Preservation Update: Logan's "Golden Toaster" Chapel Razed

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.
 
It finally happened: The Herald Journal is reporting that yesterday, Logan's (in)famous "Golden Toaster" chapel, which had two chapels and could hold 8 student wards, was torn down on January 7.

(Source: The Herald Journal; John Zsiray)

The chapel was built in 1962, so it wasn't exactly historic; its architecture was more noted for its pecularity than any other virtues. The chapel was part of a land swap that occurred between the Church and Utah State University. Original plans called for a building to stand where the chapel is now; those have since been changed, but part of the deal was that the building had to come down. This continues  a recurring theme in Church architecture--the Church is usually reluctant to sell its buildings and have them used in a different form, and it prefers to tear them down. (For example, the Church insisted that the Heber Tabernacle only be used for 'proper events' and that it be maintained--they preferred to lease it to the city instead of selling it.)

Lots of people are mourning the loss of this building--a good reminder that members become attached to their buildings and architecture, no matter what they look like. For some pictures of the iconic chapel, see the LDS Architecture blog.

Rexburg Tabernacle: Entrance Detail

Springville Fourth Ward: Chapel Interior

Besides the beautiful arched roof, two things make this chapel distinctive--it's stained glass windows on one side:

 

 

And some unique, colored carvings on the other that depict Joseph Smith receiving the gold plates, the Three Witnesses, and the Eight Witnesses. 

I will provide close-up pictures of each of these carvings in my next post.

BYU: George H. Brimhall Building

Originally built as a one-story home for vocational training, the Brimhall building had 2 floors added in 1935.

(Image Source: BYU Archives)

The exterior looks like it could be...cleaned up a bit. The best architectural elements are the decorative carvings above the door and at the top of the building.

Springville Fourth Ward

This building was completed in 1936. I haven't seen another chapel that looks even remotely similar in its structure.

 (Source: Church History Library)

You'll notice that the only main difference now is the unsightly vent above the left window, and the plainer doors.

The interior has lots of stained glass and some carvings in the chapel. I will post pictures of those items soon.

Preservation Predictions: Which Temples, Tabernacles, and Meetinghouses are Safe?

Note: The 'Preservation Predictions' series examines what historic Mormon buildings may be renovated/preserved in the future. For all of the posts in this series, click here.

It's no secret that some of the Church's most elegant architecture has been destroyed because of a variety of reasons. While this has improved drastically in recent years, the destruction of historic buildings in Paradise, Teasdale, Parowan, or Cedar City in the past few years still suggests that historic architecture in the Church can still be threatened. (This is beside the point, but one member posted a walk through of the Cedar City chapel before it was demolished, and the stained glass in the chapel was lovely).

But there are a few building that are definitely safe--58, to be exact. These are buildings that will likely never be sold or destroyed, and the a Church archivist stated that "We're exceptionally careful not to remove important architectural [or] historical elements." The list includes 20 tabernacles, 10 temples, 23 meetinghouses, and 5 other buildings. The article only states that the Granite Tabernacle is on the list. What other buildings are likely on the list? I tried to list the ones I thought were most likely below.

Temples (10)

Ones I'm fairly certain are on the list:

(Image Source: Mormon Newsroom)

1. St. George Utah (drastically renovated in the past, but I assume this list was created only recently, so future renovations will likely be more sensitive to the original architecture. This assumption applies to other renovated temples below)
2. Logan Utah
3. Manti Utah
4. Salt Lake Utah
5. Laie Hawaii (renovated in 2010; progression restored)
6. Cardston Alberta
7. Mesa Arizona
8. Idaho Falls Idaho (to be renovated in 2015-16)

Possible ones for the remaining 2 slots:

• Los Angeles California (It's a landmark temple, has huge murals, and even has a priesthood assembly hall)
• Washington D.C.
• Nauvoo Illinois (It's not the original, but maybe it's on the list to make sure it adheres as closely as possible to its original architecture)
• San Diego California (Also a landmark)
• Vernal Utah (Because of its historic roots)

Tabernacles (20)

This one is particularly difficult, because the definition of "tabernacle" varies, and estimates on the number of tabernacles built range from about 50 to over 100. I use Richard Jackson's fairly reliable list.

