Embedded Files
Table of Contents
About
About
The Old Tabernacle, known simply as the Richmond Tabernacle, the Richmond, Utah Tabernacle, or the Benson Tabernacle, was a large church building that was owned and operated by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints from 1906-1962, when it was demolished from the 1962 Earthquake. The Tabernacle was located where the current Stake Center is located: 135 W Main St, Richmond, Utah.
History
History
Apostle and Richmond citizen Marriner Wood Merrill began the process of getting a Tabernacle constructed in Richmond. The earliest account of the construction of the Tabernacle is recorded in 1901 within Marriner's journal.
"Feb 17 - Tuesday. It was expected that all the sand would be hauled today for the Richmond Tabernacle, about 300 loads."5
In order to get the project started, Marriner sold one of his flour mills to obtain funds to pay for the Tabernacle. It is estimated that he paid nearly $8,000 for the Tabernacle construction.3 The next mention of the Tabernacle was on July 23, 1904 when Marriner laid the cornerstone.
"The corner stone of the new Benson Stake Tabernacle, at Richmond, Cache county, was laid on the 24th, by Apostle M. W. Merrill. It bore the inscription: 'Corner stone, laid July 23, 1904, by Apostle M. W. Merrill.' The dedicatory prayer was offered by President Joseph F. Smith, and appropriate re- remarks were made by Stake President William H. Lewis and others, including Architect Joseph Monson. The building, when finished, will seat 1,400 in the main auditorium, and will have rooms for the Priesthood and for the auxiliary organizations; will be of brick, and modern architecture, costing in all about $40,000. In a tin box, a copy of the Bible, the Book of Mormon, the Doctrine and Covenants, the Pearl of Great Price, a copy of the Deserei News of July 22, 1904, and photographs of President Smith and Apostle Merrill, were deposited in the corner stone."6
Logan architect Karl C. Schaub and Richmond architect Joseph Monson were chosen to design the building, and Richmond citizens August S. Schow, S. W. Hendricks, and George M. Thomson were contracted to build the building. Construction of the Tabernacle took two years to complete. During the construction, Marriner died on Feb 6, 1906 in Richmond and asked for his funeral services to be held in the Tabernacle. His wish was made and was held in the constructed building.
"Owing to the oft-expressed wish of President Merrill to be buried from the new Tabernacle, it was decided to hold the services in that building, although the interior was far from being finished. A great deal of work was necessary to put the building in shape for the funeral but the people arose to the occasion and the work was accomplished. Cloth was tacked up at the windows, paper was laid over the temporary floor and temporary pulpits and seats were provided and stoves put up to heat the building. While it was far from comfortable, the people bore the inconveniences patiently."4
The Tabernacle finished its construction in 1906. It served the whole town of Richmond, including when the Richmond Ward was split in 1917, and served both wards until 1923, when the South Ward Building was constructed. The Tabernacle served as the Stake Center for the Benson Stake, reaching west to Clarkston, Utah and south to Hyde Park, Utah.
On August 30, 1962, a 5.9-magnitude earthquake hit Richmond, and the Tabernacle was badly damaged. The building was fine on the face. However, on the back, there was a large crack in the brick that ran from the roof to the foundation. Inside, plaster and much of the ceiling had fallen in. Soon after, it was announced that it would cost too much to repair the building, and it would have to be condemned. The Tabernacle was condemned in September 1962.
After the Tabernacle was destroyed, many artifacts were taken to the Dauthers of Utah Pioneers: James & Drusilla Dorris Hendricks Camp in Richmond. Among the artifacts are a desk, an electric stove, and one of the front door handles.
Architectur
Architectur
Like most large Latter-day Saint buildings, the Tabernacle faced east. The original design of the Tabernacle had two spires that sat atop its two towers. It is unclear when the spires were removed. In the original archetecual sketch of the design of the Tabernacle, a stone tablet was to be placed atop the front doors that read "HOLINESS TO THE LORD" on the upper half of the tablet then "ERECTED A.D. MDCDIII" on the bottom half.
"The Richmond Tabernacle was designed in a fine Romanesque Revival style... It was quite typical of its style with a wide staircase leading up to three entrances—the center one wider than the other two—with two tower elements, one larger than the other and with a grand circular window atop a divided long window, all above the main entrance. It was 70 by 100 feet in size, and the main hall ceiling was 50 feet above the main floor. Architects for the building were Joseph Monson and Karl C. Schaub of Logan, Utah.
"The building contained a large rostrum in the conference hall suitable to handle a large choir as well as many dignitaries. Across the rear of the hall was a large balcony.
