Title; Afton Wyoming Stake Tabernacle Dedication

Transcription

1 STAR VALLEY HISTORICAL SOCIETY HISTORICAL BOOKS INVENTORY DETAILS 1. Overview Title; Afton Wyoming Stake Tabernacle Dedication Author: Subject: LDS Church Publisher: Publishing Date: February 1,1987 Number of Pages: 4 ID#: 247 Location: Website 2. Evaluation Evaluator's Name(s): Kent and Polly Erickson Date of Evaluation: November 2014 Keywords: Afton Included Names: 3. Synopsis A history of the building since 1909 is given. The program also has the individual items and participants. In addition, it lists the stake presidency and members of the high council and the ward bishoprics for the seven wards in the stake. Photographs show the changes that have occurred over the years. 4. Other

2 Dedication Services Afton >A^oming Stake Tabernacle.-lH: v,,'-llll(;-...fw Sunday, February 1, :00 p.m.

3 HISTORY The Star Valley Stake had been organized for 17 years when the central part of this historic tabernacle was first put into service on August 15, Construction of the building took five years following laying of the cornerstone on August 21, 1904 by Apostle Charles W. Penrose. Stake President George Osmond, with his counselors William W. Burton and Anson V..Call oversaw construction of the new building which included a balcony around three sides of the building and imposing organ installed in the west end of the building, presently the recreation/cultural areas of this building. Anson V. Call also served as chairman of the building committee. President of the Church Joseph F. Smith came to Star Valley for the dedication services and,offered the dedicatory prayer for the occasion,' on August 15, 1909, putting the new building into service. Ithas served as a source of pride and a landmark in Star Valley since that time. Sandstone for construction came from a quarry at Poison Creek, a tributary of Crow Creek on the west side of the valley, near Fairview. The first stone was carried to the building site by teams of horses and wagons. The stone was hand hewn to meet the Middle English design. A tower ascending 140feet above the ground set an imposing view of the valley and has been reinforced and stabilized to remain an integral part of the newly remodeled building. The building served in this configuration until 1941 when need dictated enlargement to accommodate a growing stake, and also theafton Morth Ward. Construction of a north wing, including classrooms. Relief Society room, office space, baptismal font, stage and chapel were completed during the next two and a half years. Most of the construction was accomplished during a time of national emergency as the country was at war and building materials were difficult to obtain. The addition was completed and dedicated on Sunday, September 19, 1943 with Apostle John A. Widtsoe giving the dedicatory prayer and returning the building to service. The building also served the community as meeting and activity center, as many graduation excercises for the Star Valley High School were held in the building. School productions, plays, concerts, assemblies and other activities were accommodated in the building. Until 1978, the building was the focal point of the Star Valley Stake. On OcT-^ Mevember 2, 1978, the StarValley Stake was divided and the Afton Wyoming Stake and the Thayne Wyoming Stake were organized, Each stake was appointed six wards, the Afton Stake encompassing Afton First, Second and Third Wards, Fairview, Osmond and Smoot Wards. Since that time, the Afton Fourth Ward was organized making seven in all. The original building was constructed at a cost of $40,000 with the later addition adding another $75,000 and the most recent construction cost amounted to $975,000. The building will now serve the needs of the Afton Wyoming Stake and the Afton First and Second Wards. The former chapel area has been converted to classroom space and the recreation/cultural area has been refurbished and will accept overflow from the new chapel. In the original installation, an imposing organ was placed in the west end of the tabernacle which had the appearance of a pipe organ. The instrument was really a reed organ with artificial pipes, pumped by hand. Speaking for the committee, Thomas Burton said, 'We were so proud of the building, we felt we wanted to splurge a little, so we couldn't resist the organ with so many artificial pipes." The organ served until construction began on the enlargement in the early 1940's at which time it was moved to the Seminary building next door. An (D

