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Show 17 Nothing Is Permanent But Change Itself Just So Santa Clara By Nellie M. Gubler The little town of Santa Clara has once again burst its seams so far as chapels go, and so on Sunday, March 6, 1977 a fifth chapel was dedicated. Actually, it is the fourth since the Swiss Company came on November 1861. The Indian Missionaries had already 28, constructed a small 16 x 24 ft. adobe structure up around the point" by the Fort and were using it for a combination chapel and school house. They had been in this vicinity since May 1854. less than a In year after the arrival of the Swiss Company, they built a 28 x 40 ft adobe structure on the northwest section of the where public square-abo- ut the northwest section of the present chapel is located. This also was used for both school and church. Later on a second room was added on the north side. This room was elevated and used for a combination stage and class 1862-186- room, a curtain the two sections. separating By 1895 it was decided that a new church house should be built as the old one was too small, so a site was selected southeast of where the chapel then stood. A rock foundation 36 x 54 ft was laid, but was left unfinished for two years because of lack of unity as to size and location of the building. In 1897 this foundation was torn up and another one laid just west of the disputed location and south of the church house they were then using. This structure was made of brick which were formed and fired in home-mad- e kilns at the site of action. The structure cost a little over $4,000 and was dedicated April 27, 1902 at a 2:00 p.m. service. This church house consisted of one room with ani elevated rostrum and ben-- , ches for presiding officers and dignitaries running east and west through the center and three benches running north and south on both the east and west walls of the rostrum to be used for choir seats, while an organ furnished accompanment for the services. There were four arched windows on each side of the building with two front, as also an arched double door. At the back were two high doors, which were probably intended to have steps leading down to ground level but which were never constructed. Curtains were drawn to divide the chapel into four class rooms, which were heated in winter by a large stove in the center and a long stove pipe forming a 45 degree angle and extending to the outside of the building. This arrangement of class rooms was not entirely satisfactory because of the noise faction from class to class but some relief was accomplished by June 1908 when a small, one roomed brick Relief Society House was built close by and used for a class room for the adults. It also doubled as a class room for school. 3 In a beautiful cement block, y school house was erected with pride a nd loving care between the little Relief Society House and Church House. The four class rooms on the ground floor were then used for Sunday School classes and other meetings. After a few years private homes were also in use for class rooms. To add grace and beauty for all to enjoy Ernest Stucki, when returning from the Swiss-Germa- n Mission in June of 1928, brought a beautiful 2 x 4 ft. picture of 1912-191- two-stor- Christ Blessing Little Children to hang on the front wall of the chapel, and donated it to the Ward for the benefit of all who used the building. This of multiplicity buildings for the auxiliary sessions was the situation for forty years until it was evident that a new structure must be built, and so the various auxiliary began to assist organizations in making money to finance a larger chapel. On November 24, 1947 the then existing in chapel was razed preparation for a new one and work progressed on the same until fourteen months later when the new structure was far enough advanced that a Relief Society meeting could be held therein (February 1, .. 1949),,, During' the time oL con-.- ', struction church activities ' were carried on in the Social Hal- l- an upper room in the School Hous- e- and classes were held in the four school rooms, the Relief Society Building, private homes, and even when the weather permitted. This Social Hall served the purpose very well although in- convenient for funerals and a steep climb for the older generation. At least, we could keep warm, which had been almost impossible in the old building. The entire cost of this new chapel and its contents up to the time of dedication was $58,868.19, of which $4,000 was in musical insturments-includi- ng an Acrosonic piano and a Baldwin electric organ. The Ward membership on October 9, 1949 was 323 persons, the highest for several years. By this date all indebtedness on the building had been cleared so dedication services were held at 5:30 p.m. with a crowd of 370 persons in attendance. Elder Ezra Taft Benson of the Council of the Twelve Apostles gave the dedicatory prayer. Soon after the dedication another Acrosonic piano was purchased by the Relief Society for their room and Brother Leo F. Reber instigated the purchase of a large 6 x 8 ft. painting of Christ graced the front wajl in the chapel and had an effect for good on