Te3E" down .fGbemeacle? By Wallace Goddard "Let's bulldoze the tabernacle. We need more parking space when we go to church." Some have suggested that the tabernacle is useless or in the way. Years of neglect have left the building , stripped of much of its former dignity. ' The cost to restore the building would not be small. Is the building worth saving? Do- we need it with other buildings not available in the community? com-munity? In 1897 the block were the tabernacle stands now was bought for $400. Though the settlers had built houses of worship, they built the tabernacle for another reason. The tabernacle was to be that place where the whole community would gather to celebrate or to come together. For many years the community's com-munity's fourth of July activities centered around the tabernacle. Sometimes they included patriotic speeches, ball games, horse races and picnics. When money needed to be raised for World War I, the community was called together in the tabernacle to buy war bonds. Concerts, plays, recitals have all been community events that took place in the tabernacle. taber-nacle. Today, as all of us evaluate the full use of our limited resources, we must ask has the time come to bulldoze the tabernacle and make other use of the land it occupies? Perhaps there are two answers: When our grandparents turn 75, many are unable to work as they did when younger. They are wrinkled and tired. They may be slow and less efficient, yet who would suggest that we "put to sleep" everyone as they turn 75? How-foolish How-foolish it would be to rob ourselves of the sense of heritage, of the emblems of our ancesters sacrifice and of the accumulated ac-cumulated wisdom of their years. While buildings may not have sacred souls, the tabernacle is the last of Vernal's historic public buildings. It is a pioneer landmark. It stands for years of sacrifice. It represents a heritage of sturggle and strength. Is it not worth a great deal to preserve such r monument to our heritage? Might we be robbing our children and their children of a sense of h, tabernacle is torn dovvT point to to showpioi'JV. Theother reason to savet!? may be a more practical J tabernacle the ideal bjl as a community cultural e?111 the benefit of some paint 2 tabernacle maybeSSKi concerts, recitals and t Once again the tabernacle community patriotic acti 4th of July, chamber Z? theatre, classic cineii many possibilities. Not o,,) building be enjoying fuller Ll community would have activities available. Of course all this takes Verna is at a decision years from now will we bealL s or will we have invested h, T munity resources that win?-balance win?-balance a sense of commit sense of heritage. Hopeful will cast our votes and dolW' of a better community and a fc'w ' for the historic tabernacle