Here is the building from around 1900:
Photo courtesy of the L. Tom Perry Special Collections, Brigham Young University
The building was scheduled to be demolished in the 90s, but was people decided to save the building due to its unique architecture. It was remodeled in 1998 at the cost of 1.5 million dollars and was rededicated by LDS Church President Gordon B. Hinckley. However, in July of 2006, a fire broke out in the building. The Daily Herald reported that "Vandals broke locks, sprayed fire extinguishers, broke pictures and caused other damage inside the building before setting fire" in the cultural hall after entering through a window on the second floor. They estimated that around $200,000 dollars worth of damage had been done. Here is a picture of fire fighters in front of the building from the Deseret News:
Photo courtesy of the Deseret News
It was decided that the building would cost too much to be repaired and that it should be demolished. Before the building was destroyed, some of the glass windows were removed and put in another church in Springville. Here is the location as it is found today:
When researching this site, I found that there has been recent push to develop the property. Some individuals approached the Springville City Council asking to turn the site into residential subdivision. I think the plan is to turn it into a residential and commercial area called Charity Condominiums. There may have been plans to turn it into a elderly rest home, but I think that the Charity Condominiums idea is catching steam and it may even have gotten approval from the Springville City Council.
There is another really interesting development in the destruction of this chapel. The Deseret News reported this last December that a man named Jake Devin Dowhaniuk has been charged with the arson of the building. Dowhaniuk is currently in the state prison in Gunnison for burglary and disorderly conduct. There were traces of blood found at the burnt chapel in 2006 and a recent DNA test matched it with Dowhaniuk's blood. The Deseret News reported that there may have been more individuals involved in the crime due to the extensive amount of damage.
What a sad story! It looks like it was a really neat building. Thanks for posting!
ReplyDeleteThis story makes me hurt inside. Captivating choice though. I'm sure we all wish we could have seen it!
ReplyDeleteI agree - this is quite sad. It looks as though the large front window was changed quite a bit from the original photo to the remodel.
ReplyDeleteThere is a newer LDS chapel in Payson that has older stained glass windows in the chapel from another building. I have been told that they are from this building in Springville, but have not been able to confirm it yet.
The chapel in Payson is the new buildng on South Main directly accross the street from the park. They have one restored pair which was in the Springville chapel.
DeleteI agree with you Jonathan that it has changed a lot. I wasn't sure though if it actually had changed or if it just looks that way because it is dark. But it does look like there has been a coat of stucco added.
ReplyDeleteThat is interesting about the Payson chapel. At first I thought that may be the glass was put in the Springville Presbyterian Church since they had their windows replaced at sometime but it makes much more sense to have them put in Payson. Do you know which chapel that is?
Russell RicksDecember 4, 2016 at 11:06 PM
DeleteThe chapel in Payson is the new buildng on South Main directly accross the street from the park. They have one restored pair which was in the Springville chapel.
This is my Moms church. She says "every good thing in my life happened in that building". Primary events, sitting in the balcony and listening to her Dad Bob Peirce sing Let There Be Peace on Earth. Then one day the guy she liked sat next to her playing with the ring she wore until he replaced it with one he picked out. She says she spent the rest of the meeting hiding it from her Mom. I would stay with Grandma every summer so I remember walking down the street to go to church in this wonderful building. It is heart breaking to see that empty lot.
ReplyDeleteActually, as far as I know, at least some of those original stained-glass windows made their way over to the newer Dry Creek Stake Center at 1157 W 900 S
ReplyDeleteSpringville, UT 84663
(see: https://plus.google.com/100713936835736979359/about?hl=en&gl=us)
Also, the organ found inside was supposed to have (mostly) come from that original 2nd Ward Chapel organ as well. Perhaps other windows made their way elsewhere, but when this newer chapel was dedicated, that was what we were told.
Retirement condos have since been built on the property.
ReplyDeleteOne pair of windows ended up in my chapel in Payson. It's a new building from 2007-2008 across from the park on South Main Street. They have special meaning to me personally.
ReplyDelete