LDS Moapa Stake Office Building facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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LDS Moapa Stake Office Building
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| Location | 161 W. Virginia Street Overton, Nevada |
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| Built | 1917-1919 |
| NRHP reference No. | 02000819 |
| Added to NRHP | July 25, 2002 |
The LDS Moapa Stake Office Building in Overton, Nevada, is a special old building. It is also known as the Virmoa Maternity Hospital. This building is so important that it is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. It was built a long time ago, between 1917 and 1919. Over the years, it has served the community in many different ways.
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The Story of a Historic Building
This building has a rich history, changing its purpose several times to help the people of Moapa Valley.
Early Days: A Church Office
When it was first built, the building was used by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (often called the LDS Church). It served as a local office, a place for classes, and a storage area for important records. A "stake" is a group of local churches in the LDS faith.
By 1939, it became much easier for people to travel between towns. Because of this, the local church leaders decided to move their main offices to Las Vegas. After they moved, the building in Overton was empty for a little while.
From Church to Hospital
In 1940, a hospital group called the Southern Nevada Memorial Hospital rented the building. They turned it into a hospital! On January 9, 1941, it opened its doors as the Virmoa Maternity Hospital. The name "Virmoa" was created by combining the names "Virgin" and "Moapa," which are local areas. A maternity hospital is a place where pregnant women go to have their babies.
Later, in the 1960s, the hospital changed again. It became an emergency room, where people could go for urgent medical help. However, the emergency room closed in 1970.
A Place for History: Museum and Meeting Hall
After the emergency room closed, a group called the Daughters of Utah Pioneers bought the building. This group is dedicated to preserving the history of pioneers. They started using the building as a meeting hall for their group and also as a museum. Today, it helps people learn about the past of Moapa Valley.
The building is on the National Register of Historic Places because it shows how the Moapa Valley community grew. It played a key role first as a religious center and then as an important medical facility.
