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Show T5'' ! Manila's W Wfe imiC Built and Paid For by Parishioners in 1 898, Sold by the LDS Church i : r-- W 1 1 it !' : I rf" , ,1; - - ..... ... ' '" "' - ' 'JfZZZ"'""ir": -W : j, C'tL-I - '- J '"- until -n '.--lLj-!rjV.."'."-''l"Im;' '"j. i.tir'' - .. - .. . ; - . ,' . : ' t - - Gen Taylor The Old White Church is a recognized landmark, but unlike un-like the Old Bell School, its several sev-eral metamorphoses have been within the lifetime of many local lo-cal citizens. Those who were raised in Manila are particularly particu-larly connected to it as many of their ancestors settled the area and built the original meeting house. As this latest transformation transforma-tion takes place it is fitting to review the history of the building, the Manila area and her people, for these are the threads that bind us together as a community. And, as change is sometimes painful, it is reassuring reas-suring to know (he legacy of this beloved edifice has been foremost in the minds of those creating the architectural renovations. reno-vations. Owner Vickie Bott has meticulously researched its past in order to preserve the integrity of the "house" and the myriad memories that are connected con-nected with it. The early days of Pleasant Pleas-ant Grove found a few brave souls venturing into what was called North Fields, to establish The "Old While Church " was not originally white when it was built in 1898. Pleasant Grove Third Ward members donated labor and some materials, but it cost them $2,463.50 cash to erect the church house. The clay soil and lack of water were the main obstacles, but certainly not more than a few enterprising pioneers could conquer. Edward Meredith and William Wadley were two who brought to North Fields the knowledge and grit to bring water to the unforgiving land. Meredith dug a ditch from American Fork Canyon and Wadley instituted furrow irrigation irriga-tion and the process of amending amend-ing the soil. While some abandoned aban-doned the seemingly worthless land, others, like Wadley, stayed on to grow orchards, berry patches and grain fields that rivaled ri-valed the best in the land. In 1874 there were fifteen families living in North Fields, and by 1881 the population had grown to 92 residents. A school board was organized this year and soon a 40 by 24 foot school room was built out of soft rock from the Wadley quarry. Education Edu-cation was important to the pioneers pio-neers which was evident by the many schools built before the church houses were even constructed. con-structed. As the population increased it became necessary to create a their farms. In 1869, three of the original settlers, George S. Clark, Lewis Harvey and John G. Holman, decided to tame this arid land that seemed to have more rocks, sagebrush and rattlesnakes than the favorable farmland they were willing to leave. Perhaps they set out to homestead the vast area north of Pleasant Grove with the idealistic idealis-tic notion of making it "blossom "blos-som as a rose", but whatever their intent, they forged a path that many would follow, albeit not with ease. new Pleasant Grove Third Ward, and shortly after April 20, 1890, preparations were made to build a church house on the crest of a hill. According to historian Effie Adams, the ground for the meeting meet-ing house was donated by "Mil-len "Mil-len Atwood and consisted of a hill of sand and gravel washed down through the years from the mountains to the north and east." The first bishop of the ward was Knud Swenson with William Wil-liam Wadley and Joseph Halli-day Halli-day as his counselors, and they organized and oversaw con-struction'of con-struction'of the soft rock building build-ing during the seven years it took to complete. Rather than wait to level the hill, it was decided de-cided the foundation could be dug deep to offset any problems with the grade. The leveling would be done after the construction con-struction was finished. While the members attempted at-tempted to grade the incline during construction, most was accomplished after the building was dedicated and they began in earnest to shore up the ground. Dirt had been carefully pushed to the front of the building, but to protect the road and land from gravel being washed away, it was decided to build a retaining retain-ing wall. The blue limestone used to erect the wall came from a ledge west of the Jordan River and was the same rock used for the American Fork Tabernacle. After a short time a similar ledge was located in the foothills, foot-hills, and even though it wasn't as suitable, the close proximity saved time and money. Ward members donated labor and some materials, but it cost them $2,463.50 cash to erect the church house, one reason it took so long to complete. com-plete. On December 18, 1898, President Edward Partridge, Stake President of the Provo region, re-gion, (which included Pleasant Grove), dedicated the building. His counselor, Reed Smopt, also spoke at the meeting where the members voted to change the name from Third Ward to Manila. Ma-nila. It is widely acknowledged that President Smoot suggested the name in honor of the end of the Spanish American War with the peace treaty being signed in Manila, Philippines. It is said the ward members were filled with patriotic zeal, renaming renam-ing their area to commemorate these events. By the turn of the century, Manila boasted 267 members from approximately 47 families, fami-lies, but the soft rock church would be adequate for many years to come. In 1909 a new school was built to the west of the church and was often used for community and church activities ac-tivities until 1926 when it was closed. The ward purchased the building for future use. As new families continued contin-ued to settle in Manila, the time came for expansion of the 30-year-old church house and while the remodeling began in 1929, the Depression became a hinderance. Money was scarce, but dinners and socials not only helped raise the needed funds, but brought a spirit of unity to the ward. The creative members mem-bers now realized the wisdom in owning the school building across the street and began tearing tear-ing it down to use the bricks for the new expansion. With their building finally completed, the Manila saints were honored with the presence of their prophet, President Heber J. Giant, who dedicated the building on April 12, 1937. |