Temple View is a suburb of the city of Hamilton, New Zealand

Hamilton, New Zealand

Hamilton is the centre of New Zealand's fourth largest urban area, and Hamilton City is the country's fourth largest territorial authority. Hamilton is in the Waikato Region of the North Island, approximately south of Auckland...

. Temple View was established in the 1950s out of the construction of the Hamilton New Zealand Temple

Hamilton New Zealand Temple

The Hamilton New Zealand Temple is the 13th constructed and 11th operating temple of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints...

 and the Church College of New Zealand

Church College of New Zealand

Church College of New Zealand was a private secondary school in Temple View, Hamilton, New Zealand, that was operated by the Church Educational System of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints . It was closed at the end of the 2009 school year.-History:Construction of the Church College of...

 by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church). Access to the suburb is through Dinsdale

Dinsdale

Dinsdale may refer to:Places*Dinsdale, formerly a common name of Low Dinsdale, a village in County Durham, England**Dinsdale railway station, serving Low Dinsdale and Middleton St George**Dinsdale Park, a house and former hotel at Low Dinsdale...

, and then along Tuikaramea Road.

1950-1953

The construction of the school and the temple

Temple (LDS Church)

In The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints , a temple is a building dedicated to be a House of the Lord, and they are considered by Church members to be the most sacred structures on earth. Upon completion, temples are usually open to the public for a short period of time...

 commenced in the 1950s. The labour for the construction was performed by volunteer workers known as "labour missionaries." Volunteers for the programme came from all walks of life, and from many countries. The workers were given a very small allowance (10 shillings

New Zealand pound

The pound was the currency of New Zealand between 1840 and 1967. Like the British pound, it was subdivided into 20 shillings each of 12 pence. As a result of the great depression of the early 1930s, the New Zealand agricultural export market to the UK was badly affected...

 per week) for basic necessities, and initially were called to serve for two years. Many however extended their time upwards to between 8 and 10 years. Others left and came back later to serve additional missions

Mission (LDS Church)

A mission of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is a geographical administrative area to which church missionaries are assigned. Almost all areas of the world are within the boundaries of an LDS Church mission, whether or not Mormon missionaries live or proselytize in the area...

.

The building missionary programme was considered a labour of love by its participants, and with the great sense of community that it engendered, it has made a lasting impression on everyone who was a part of it. A bond was created that has lasted, and the fruits of their labours are part of the lives of the members of the LDS Church in New Zealand.

The property on Tuikaramea Road was chosen to be the site of the project. Gordon B. Young, the mission president

Mission president

Mission president is a priesthood leadership position in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints . A mission president presides over a mission and the missionaries serving in the mission...

 at the time, had previously driven out to where the property was and knew immediately that the site was where the school was to be built. He almost drove off the road when he saw the site, because he briefly saw buildings on the site as they would be in the not to distant future. Early in 1950, George R. Biesinger was called to serve as general supervisor of Church building in the South Pacific. Because of stringent economic conditions in new Zealand no subcontractors could be engaged, no skilled labor was available, and there were no domestic sources of supply for the bulk of the material he would need. He would have to import his own cement, hardware, structural and other materials mostly from the US. As for labor he would have to leave that to providence.

There wasn't much there when the first building missionaries arrived, so there was a lot of improvisation. Everyone converged on a home called the "Green House" that had been moved from one part of the project to its new location for meetings, meals at times and as a general place to socialise. The fire place was always a nice place to huddle around, and there were also movies brought in once a week for a night of relaxation. It also served as temporary accommodation for some of the missionaries. The winter at this particular time was harsh (by New Zealand standards) and the land surrounding the green house was mud. The only available form of transportation at the time happened to be a jeep which was put to good use by Elder Beisinger to get around the project.Church services

Worship services of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints

In Mormonism, worship services include weekly services, held on Sundays , in neighborhood based religious units...

 were conducted for a time in a building in the former Garden Place in Hamilton. Come service time, there was always a competing service from another church on the street below. Later early morning seminary type meetings were held on the building site for the missionaries before going to work.