the Ward members as it was painted in quiet and relaxing tones of soft blues, greens and tans and gave a feeling of peace and tranquility. After a few years time the Ward membership had once again outgrown the building as it then was and so a new wing was added and also a larger Relief Society room and kitchen. By 1970 new comers began to filter into the town and were absorbed into the Ward. Within three years people coming into the town and building homes had crescended to flood stage so once again more space had to be considered. The idea of moving to a new location was contemplated, but inasmuch as the Washington County School Board had closed our school permanently in May of 1973 and would not consider giving it back at that time (and even condemned the building to force students to go to St. George regardless of the fact that a very interested group of citizens offered to bring the school house up to standards of the School Board) the same location was reconsidered. It was decided by those in authority that it would be better to tear down the school house and build onto what building was already there and to purchase the Hyrum and Laura Gubler property to the east in order that a large parking lot could be constructed later on. A set of plans for the contemplated new building were hung in the foyer of the chapel and ward members were asked to carefully look them over and offer suggestions as to how they could be improved. Bishop Dale Gubler and counselors Marion Graf and Truman Blake continued to encourage various projects to raise money to finance the project. On November 17, 1974 Bishop Gubler and counselors were released and Victor Frei sustained as Bishop, with Garth Colton and Brent Goodwin as counselors. Bids were taken for razing the school house and clearing away the debris. These ranged in cost from $13,000 from a company in Logan-dalNevada to $3,500 from the Bonneville Wrecking Company from Northern Utah. Needless to say the latter bid was accepted and the job was begun on January 13, 1975 and took about a week. The bell tower and bell were salvaged, to be used later on, as also were the giant slide and swings. Soon, thereafter, the LaVelle E. Goodwin Cone, struction Company, with Brent Goodwin as Building Superintendent, and Leslie A. Stoker as architect, set the wheels in motion for a new building. The contractors were very cooperative and arranged the building project in such a way that all of our auxiliaries and most of our Sacrament Meetings could be held in the old part of the building. Only about five times in April and May 1976 did we have to go to Ivins and use their chapel. The first services held in our chapel were held on Mothers Day. the Soon, thereafter, Eleventh Ward moved in with us and shared the building. This was a new experience for us to have to share our Church House with another Ward but it has been good for us and as members of the St. George Stake we have got along real well, though, at times, naturally, there have been inconveniences for both Wards. At the time of completion the building was completely paid for at a cost of $452,448.00, the Ward paying 30 percent and the church 70 percent. Our total Ward membership as of March 6, 1977 is 654. Dedicatory services for the Santa Clara and Eleventh Ward Chapel were held on Sunday, March 6, 1977 at 2:30 p.m. with a total of 732 persons present. Elder Sterling W. Sill of the First Quorum of Seventy of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-da- y and Saints was presiding Bishop Victor Frei conthe following ducting Prelude program: and acpostlude music and companiment for hymns, by sister Olive Moss; violin selection Bless This House by Debra Frei, Laura Lee and Bonnie Graf, and Wendy WARD CHAPEL DEDICATED-San- fa Clara Ward Chapel was dedicated on March 6. This Chapel is hymn was The Spirit of God Like A Fire Is Burning by the congregation and the benediction by Elder Brent Goodwin (Second Counselor in the Santa Clara W'ard Bishopric). Choir director and chorister was Sister Vella Ruth Hafen. The day prior to the dedication a beautiful 6 x 13 ft oil painting of Christ Blessing Little Children was installed on the west wall of the foyer. It was painted by a telented member of our Ward, Brother Robert L. Sheperd and donated by him and his good wife, Olive. Brother Sheperd is a very talented and skilled artist who has painted scenes for several of the Latter-da- y Saint Temples-includi- ng The Garden Room in the Manti Temple. He is also the High Priests Group Leader in the Santa Clara Ward at the present time. Directly south of the foyer and outside the building on the new lawn stands the bell tower sitting atop a 5 Vi x 5 Vi x 3 Vi foot cement base, built by Brother Arthur Kemp of the Santa Clara Ward. This bell tower has a very unique construction and sat atop the School House for sixty-tw- o years. The bell was the same one that graced the first Meeting House the Swiss Colony built and it pealed out its clear, melodious chime to call the Ward members to Church, and other important meetings and told the children they had one-hahour before school was to begin. This service it has rendered for over one hundred and