Murray LDS Second Ward Meetinghouse facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Murray LDS Second Ward Meetinghouse
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Circa 1915, with hitching post and hand pump
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 Location in Utah
Location in the United States
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| Location | 5056 South 300 West Murray, Utah United States |
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| Area | 1.4 acres (0.57 ha) |
| Built | 1906 |
| Architectural style | Gothic |
| MPS | Murray City, Utah MPS |
| NRHP reference No. | 01000475 |
| Added to NRHP | May 8, 2001 |
The Murray LDS Second Ward Meetinghouse is a special historic building in Murray, Utah, United States. It was built in 1909. This building is important because it shows how Murray grew and changed between 1909 and 1950. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2001, which means it's a really important place to protect.
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The Murray Meetinghouse: A Gothic Style Building
The design for this meetinghouse came from Niels Edward Liljenberg. He was a Swedish-American architect. This building is a great example of the Gothic Revival style. This style was very popular for Mormon meetinghouses in the Salt Lake Valley in the early 1900s.
The building still looks much like it did when it was first built. Its window patterns and the size of its openings have not changed. There have been very few changes to the building over the years. The Murray Second Ward building shows the growth of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church). It also shows how the Murray community developed. It is a wonderful example of the Gothic style in LDS Church architecture.
How Gothic Style Influenced Church Buildings
In the early 1900s, many LDS meetinghouses, including the Murray Second Ward, were designed in the English parish style. This style was popular at the same time that medieval influences were returning to American architecture. The LDS Church wanted to follow new trends in building design. So, they hired trained architects to create their new buildings.
The Victorian Gothic style became very popular in American architecture. This happened to be when the LDS Church was building many new meetinghouses. Buildings influenced by the Gothic style often have a front that is either balanced or unbalanced. A tall, square tower, like those found in Norman architecture, usually stands out at the entrance.
These buildings often use Gothic (pointed) arches or Romanesque (rounded) arches, or a mix of both. The Murray Second Ward Meetinghouse fits this description well. It has an unbalanced front with a tall entrance tower. This tower has a crenellated top, which looks like the top of a castle wall. It also has tall, pointed Gothic windows with wooden frames.
Early Meetinghouses in Murray
The very first LDS or Mormon meetinghouse in Murray was built in 1856. Like many early pioneer communities, this first meetinghouse was built in a simple, traditional style. It used materials that were easy to find nearby. People knew that a bigger, stronger building would replace it later.
In communities that did not have a temple or tabernacle, the ward meetinghouse was very important. It was a main symbol of their connection to God. It was a common part of what Mormons considered a sacred place.
Many workers at the Franklyn and Germania smelters were immigrants from Scandinavian countries. They had joined the LDS Church in their home countries and then moved to Utah. Most of them spoke very little English. In 1883, Bishop Rawlins of the South Cottonwood Ward allowed the Scandinavian people to have separate church services. These services were held in the Swedish language.
At first, the group met in different members' homes. By 1893, the group had built a small wooden meetinghouse. It was located "west of the state road." This building became known as the "unofficial" Scandinavian Ward meetinghouse.
Forming the Murray Ward
On October 28, 1900, the Murray Ward was officially created. It grew out of the South Cottonwood Ward. Uriah G. Miller was chosen as its first bishop. Six years later, on March 4, 1906, the ward was divided. This created the Murray First Ward and the Murray Second Ward. Jacob E. Erekson became the Bishop of the Second Ward.
The Murray Second Ward covered the area west of the Oregon Short Line Railroad tracks to the Jordan River. It was also between the north and south Murray City limits.
Building the New Meetinghouse
The newly formed Second Ward first met in the twenty-foot by thirty-five-foot wooden meetinghouse. This was the one built by the Scandinavians in 1893. Almost right away, plans were made to build a new meetinghouse. On September 10, 1906, a 1.5-acre piece of land was bought from Peter Adamson for $400.00. This property was on the west side of Second West Street, which is now Third West Street.
In 1909, the new brick meetinghouse was finished. It was officially dedicated in 1911. The total cost for the new building, including seating, fixtures, and musical instruments, was $13,000.00. The building's floor plan is shaped like a T. The front part of the T was used for church services. The back part, which was perpendicular to the chapel, was used for social events and activities. The old "Scandinavian" meetinghouse was then used for storage.
According to a 1933 Stake Report, the building was updated during November and December of that year. The outside wood was painted. The inside wood was re-varnished. The ceiling in the main hall was painted. The walls and ceilings in the chapel and social hall were replaced and painted. The classroom walls were also refreshed. The heating system was repaired, and new flooring was put in the front entrance hall.
The Meetinghouse Changes Hands
In 1956, the boundaries of the ward were changed. This was likely because Murray's population was growing. Starting in 1970, there were talks about building a new meetinghouse. In 1977, the building was sold to its current owners, the Alano Club. The Alano Club is a non-profit group that offers support to people and their families.
See also