A large part of the farmland of the project was peat

Peat

Peat is an accumulation of partially decayed vegetation matter or histosol. Peat forms in wetland bogs, moors, muskegs, pocosins, mires, and peat swamp forests. Peat is harvested as an important source of fuel in certain parts of the world...

, and it was transformed slowly into proper arable land

Arable land

In geography and agriculture, arable land is land that can be used for growing crops. It includes all land under temporary crops , temporary meadows for mowing or pasture, land under market and kitchen gardens and land temporarily fallow...

 with the help of an agricultural expert called from the U.S. Often the peat would burn, and it wasn't unusual to see peat fires off in the distance. There was often a dusty reddish atmosphere about parts of the project because of the peat. The farmland itself became a source of vegetables for the missionaries. Wheat was also grown, and there were also cattle and sheep.

The bricks used for construction were manufactured at an onsite plant that was put into operation in 1951. Many of the bricks were sent abroad for use in buildings in Tonga

Tonga

Tonga, officially the Kingdom of Tonga , is a state and an archipelago in the South Pacific Ocean, comprising 176 islands scattered over of ocean in the South Pacific...

 and Samoa

Samoa

Samoa , officially the Independent State of Samoa, formerly known as Western Samoa is a country encompassing the western part of the Samoan Islands in the South Pacific Ocean. It became independent from New Zealand in 1962. The two main islands of Samoa are Upolu and one of the biggest islands in...

. A new plant was built in 1956, and it was noted that the quality of the bricks manufactured improved greatly.

1954-1955

Church activities started to be held at Temple View in 1954, and these were called "Hui Tau". They were activity times for members from all over New Zealand to come and sing, dance, play sports and attend religious services. The activities would usually last for a week. They were fun affairs, and the proselyting missionaries joined in as well. The proselyting missionaries from all of NZ were billeted out with various families in Temple View. The members who had traveled far usually stayed in makeshift accommodations. Initially many stayed in improvised sleeping quarters in the joinery

Joinery

Joinery may refer to:* Woodworking joints or other types of mechanical joints * The work of the joiner, the fabrication and installation of fittings in buildings with materials such as wood and aluminum * In Australia and New Zealand, a joinery is also the generic term for a business which...

 building which was one of the first of the bigger buildings constructed and the school classroom buildings. The various musical items, skits and other stage activities were held in the joinery building in the evenings. For the next "Hui Taus" accommodations were in tents which at the time were located on farmland below the schools tennis courts, next to what was called "Mara Park". New Zealand was in a mission status at the time, and these events were the best means to meet, share experiences, receive spiritual instruction and feel a sense of belonging.

Life in Temple View evolved quickly and accommodation was built for the single men, and for the families. Concrete pathways were built to connect the buildings. There was also a small canteen to serve the basic daily needs of the missionaries. The single men were accommodated in a kind of dormitory

Dormitory

A dormitory, often shortened to dorm, in the United States is a residence hall consisting of sleeping quarters or entire buildings primarily providing sleeping and residential quarters for large numbers of people, often boarding school, college or university students...

 which was nicknamed the bunkhouse

Bunkhouse

A bunkhouse is a hostel or barracks-like building that historically was used to house working cowboys on ranches in North America. As most cowboys were young single men, the standard bunkhouse was a large open room with narrow beds or cots for each individual and little privacy...

. The men's showers were located across from their accommodation. Occasionally an old grandmother would choose to use the showers as well; she didn't mind if the boys joined her, but the boys and the men folk sure minded. Small cottages were built for the families in the area behind where the George R. Beisinger (GRB) Hall is today.

