Sunday, April 24, 2011

Churches in Eureka

     Continuing with my travels around Eureka, there are some really pretty church buildings around town.  A few buildings west of the City Hall is a old Methodist church building.  Here is a picture of it from around the turn of the century, and what it looks like now:

Used by permission, Utah State Historical Society, all rights reserved.


     The plaque on the building reads: "Constructed in 1891 with funds secured from local Methodists and the Mission Conference of 1890, this building is important in documenting the religious life of Eureka and Tintic.  Methodism began in Tintic when Dr. Thomas C. Iliff visited and preached on June 18, 1890.  Reverend W. A. Hunt was appointed first pastor and succeeded be Dr. J.D. Gillilan who finished the church structure.  The Gothic style tower houses the original bell."
     To the east of the Methodist Church stands the old Mormon church.  Here is a picture of it also from around the turn of the century in addition to what it looks like today:

Used by permission, Utah State Historical Society, all rights reserved.


     The plaque on the building reads: "This building, designed by architect Richard C. Watkins, served as the Eureka L.D.S. Ward Meetinghouse from its construction in 1902 until 1976.  It was dedicated in 1903 by Apostle Reed Smoot [who was the first Mormon Senator from the state of Utah.  He's got a really interesting history, and was almost kicked out of the Senate for being a Mormon Apostle.  I just finished a really interesting book about it called The Politics of American Religious Identity: The Seating of Senator Reed Smoot, Mormon Apostle.  You can read a short summary of it by clicking here.].  The Gothic Revival Style building has been an important park of the religious history of the Tintic Mining Area.  The structure, including windows and the tower which had been changed, was restored by the Ferrel Thomas family in 1988."
      I also wanted to include a tiny building located between the Methodist Church and the City Hall.  It is the Tintic Mining Museum (and no, it was not open).  Here are a couple of pictures of it (I really just like the old mining equipment located in front.  It looks really cool):


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