Volume I , Issue IX The Ogden Valley News Page 15 June 1999 The Hearthside By Dave Martin There’s nothing like an old historical building to give character and flavor to a community. For a valley rich in pioneer history, the Hearthside (the original L.D.S. chapel in Eden) is her walls - the bride and groom that walked out the doors a hundred years ago and left in horse and buggy, the marble game being played in the dirt of the courtyard by young boys in nickers more interested in capturing that big cat’s eye boulder than the Sunday school lesson being taught inside. And, within those thick mortared walls lie the sweat, sacrifice Eden Church about 1899-1900 likely the oldest landmark—a treasure of nostalgia and memories. The Hearthside has a magical way of connecting the past, present and future. One no sooner walks through the warm and inviting doors than they pause and sense the spirit of all the special moments that have taken place within and labor of her original pioneer parishioners. The original chapel was built for $3,000.00. It was started the summer of 1896 and completed in time for Christmas celebrations that same year. Many a Sunday morning, her prominent bell tower hailed those early In 1992 Dave and Ruth Martin churchgoers a century ago. The bell bought the building with great tower was added in 1898 and the expectations of again establishing the original bell is in the possession of Ben Hearthside as a social centerpiece of Toone at the Eden General Store. In the quickly growing Valley community. 1914 the north wing (class rooms and It hasn’t been without some unexpected kitchen) of the building was added, and and humorous setbacks. Dave recalls, the recreation hall (west wing) was “The building had been closed for a added in 1929, leaving the building as couple of years before we moved in. it appears today. When I turned on the water for the first time, water sprayed everywhere! I Nine think every pipe in the building had men served froze and broken!” as bishops in the old The Martins have lived in a private church from residence attached to the Hearthside, 1896 until the and have been making painstaking building was improvements to the building over the sold into years—a new roof, new heating p r i v a t e systems, new decor and a few new ownership in water pipes. “It’s been a great 1974 - Henry adventure living in the old Church. J. Fuller, After seven years there are still some 1895 -1911; quiet nights when we’re just about George A. ready to go to bed and we’ll hear a Fuller, 1911noise, some sound that we’ve never 1924; Virgil heard before, and we’ll be off Byron (reluctantly) with flash light in hand to investigate. We’ve become Stallings, acquainted with the resident ghosts. 1924-1927; We’ve found old candy wrappers from C. Alex the old Shupe William’s Candy Co. Hogge, 1927below in the crawl spaces. We’ve even 1 9 4 2 ; had the unique opportunity of meeting Leonard several Valley old timers who, as young Fuller, 1942teenagers, left their initials and 1953; Boyd thoughts— “Bart loves Jody,” carved K. Storey, in the rafters of the old bell tower. 1953-1961; G. Grant Today at the Hearthside, a garden Staples, courtyard welcomes visitors with its 1961-1967; hollyhocks and hanging flower baskets. Lowell G. Shaded beneath its arbor one finds a Stallings, pleasant retreat for dining or wedding 1967-1973 parties. Its arched windows with their and Floyd D. Hogge, 1973-1977. unusual rose stained and translucent Today, only Lowell Stallings of Eden antique glass provide the perfect survives out of the original bishops to lighting for the hopeful wedding serve in the old church. He will be photographer. “Brides glow in the soft eighty years old this August, and is still diffused light,” says Jon Williams of working the family farm. Lowell is still Jon R.Williams Photography. “It’s one of my favorite places to photograph.” as sturdy as the old church itself, with m a n y fascinating stories and experiences to tell about the place, including the occasions w h e n President David O. McKay and Nathan Eldon Tanner, a long time Eden resident, spoke from it’s pulpit. Eden Church House about 1925 Early on, the old Eden church became a social Naturally cool in the summer, the Hearthside’s charming interiors are focal point in the Valley. It provided articulated by charming curio cabinets, Valley youngsters with their first old Mormon couches, unique marble basketball gymnasium. Chris Hogge topped tables and Victorian (grandson of C. Alex Hogge and son reproductions. The walls are adorned of D. Floyd Hogge) recalls, as a kid, with the art and photography of local climbing into the old building through talent that portray the beauty and the coal shoot to shoot some hoop! history of Ogden Valley and the Virginia Stallings, now in her 90’s, surrounding areas. Ornate chandeliers recalls, “When I was a young girl (in set off a splendid reception hall that the mid 1920’s), I attended many comfortably seats large parties for dances there. Sometimes in the winter dining and receptions. One’s spirit we’d go by sleigh. It would be elbow melds with the festiveness of the to elbow! We could hardly move and present occasion and with a deep sense we’d worry about accidentally sitting of special experiences and memories on a poor slumbering child curled up past at the Hearthside. The Hearthside on a chair on the sidelines! We all has a living heart and soul and is the loved it! Those were fun days!” heart and soul of the Valley. In 1974 the LDS church sold the What’s ahead for the Hearthside? building to George Larkin of Larkin “More of the same we hope! More Mortuary in Ogden. After extensive dances, parties, weddings, plays, remodeling and redecorating, the business retreats! The things great country-Victorian opened its doors to memories are made of! Bed and weddings, and later a dinner playhouse, Breakfast rooms will be coming soon. again packing Valley residents in Most of all we hope the Hearthside will “elbow to elbow.” For many years the remain a special part of the Valley’s old church, now known as the heritage in the next century to come.” Hearthside, continued as a Valley social center. But by the late 1980’s, For more information about the the high cost of winter heating and Hearthside in Eden call 801-745-4009 other business interests led the Larkins or contact us on the web at to move on. To the disappointment of hearthside@ogdenhole.com. many, the Hearthside closed its doors.