Food was sent in from members throughout the country, and some was grown or made locally. It was also standard procedure for golden queen peaches to be sent from Hawkes Bay to be made into preserves during the summer months. Butter was also manufactured on site. A makeshift abattoir was built to provide the meat for consumption. At times younger children (both local and American) would wait for the slaughter of the sheep to retrieve knucklebones

Knucklebones

Knucklebones also known as astragaloi, hucklebones, dibs, dibstones, jackstones, chuckstones or five-stones, is a game of very ancient origin, played with five small objects, originally the "knucklebones" of a sheep, which are thrown up and caught in various ways...

 for a school time game.

The construction of amenities, general purpose buildings, and school buildings occupied the lives of the building missionaries during their working hours. However when concrete had to be poured into foundations or in other parts of buildings, there wasn't the ready mixed concrete technology that there is today, so it was poured by hand. That meant that a portable concrete mixer

Concrete mixer

A concrete mixer is a device that homogeneously combines cement, aggregate such as sand or gravel, and water to form concrete. A typical concrete mixer uses a revolving drum to mix the components...

 was loaded by hand with the correct mix of sand and concrete, mixed with the right amount of water and then poured into wheelbarrow

Wheelbarrow

A wheelbarrow is a small hand-propelled vehicle, usually with just one wheel, designed to be pushed and guided by a single person using two handles to the rear, or by a sail to push the ancient wheelbarrow by wind. The term "wheelbarrow" is made of two words: "wheel" and "barrow." "Barrow" is a...

s which the building missionaries wheeled to wherever it was needed. Concrete has to be poured continuously until completed, so that meant that the building missionaries had to sometimes work around the clock. The whole of the project was usually mobilized for a cement pour, and the sisters always provided refreshments for the workers throughout the night.

One building became the church service building on Sunday while construction on site was in progress and that building was called the "Kai hall". This was a dual function building for social activities as well. Movies were shown on Friday night. In the evenings a section of the building was used as a gymnasium for the building missionaries during their after hours. The labour missionaries held many joint social activities with the public from Hamilton in this building. These activities such as formal dances and concerts did much for local public relations.

There was also a big band

Big band

A big band is a type of musical ensemble associated with jazz and the Swing Era typically consisting of rhythm, brass, and woodwind instruments totaling approximately twelve to twenty-five musicians...

 scene (à la Benny Goodman

Benny Goodman

Benjamin David “Benny” Goodman was an American jazz and swing musician, clarinetist and bandleader; widely known as the "King of Swing".In the mid-1930s, Benny Goodman led one of the most popular musical groups in America...

 and Tommy Dorsey

Tommy Dorsey

Thomas Francis "Tommy" Dorsey, Jr. was an American jazz trombonist, trumpeter, composer, and bandleader of the Big Band era. He was known as "The Sentimental Gentleman of Swing", due to his smooth-toned trombone playing. He was the younger brother of bandleader Jimmy Dorsey...

). A band was formed from the building missionaries who were instrumentalists, which performed at concerts and for any major ball that was held. At about this same time a big band ensemble from the US was touring New Zealand, and as part of their tour they visited Temple View and performed. In time the music of choice for local dances came from the younger missionary groups that comprised 3 guitarists and a drummer. Several concerts were also performed by the building missionaries in the Embassy theater in Hamilton. The children of the Mayor of Hamilton

Mayor of Hamilton, New Zealand

The Mayor of Hamilton, New Zealand is the head of the municipal government of Hamilton, New Zealand, and presides over the Hamilton City Council.In the 2010 Local Government elections, Julie Hardaker was elected as mayor, defeating incumbent Bob Simcock....

 at the time were very impressed with the remarks of their father regarding the activities of the Latter-day Saints and the building missionaries.

The younger children of the missionary families attended the local primary school in Frankton and Maeroa immediate school in Hamilton. The exposure of the New Zealand school students to the influx of expat American young children was at times quite startling. New Zealand was very insular, and to hear new accents , and to mix with people from a different English speaking culture was a new and pleasant experience for all involved. Many of the students from both schools who mixed with the building missionary children have carried their memories into their adult hood, and often ask after their former friends many years later.