"When constructed, the two towers each sported an open observation area and were roofed over with round-domed roofs copped with appropriate finials, one larger than the other to match the scale of the different-sized bases. These tower caps were roamed as they deteriorated, and for many years the building was used with the towers simply capped off without the decorative top elements."1
"While tabernacles had been built as early as the 1850s the greatest number and the most impressive buildings were not constructed until after 1877 when the church greatly expanded its number of stakes. Of the twenty extant tabernacles in Utah, only two were completed before 1877. Since 1877 many stakes of Zion have erected tabernacles with spacious assembly halls and often with rooms attached for offices of the stake presidency and for meetings of stake quorums. Other tabernacles were built to serve the needs of one or more wards in addition to the stake. These have been called stake centers, though the distinction between tabernacle and stake center is otherwise slight. In some cases tabernacles were built for wards alone, with stake conferences rotating between wards in the stake. In this instance the word "tabernacle" had more of a qualitative meaning. Any building that was especially large in scale and seating capacity and was spectacular in form and detailing might be called a tabernacle, even though stake meetings were seldom held in the building. The Richmond Tabernacle was a ward meetinghouse. The Willard, Springville, Lehi, and Parowan tabernacles were also meetinghouses that were large and more ambitious than most others and were called tabernacle by the justly proud Saints who built them."2
Gallary
Gallary
Original architectural sketch of the Tabernacle, 1903.
Property of Design West Architects, Logan, Utah
(Colorized) Source
"Richmond Tabernacle as it was first built." Possibly the oldest photo of the tabernacle.
(Colorized) Source
Found in the North Cache year book The Polaris, 1932. (Colorized)
Graphic of the Tabernacle.
Andra Family taking a picture south of the Tabernacle.
Photo property of the Andra Family. (Colorzed) Source
"This photo was taken on 25 April 1948 in the Benson Stake Tabernacle. The photo is honoring those Visiting Teachers who have been faithful in going out for 40+ years in the Benson Stake."
Sitting L-R: Lavina E. Hawkeswood, Unknown, Martha Christiansen, Martha Ann Kingsbury, Sarah Ann Gaunt.
Standing L-R: Lydia E. Karren, Estella La Nora Glover, Maimey Hodges, Susanna E. Preece, Livinia M. Henson, Rachael M. Allen.
(Colorized) Source
"Benson Stake Tabernacle, Richmond Utah"
(Colorized) Source
(Colorized) Photo captured by Ariel Benson. Property of the Merrill-Cazier Library.
"Richmond, Utah, as seen from the air circa 1956."
Photo property of the Black and White Days Committee (Colorized)
Eathquake photos. Unless otherwise specified, all photos were captured by Ariel D. Benson, sourced from Utah Seismic Safety Commission, Colorized.
Plaster from the ceiling on the organ and piano of the tabernacle.
Photo property of Utah State University Special Collections & Archives.
Balcony of interior aftermath
Interior aftermath of the Tabernacle
Tabernacle midway being condemned.
Our Lady of Chartres Cathedral, a likely inspiration to the Richmond Tabernacle.
Sources
Sources
Jackson, Richard W. (2003) Places of Worship: 150 Years of Latter-day Saint Architecture. Provo, Utah: Religious Studies Center, Brigham Young University. pg 158. https://contentdm.lib.byu.edu/digital/collection/rsc/id/53130
Roberts, Allen Dale. (1974) Historic Architecture of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. pg 2-3. https://issuu.com/utah10/docs/uhq_volume43_1975_number3/s/113916#:~:text=While%20tabernacles%20had,who%20built%20them.
Merrill, Melvin Clarence, (1937). Utah Pioneer and Apostle: Marriner Wood Merrill and His Family, pg. 350. Digital copy Internet Archive, Contributed by the Allen County Public Library Genealogy Center. Internet Archive. https://archive.org/details/utahpioneerapost00merr/page/350/mode/1up
(Feb 12, 1906). Deseret News. Found within Utah Pioneer and Apostle: Marriner Wood Merrill and His Family, pg. 295. Merrill, Melvin Clarence, (1937). Digital copy Internet Archive, Contributed by the Allen County Public Library Genealogy Center. Internet Archive. https://archive.org/details/utahpioneerapost00merr/page/295/mode/1up
Merrill, Melvin Clarence, (1937). Utah Pioneer and Apostle: Marriner Wood Merrill and His Family, pg. 281. Digital copy Internet Archive, Contributed by the Allen County Public Library Genealogy Center. Internet Archive. https://archive.org/details/utahpioneerapost00merr/page/281/mode/1up
The Improvement Era; 1897-1910 (Volumes 1-13); 1903-1904 (Volume 7); 1904 September (No. 11); Pg 76, Church History Library, https://catalog.churchofjesuschrist.org/assets/4bdaf398-e6b2-4b17-93ba-defbe0d41d69/0/0 (accessed: April 3, 2025)
Page updated
Google Sites
Report abuse