4 HISTORY electric organ was installed with the new enlargement and has served until work began on the present reconstruction in A modern day committee may have felt somewhat the same way as the pioneer committee in "being so proud of the building". A decision was made to purchase the pipe organ from the Idaho Falls Temple. The unit was returned to the organ factory where it was refurbished, enlarged and made to blend with this historic building today. Overall outward appearance of the original building has changed little since it was first constructed. There will be noticed a few alterations, however. The spires on the roof and tower were removed and some windows changed in the tower at the time the addition of the north wing was made. The balcony was removed and a lounge added in place of the south entrance. About 2,750 souls resided in the stake at the time the building was first dedicated in A news report of the dedication stated that about half the stake, people, was in attendance at the meeting. When the building was enlarged in 1943 there were approximately 4,400 people. Today, the stake, since division, encompasses about 3,000 people. In ] 940 1,400 people were reported to have attended the dedication services, a number matched and sometimes surpassed at later stake conferences. During the 83 years since the tabernacle was first put into service, six presidencies have served the stake. Beginning with Pres. George Osmond and his counselors, William W. Burton and Anson V. Call, who served when the building was first started. Anson V. Call was released in 1905 and Wilford A. Hyde served until 1912 at which time Clarence Gardner was called and served until the end of Pres. Osmond's term in Pres. Osmond and Burton served a total of 21 years. Clarence Gardner was then called as stake president with Arthur F. Burton and Albert Barrus as counselors. They served for the next 27 years from 1913 to Royal S. Papworth was then called as stake president and Carl Robinson and Ralph J. Hyer served as his counselors. Their term of service ranged from 1940 through Following Pres. Papworth's move from the stake, E. Francis Winters was called to serve as the president of the stake. B. Delos Gardner and A. Dixon Burton served as counselors from 1947to 1966 at which time Morville L. Fluckiger and F. Doyle Child were called to serve for another four years with Pres. Winters, 1966through Pres. Winters served a total of 23 years. In April 1970, President F. Doyle Child was called with Morville L. Fluckiger and Max C. Robinson as counselors. President Fluckiger served for one year, and then was released for assignment as Stake Patriarch and Meal Kennington was called to serve as counselor. President Child and Robinson served from 1970 through On Nevember 2, the Star Valley Stake was dissolved and two new stakes were organized. The Afton Wyoming Stake and the Thayne Wyoming Stake were organized in keeping with church policy to name the stakes after the town in which the stake center rests. Larry A. Call was called as president of the Afton Stake, with H. Steven Erickson and Layle H. Nield as counselors. They are serving and participating in these services today. It will be noted that Sister Margaret Winters is our guest organist today, a service she performed at the dedication in 1943, when the first remodeling was completed.

5 AFTON WYOMING STAKE PRESIDENCY Larry Anson Call, president H. Steven Erickson, first counselor Layle H. Nield, second counselor Milton M. Turner, executive secretary Royal Jensen, stake clerk Lynn M. Nield, assistant clerk LeVon Henderson, assistant clerk Lee R. Call, assistant clerk F. Doyle Child, patriarch John Gray Hillstead, patriarch HIGH COUNCIL Murray M. Wilkes Dallas D. Tolman EIRay Titensor W. Thomas Davis Ronald G. Haderlie James C. Lau Garth Leavitt Val E. Harris Gaylen H. Hoopes William Spauiding Van Hokanson Fred Pead WARD BISHOPRICS Afton First Ward Bp. Jerry T. Harmon g. Nohl & Sandall, counselor Don R. Call, counselor Fairview Ward Bp. McKell Allred, Robert Beus, counselor Reynold Johnson, counselor Afton Second Ward Bp. T. Paul Stauffer Michael Olsen, counselor Daniel G. Wilkes. counselor Osmond Ward Bp. Chad Erickson, Doran J. Erickson, counselor Kim V. Tippetts, counselor Afton Third Ward Bp. Larry C. Raymond. Robert McKim, counselor Max R. Merritt, counselor Smoot Ward Bp. Gary C. Jenkins, M. Bart Kunz, counselor Michael S. Astle, counselor Afton Fourth Ward Bp. Gale L. Haderlie, Kent Stevenson, counselor Steven J. Timothy, counselor a

6 PROGRAM Prelude and Postlude Music Margaret Winters Song "Joseph Smith's First Prayer" page 26 Louise Cranney, chorister Margaret Winters, accompanist Congregation Invocation B. Delos Gardner Counselor to President Winters Song "What Was Witnessed in the Heavens?" Tom Matthews, director Laura Draney, accompanist Choir Speaker Pres. Layle H. INield Speai<er Physical Facilities Representative Murray M. Wilkes Speaker Pres. H. Steven Erickson Song Dedicatory Prayer "Still, still With Thee" Wayne Winters, soloist Tom Matthews, director Laura Draney, accompanist Choir Pres. Larry A. Call Closing Song "Let Us All Press On" page 243 Louise Cranney, chorister Margaret Winters, accompanist Congregation Benediction Great Granddaughter of William W. Burton member of first stake presidency RaDawn Ruud (D

7 Date of this photo is unknown, but shows the relationship of the old Meeting House, Public School and the new Tabernacle. The Tabernacle is on the block east of the other two building locations. IIE&TmC- HOUjre THBE«H»icre SCHOOW Wyo. This group photo shows interior of the T abernj with the balcony around sides and east eind of building.

8 PHOTOS Conference attendance was an all day excursion with the team and buggy. Date of this photo is unknown, there are some automobiles in the photo. Showing the Tabernacle and the old Rock High School building, prior to con struction of the Seminary building which now serves as the Stake Office building and Genealogical Library.

9 Published by Afton \A^oming Stake thechurchof JESUS CHRIST Of LATTER-DAY SAINTS