Emery LDS Church
Encyclopedia
The Emery LDS Church is significant as the oldest remaining religious building in Emery County and as the last remaining “New England
” clapboard
style meetinghouse of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church) in Utah. Structurally, the meetinghouse is significant because of its wood frame construction
sheathed in clapboard and lined with non-load bearing wall of adobe
. This construction technique was very unusual for a Mormon meetinghouse built at the turn of the 20th century.
The first settlers built a post office and at the time a log one-room school house (16’ x 18’) was constructed. The structure, with its dirt floor and backless plank benches, also served as a meetinghouse and amusement hall.
In 1898, work began on the construct of the Emery meetinghouse. The frame meetinghouse was built of local lumber with the dimensions being 36.5’ and 84’6". The meetinghouse was reported to have a capacity of 500 people.
The frame construction was typical of many of the buildings in Emery County. However, it was seldom used in LDS meetinghouses. Ironically, a more expensive brick meetinghouse constructed in 1896 at nearby Huntington, Utah
was torn down in the 1960s. Some people argued that the alkali soil of Emery County could not support the heavier brick structure and, therefore, the lighter frame meetinghouse in Emery did not suffer from a weakened foundation as did the Huntington meetinghouse.
The meetinghouse in Emery, Utah
was constructed under the direction of Bishop Alonzo Brinkerhoff. The construction was completed in 1900. Upon completion in 1900, services were however held in the chapel. However, because an apparent problem in paying the $7,000 construction cost, the meetinghouse was not dedicated until July 27, 1902. At the dedication services, Bishop Brinkerhoff reported that “it had cost $7,000 to build the house, and that it was paid for.” Elder Rudger Clawson
, an Apostle in the LDS Church, offered the dedicatory prayer and later in the meeting went on to praise all those, “…who had assisted in building such a splendid meeting house, and the blessing of God would rest upon the people and crown their labors.”
The handsome frame church served the members of Emery well until the post World War II
years, when the LDS Church shifted to exclusively build and use multipurpose meetinghouses. Accordingly, a new, modern meetinghouse was dedicated June 25, 1956. The old building was purchased by the city in 1967 for use as a town meeting and recreation hall.
New England
New England is a region in the northeastern corner of the United States consisting of the six states of Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, and Connecticut...
” clapboard
Clapboard (architecture)
Clapboard, also known as bevel siding or lap siding or weather-board , is a board used typically for exterior horizontal siding that has one edge thicker than the other and where the board above laps over the one below...
style meetinghouse of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church) in Utah. Structurally, the meetinghouse is significant because of its wood frame construction
Framing (construction)
Framing, in construction known as light-frame construction, is a building technique based around structural members, usually called studs, which provide a stable frame to which interior and exterior wall coverings are attached, and covered by a roof comprising horizontal ceiling joists and sloping...
sheathed in clapboard and lined with non-load bearing wall of adobe
Adobe
Adobe is a natural building material made from sand, clay, water, and some kind of fibrous or organic material , which the builders shape into bricks using frames and dry in the sun. Adobe buildings are similar to cob and mudbrick buildings. Adobe structures are extremely durable, and account for...
. This construction technique was very unusual for a Mormon meetinghouse built at the turn of the 20th century.
The first settlers built a post office and at the time a log one-room school house (16’ x 18’) was constructed. The structure, with its dirt floor and backless plank benches, also served as a meetinghouse and amusement hall.
In 1898, work began on the construct of the Emery meetinghouse. The frame meetinghouse was built of local lumber with the dimensions being 36.5’ and 84’6". The meetinghouse was reported to have a capacity of 500 people.
The frame construction was typical of many of the buildings in Emery County. However, it was seldom used in LDS meetinghouses. Ironically, a more expensive brick meetinghouse constructed in 1896 at nearby Huntington, Utah
Huntington, Utah
Huntington is a town in Emery County, Utah, United States. The population was 2,131 at the 2000 census. It is the largest town in Emery County.-History:...
was torn down in the 1960s. Some people argued that the alkali soil of Emery County could not support the heavier brick structure and, therefore, the lighter frame meetinghouse in Emery did not suffer from a weakened foundation as did the Huntington meetinghouse.
The meetinghouse in Emery, Utah
Emery, Utah
Emery is a town in Emery County, Utah, United States. The population was 308 at the 2000 census.-Prehistoric:Emery sits at the base of the mountains that contain the North Horn Formation. Named after North Horn Mountain, near Castle Dale, Utah this formation in Emery County contain numerous...
was constructed under the direction of Bishop Alonzo Brinkerhoff. The construction was completed in 1900. Upon completion in 1900, services were however held in the chapel. However, because an apparent problem in paying the $7,000 construction cost, the meetinghouse was not dedicated until July 27, 1902. At the dedication services, Bishop Brinkerhoff reported that “it had cost $7,000 to build the house, and that it was paid for.” Elder Rudger Clawson
Rudger Clawson
Rudger Judd Clawson was a member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints from 1898 until his death in 1943...
, an Apostle in the LDS Church, offered the dedicatory prayer and later in the meeting went on to praise all those, “…who had assisted in building such a splendid meeting house, and the blessing of God would rest upon the people and crown their labors.”
The handsome frame church served the members of Emery well until the post World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
years, when the LDS Church shifted to exclusively build and use multipurpose meetinghouses. Accordingly, a new, modern meetinghouse was dedicated June 25, 1956. The old building was purchased by the city in 1967 for use as a town meeting and recreation hall.