1955-1958

David O. McKay

David O. McKay

David Oman McKay was the ninth president of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints , serving from 1951 until his death. Ordained an apostle and member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles in 1906, McKay was a general authority for nearly 64 years, longer than anyone else in LDS Church...

 visited New Zealand in 1955, and was duly impressed with the project. He initially came to curtail the building programe, but on visiting with the members, feeling their enthusiasm and goodwill and inspecting the construction sites he decided to expand it. He authorised the construction of two more buildings: the David O. McKay Auditorium and the Matthew Cowley administration building. The classrooms and the dormitories under construction were initially to be the extent of the school. A little later on looking up at the hill of the farm adjacent to the project he pointed and said a "there we shall build a temple".

The building programe took on added emphasis with the announcement of the construction of the Temple and the two additional school buildings. The ground for the temple was broken on December 21 by President Wendell B. Mendenhall

Wendell B. Mendenhall

Wendell Bird Mendenhall was the head of the Church Building Department of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and one of the moving forces behind the Labor Missionary program of the LDS Church in the 1950s. Mendenhall was largely the father of the Polynesian Cultural Center in Hawaii...

, Ariel S. Balliff (President of the new Zealand Mission), and Elder George. R. Biesinger. Immediately after the ceremony, excavation of the site was started, and within 72 hours a pit twice the size of a football field was dug out to a depth of 19 feet. President McKay had given everyone two years two build the temple. Elder Rosenvall who was previously working on the motel was set apart to supervise the building of the temple.

There were no fatalities or serious injuries during the construction of the temple, school and accompanying buildings. There were the occasional minor injuries, and of course the odd fisticuffs, but nothing serious. Two infants died in the early stages of the project. One child was still born to a sister who with her husband were temporarily residing in the greenhouse, and another child drowned in the stream that used to run behind the single men's accommodation.

As the project grew it became a center of attraction for the people in the area, and tours were conducted for the general public around the project on the weekends. There were the odd misfits who gravitated to temple view, because they saw it as a haven of sorts. Some were Later Day Saint misfits and others were not Later Day Saint misfits. There was one individual who ingratiated himself into the project, but where he came from no one knew. He wasn't unpleasant, but he was quite a mystery. There happened to be a missionary on the project who was formerly in the N.Z. Police Force, and he checked the wanted records at the local police station, and found that the very pleasant mysterious misfit was running from the law. Police of course came and apprehended him.

A choir was an integral part of Church services, and it eventually became a strong focus for the musical talent of the missionaries during the building of the project. The choir was conducted by Joan Pierce and through her direction the many members of the choir were able to blend their voices in a way that added to the spiritual harmony of the project. They were able to do this by the choice of songs (both Māori

Maori language

Māori or te reo Māori , commonly te reo , is the language of the indigenous population of New Zealand, the Māori. It has the status of an official language in New Zealand...

 and English) that were sung, and by the quality of their singing.

Throughout the building of the project, church activity was conducted through the direction of leaders who were adamant about following correct procedure. This correct procedure enabled a lot of personal development, kept general behaviour everywhere on the site above board, and proper. Behaviour throughout the project was exemplary and it was reinforced by the behaviour of the many supervisors who came from the US to labour on the project. One night a week was reserved as a social night for various musical, drama and other activities. It used to be called "Mutual" time, but the activity has since been discontinued.

The life for the building missionaries had a sense of Kiwi normalcy through the organization of sports teams, and general weekly social activities. There was always a rugby team which played in the senior reserve grade, a basketball team played in a league in the city of Hamilton, movies once a week, and on Mondays an activity night for everyone. The Monday activity night started out as an entertainment night where anyone who wanted to present something or perform a musical item could do so. Later the Monday night activity became a time when the building missionaries were able to evaluate their progress with reports on the status of the individual projects. It was essentially an extra large Family Home Evening

Family Home Evening

Family Home Evening or Family Night, in the context of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, refers to one evening per week, usually Monday, that families are encouraged to spend together in study, prayer and other wholesome activities...

.