Ones I'm fairly certain are on the list:

(Image Source)

1. Salt Lake
2. Assembly Hall
3. Kaysville
4. Bountiful
5. Provo (at the time the article was written, the Provo Tabernacle had not burned down)
6. St. George
7. Logan
8. Manti
9. Paris, ID
10. Brigham City
11. Granite Stake (article confirms this)

Possible ones for the remaining 9 slots:

• Morgan
• Richfield
• Star Valley (Afton, WY)
• Loa (renovated in 1983)
• Garland (renovated in 2000)
• Randolph (renovated in 1984)
• Alpine (renovated in 1996)
• Hollywood (Los Angeles, CA; renovated in 2003)
• Honolulu
• Ogden (renovated in 2014)
• Malad City, ID
• Montpelier, ID (currently being renovated)

I don't want any of the ones on the 'possible' list to be torn down; but that's 3 too many. That's not even counting many other tabernacles that I just assumed have a low chance of being on the list (Snowflake, AZ; Blanding; etc.). So at least some of these tabernacles are still unprotected.

Meetinghouses (23)

This one is particularly hard, because of the sheer number of historic meetinghouses. However, I can guess some of them:

Ones I'm fairly certain are on the list:

(Detail from Brigham City 3rd Ward)

1. Spring City Ward
2. Ogden 4th Ward (renovated 2011-12)
3. Cedar City 1st Ward (renovated 2011-12)
4. Logan 1st Ward
5. Logan 4th Ward
6. Farmington Ward (Primary Association organized there)
7. Brigham City 3rd Ward (historic First Vision stained glass)
8. Salt Lake Second Ward (historic First Vision stained glass)
9. Salt Lake Eighth Ward
10. Salt Lake Tenth Ward
11. Salt Lake Liberty Ward
12. Bonneville Ward (SLC)
13. Garden Park Ward (SLC; renovated 2008)
14. Manavu Ward (Provo)
15. Wells Ward (SLC)
16. Yale Ward (recently renovated)
17. Forest Dale Ward (SLC)

Manavu Ward Chapel

 Possible ones for the remaining 6 slots:

• Centerville 1st Ward 
• Idaho Falls 5th Ward
• Blackfoot 1st Ward
• University of Utah Ward
• Whittier Ward
• Beaver Ward
• Tremonton 1st Ward
• Timpanogos Ward (Orem)
• Parowan 3rd Ward
• Salt Lake 27th Ward
• Salt Lake 20th Ward

Again, because of the number of unique meetinghouses, I'm sure there are many more that could be on this list. This one is the most worrisome--even with this tiny list that I came up with, there are at least 3 that are unprotected.

Other Buildings (5)

The article simply lists that 5 "other buildings are on the list."

Buildings likely on the list:

1. Colonia Juarez Stake Academy (Academia Juarez, a high school in Mexico)
2. Maeser Building (BYU Campus; recently renovated)
3. Heber J. Grant Building (BYU Campus)
4. Joseph Smith Memorial Building (formerly the Hotel Utah)
5. Church Administration Building

Other possible buildings:

•   Brimhall Building (BYU Campus) 

This one is difficult. I'm not sure if I've left out any other significant structures that don't fall under the category of meetinghouses, tabernacles, or temples.

I'm glad that this list has been created. I hope that in the future, it can be expanded so that more buildings can have that special protection.

BYU: Allen Hall

(Source: BYU Archives)

Located on the southwest corner of campus, Allen Hall was BYU's first real dormitory, built in 1938. It was followed closely after by Amanda Knight Hall.

Around 1960, it housed missionaries for the LTM program (a predecessor to the MTC, now located on the opposite corner of BYU's campus). Now, it houses the Office of Public Archaeology, the Museum of Peoples and Cultures, and a few other programs.

You'll notice the tall wooden decoration--I'm assuming that has something to do with the museum. You'll also notice the box covered with a trap--it looks like it's something people use to practice digging up artifacts.

The interior really looks like it is housing a ton of items:

I am a bit concerned for this building. Supposedly, the Museum of People and Cultures will shortly be transferred to the Outdoors Unlimited Building north of campus. What will that mean for this building? I hope that it isn't torn down.