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Show 8 - THE CITIZEN - THURSDAY, AUG. 30, 1973 Smithfield First Ward Story A Smithfield Landmark By Sybil Packer years ago, the Smithfield In the fall of 1914, just fifty-nin- e of LDS First ward chapel was dedicated by the President the at last the Church, President Joseph F. Smith, and A few of those present at membership of the ward had a home. that dedication were on hand Sunday to witness the final of this beautiful chapter in the long and memorable history and, in its day, commodius edifice. Chapel Closes After 59Years BISHOP GKOIIGK SMITH IIP. CHRISTIAN PLOWMAN a month ago that Members of the ward were notified over Smithfield Second ward chapel on to they would be moving the ward landmark with the first Sunday in September. The first windows had outlived its usefulness its unique stained-glas- s were prohibitive. and the cost of repairs and rennovation the most part, a time of Sundays testimony meeting was, for who hae spent their reminiscing for many of the members entire religious lives in this remarkable building. Bowers Forrester stated that in reflecting on present ward seven or eight membership, he judged that there were only had attended services within people still living in the ward who its confines of their lives. Lionel Danielson recalled that he had been baptized and confirmed in the building, and had never known any other meeting place in his life. Oscar Gyllenskog recalled his experience as a deacon passing the sacrament at the first sacrament meeting held in the new chapel. Melba Cannell and Leona Watts remembered that they had both come to this ward as brides, and had witnessed the growth of their children in the church through the years. Each one attested to the heartache and the joys associated with their memories. Indeed it was a time for mixed emotions and a few quiet tears as the membership said goodby to an old and very dear friend. President Hazen Hillyard, Smithfield Stake Patriarch, and a former bishop of the first ward, recalls the early history of the ward, prior to the building of the chapel. From the fall of 1860 when pioneers first settled in Smithfield and a ward was formed, until the first division of the ward in 1906, five bishops served the membership of the Smithfield ward. On November 11, 1906 the first division of the ward occurred, and Edwin R. Miles. Jr., was sustained as bishop of the first ward which were Samuel Nelson and George Done replaced Smith as counselor. Rudolph V. Larson and Leonard Olsen also served as clerks to Bishop Miles during his eight years as bishop. With the division of the ward, Smithfield Second Ward occupied the tabernacle, now used as a youth center, while the schoolhouse situated east first ward met in an old three-rooof the present first ward church, a spot now' part of Smithfield m City Park. FORMER BISHOPS of the Smithfield First ward and current bishop, Earl Lindley, gathered d First ward chapel. They are, from left, Bishop recently for a photograph in the William A. Scholes, Bishop W. Hazen Hillyard, Bishop Harley W. Monson, Bishop J. Arbon Christensen, Bishop Lindley, Bishop Dean L. Rich and Bishop Stratford Loosle. now-close- The spring of 1910 marked commencement of work on the first ward meeting house. The groundbreaking was credited to teamster Leonard Olsen and plowman Neils O. Gyllenskog who turned the lirst soil for the new building. Carl Schaub was the architect and Wm. 0. Claypool and E. It. Miles Jr. the contractors. The brick for the building was manufactured by W. It. Deppe in the old Smithfield Brickyard. Total cost of the building, which was completed in the fall of 1914, was $24,000. Bishop Miles, according to Hillyard, was an effective leader and a very successful businessman, whose talents contributed greatly to this accomplishment. He died October 31, 1914 at a party celebrating the completion of the building. It was not until January 3, 1915 that the ward was reorganized with George Y. Smith as bishop, George Done and James J Meikle as counselors and Leonard Olsen retained as clerk. These men, remembered for their kindness and love tow'ard the ward membership, bound the ward into a close family-lik- e group. On August 26, 1917, Christian J. Plowman was sustained with George Done and Hazen Hillyard as counselors. During Bishop Plowmans tenure, March 10, 1918, members of the ward living west of Smithfield near the Amalgamated Sugar Company were organized into the Amalga ward. After 12 years of service, on Sept. 29, 1929, Bishop Plowman was released and George G, Nelson was sustained as bishop with Lionel Danielson and Earl Allsop as counselors. Harley. Monson served as clerk. Bishop Nelson served during the depression years when providing for the needs of the membership of the ward was a tremendous responsibility. He was loved by the people and for many years returned to the home ward to speak in funerals and special gatherings. Work that had begun on the amusement hall in the basement of the' building in 1927 was completed and the baptismal font which had been in the space occupied by the present kitchen, was removed and a new font constructed behind the stage. W. Hazen Hillyard served as bishop from January 24th, 1937 until February of 1938 when the ward was again divided and the fourth ward was created. Counselors and clerk who served with Bishop Hillyard were Wm. It. Deppe Jr., Harry Michaelis, and Elias Noble. With the ward division, Merlin T. Van Orden was sustained as bishop of the First ward with R. Truman Hillyard and Lionel E. Danielson as counselors. Albert McCann served as clerk. Bishop Van Orden, though small in stature, was large in as-bisho- of the buildings dedication in 1914 distinguishes the ONLY THE unlandscaped lot at the time exterior appearance. first ward church from its present day . '. J k t |