twelve years. It is a cherished treasure of the Swiss civilization and culture that has existed in this clean, thrifty, and freindly little the 5th Chapel is a series of buildings over many years. the second have passed on to their reward. W'ould that we had been more observing and preserving of the great heritage that is ours from our village for all these long years. Where the bell was cast or from what foundry it came, nobody seems to know at this late date, for all of the first generation and most of faithful pioneer ancestors. May their great spirit, courage, and character influence us, their posterity, throughout the years to come. w r tr Y V n Ak 3 B V ii0 lT" Santa Clara Meeting House 1863-191- 3 lf Santa Clara Relief Society House 1908 McArthur, with Ramona Hafen at the piano; opening This House We hymn Dedicate To Thee by the choir and congretion; invocation by Elder Garth Colton (First Counselor in the Santa Clara Bishopric); Ward Sacrament Hymn I Stand All Amazed ; Sacrament Administered to and passed by the Aaronic Priesthood of the Santa Clara and Eleventh Wards; Speakers were Bishop Victor Frei of Santa Clara and Bishop Dean T. Terry of the Eleventh Ward; musical In Our selection Redeemers Name by the Santa Clara Meeting House 1897-194- 7 i ? Santa Clara Chapel 1949- 1974 Santa Clara Ward Choir; speaker, President Kenneth R. Metcalf of the St. George Stake; musical selection Let The Mountains Shout for by the Santa Clara Joy Ward Choir; dedicatory address and prayer by Elder Sterling W. Sill who said that after the prayer the building would properly be turned over to the Lord, never again Our to be known as Building. Yet it is ours, in a sense, to help us to turn our lives over to the Lord to serve him and keep his commandments and to teach our posterity to serve him. He further said that this area would be the center of a great metropolis some day and this building would be the center of this movement. Many people are moving in and if we are the kind of people we ought to be we can make a great difference as to the growth of the Church. We can be responsible for building up the Kingdom and receive a blessing from our Heavenly Father. We can please God and bring blessings upon our children and grandchildren and ourselves and ancestors and all the people of the world that this gospel has been revealed for. The closing "Suffer Little Children" Santa Clara Chapel Painting Theme But Jesus said, Suffer Little Children and forbid them not, to come unto me, for such is the Kingdom of Heaven. St. Matthew, Chapter 19, Verse 14. This loved verse is the theme of the magnificent oil painting executed by Robert Shepherd and presented by him to the Santa Clara Ward Chapel on the occasion of the Chapel dedication March 6. encircling a little girl is the central figure close to the foreground. Mr. Shepherd commented that he portrayed g Christ in the position as coming to the children rather than being an enthroned personage to be timidly approached by the young people. Six women, four men and ten other children, making the twenty-thre- e figures in all in the work surround the central figures. One child, a boy on work of monumental proportions, the hug 5Vi by 13 foot painting dominates the foyer of the Chapel where it occupies a position of prominance. Mr. Shepherd has placed twenty three figures in his large work of art. The figure of Christ with one arm drawing a small boy closer and the other arm proaches Christ from the background. Mr. Shepherd said he had chosen his subject because he wanted the children of the n wards to relate to it. The artist was not commissioned to do the painting. A member of the Santa Clara Ward, he haa sought a suitable spot for the painting By Dorothy E. See A semi-kneelin- crutches, hesitantly ap- well-know- during Chapel construction and had spent more than a year working on it. He remarked that he had done Quite a little researching on the correct costumes of the period, before starting the work. He completed three color sketches and many and drawings before the actual painting. Mr. Shepherd, who has done commissioned paintings for Temples in Idaho Falls, Los Angeles, Manti, Chapel in Idaho Falls, Salt Lake City, and Hinkley, Utah reflects, sometimes I have a feeling that I am not being as creative as I would like. The Salt Lake City native said, lam very conscious of other people. I find I am easily influenced. I find as I paint I am thinking will this please so and so. Mr. Shepherd said he has always had an interest in art. He received his formal art education at the University of Utah and one year at Berkley, California. He worked with a Salt Lake City architectural firm before going to work as a draftsman in Los Angeles. During his years in California he worked with Cecil B. DeMilles, mandments. Ten Com- The gifted artists says he gives no thought to the durability of a work. I have the feeling, if it serves a purpose now, I wont be heartbroken if it is thrown out during remodeling. While he expresses this opinion, the listener can oily reflect that this is an extremely unlikely eventuality, that many children and their elders will enjoy the painting for some time to come. |
