them here.

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The Wellsville Tabernacle is still closed as the Wellsville Foundation raises $150,000 to repair the roof. This article provides an update--they have about $50,000 so far, and should receive another $13,000 in grant funding shortly. That still leaves quite a bit of money to go--not all groups are as persistent as the Wellsville Foundation is, but thank heavens they are!

(Image Source)

As always, I'll keep checking for updates on the historic chapels and tabernacles in Wellsville, Manti, and other locations, and provide updates here.

Preservation Update: Mural Reinstalled in Montpelier Tabernacle

Note: Preservation Updates are a regularly occurring series of posts where I round up recent information on historic LDS buildings and their futures. Depending on the age of the post, there may be newer information available. Click here to see all Preservation Updates.
 
Scott Haskins is reporting that the Minerva Teichert murals that were originally removed from the Montpelier Tabernacle during its renovation have been replaced. You can find the blog post here. Here is the video he posted:

It includes some nice views of the tabernacle, and the renovation looks like it's finishing up. From my understanding, it's used as a community center and probably for stake conferences, more than anything else. I love the semi-circular design.