| Show 10 Pioneers Had Many Forms of Amusement Social Hall Is Relic of Days Gone By Byr r 2 4 I k i ty a it kb 4 Pt- Pt tI Y 1 4 44 4 r 4 4 4 1 M. M g L t- t tT T cpi I 04 MF y 4 Article No 4 in Local Historical Series By GORDON H. H PLACE The lives of the early carli settlers in the valley of the Great Sait Salt l lake who followed followed fol fol- fol lowed the original bands band of pioneers were filled fillod with privations and hard haid- hardships ships But contrasting the dark ark and somber picture of their suffering and want shines bright and clear the high bih highlight light ight of joy that dominated their spir spir- its They Thoy had como come from an unfriendly section of the tho country and had bad sought a refuge among tho the mountain fast fust- nesses Between their worship and their labor of empire building they had little time timo for diversion But their lender leader Brigham Young I and those other men mon of ot force who shared the leadership of the little baud band realized that to keep tho the settlers content content con tent tont they must have hae more to interest them than their work and their re reo re- re ligion Variety is the spice of life and oven even life in the tho desert may bo be made mado interesting if it there is play playas as well as work Tho The amusement features of tho the early pioneer life were crude in keepin keep keep- in ing with the crudity of their homes and of their surroundings But the they were wholesome as was the coarse plain food with which the they burdened burden cd their I tables At first t thero were r 4 I and dances and anti literary entertainments Inthe in inthe inthe the homes of the settlers and in their little chapels And then the tho colon colony grew and prospered There Thero were man many strange Saints coming in with every Immigrant company compau New faces were seen in the m mating ting houses in the streets in the homes A broader spirit of social activity was developing and to meet that spirit tho thoU tho church from irom its own funds constructed constructed con con- the first place of public amusement amuse ment meat in the valley vallor That was Social Hall 41 South State street then known as First East street The Tho con construction was wats completed in the latter part jart of 1852 1552 Tho The structure w was s of adobe with a n substantial and smooth wood floor made of planks sawed from mountain timber in the nearby community community saw mills and with a small stage e eat at the tho east cast end of the tho structure The outside was plastered red neatly an and some somes s o 01 of artistic appearance was wason g given on the tho building in it its wide plaster panels its sweeping eaves eave and its general gen eral cral air all of permanence and stability This hall ball was built bunt by bv tho the chur church h to afford a social center center for tho the whole people In this thi respect Social Hall may maywell maywell maywell well be known as II the tho tho mother of the theatre in Utah Dedicated in 1853 The dedicatory services were held New Y Years Year's ar day 1853 and on January 19 1853 tho the first theatrical play on a areal areal areal I real stage t io in Utah th then n Jt was 0 0 staged in this historic structure The carl early sessions of or the territorial legislature legislature legisla legisla- ture were held heM within its walls n R special cial session convening June 1 1853 remaining remaining re reo re- re nin in session for three a days sIn s In a lett letter r from George Georgo A. A Smith to the Millennial Star published in England Eng Eng- land written under date of November ember I 30 1854 the writer riter says sas liTho The Social Hall will be reopened on Saturday evening December 2 with the play All cAll Is Not Gold That Glitters Glit Gilt In a letter written by bv George A. A Smith to Franklin D. D Richards her ber 23 28 1854 and published in the Millennial Star the following was said The Tho Deseret Dramatic association volunteered their services for the opening open open- opening ing of the season which came Caine of off on the tho evening of Saturday the 2nd with I All Au Is 18 Not Gold Gola That Glitters and sentimental and comic songs Governor Youn Young extended d it in invitations to his counselors to th the Quorum of the tho twelve to the clerks inthe in inthe the different offices to the heads of the departments and to many ninny others all of whom attended with goodly portions of their families filling the hall han hanith with ith ithan an an audience whose hose countenances beamed with jo joy not only with delight arising directly from roni the tho occasion but from th the associations and the pleasing recollections of the past The Tho legislature arc aro getting ettin up a 3 apart p party part rt at the tho Social Hall to come off fI on Monday ny the tho l let t of f Ja January ry 1 t t to p be a a. very splendid affair Eleven officers officers officers of of- of the United States arin army armr as aswell aswell aswell well as tho the United States territorial officers are invited in to attend Many Socials Held It was in 1855 that the D Deseret ret Theological Theo Thea Theological logical institute was organized and met metin metin metin in this building The Typographical Association of Deseret gave their first annual festival sl in Social Hall Halt February 2 2 1855 Tho The Great Salt Lake City police po lice department gave ave a complimentary mentar party to fo the first pres presen presidency en y of the church the mayor maor city council and other dignitaries February 9 0 1855 when a splendid supper the dance and re re- marics from Governor Youn Young and Mayor J. J M. M Grant contributed to tho the enjoyment of the assembly according to an old issue of the tho Millennial Star Three days ds's later February 12 13 1855 occurred one of the greatest social socia events in the pioneer history of the state Tho The story is told in the he Star as follows 1 liOn On February 12 1855 1835 the tho battalion of ot life guards gave gae their first military ball in the Social Hall The hall ball was decorated expressly for the occasion the spacious dancing saloon being boing ornamented ornamented or or- with circles of sabers artistically artistically artis artis- artistically arranged with rifles glistening in every window on each side lido whilo while the tho well kno known knon n flag dag of tho minute minutemen minutemen men with its appropriate motto I Always Always Al AI I ways ready ana end ond crossed with the colors col colors ors orB of the general stall staff oc occupied the head of the hall hail and aud at the tho back I the mammoth fia flag of tho the I Stars and Str Stripes Stripes' pcB spread its broad folds across the entire breadth of tho room all gleaming in the tho brilliant light o othe or orthe of the chandeliers rendering tho scene cene one of unusual splendor Eclipsed by Theatre In 1857 public amusements were discontinued dis die continued in Social Hall upon completion completion comple comple- I tion of the Salt Lake theatre anti and for three years ears the hall ball W was S dark From that time hmo on its glory lot waned the little hall b being in eclipsed by the new theatre But from time to time timo it was used for smaller socials and for amateur dramatic dra dra- untie matic a tic representations ta tI ons In late years ears tho the hall ball has been used as an nn art gallery for exhibits of paintIngs paintings paint paint- ings b by Utah painters For this p pur purpose par r. r pose poe it is used today I Hidden away behind garages garage and other buildings it might easily be I passed without a glance But with its rich store of of memories and historic association association as as- it is is to be bo hoped that the church which church which it it is understood still retains ownership in the property will property will preserve the old landmark for the tho de de' light and aud education of future genera tion Note Note Acknowledgment for data in inthis inthis this article is is due to tho the historians historian's office office of of- fice flee of the Mormon ch church and to Prof Levi Edgar Young oung asso associate chair of history University of Utah |
