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WELLSVILLE — It’s hard to imagine the restoration effort of any historical building, landmark or monument without seeing an old lady waving a tin can in Michael J. Fox’s face while yelling, “Save the clock tower!”
If the “Back to the Future” reference is lost on you, hopefully the image of a passionate resident pulling up his or her sleeves and pounding the pavement to preserve a treasured piece of their community is not.
Utah saw this recently when Provo residents fought to preserve the foundation of their tabernacle and again when the people of Holladay came together to save their oldest standing structure — the Simon and Emma Smyth log cabin.
But what about the historic treasures of smaller, quieter communities? When residents don’t have 100,000 plus neighbors to excite to action, what recourse do they have?
This is the current plight of the tiny city of Wellsville and its just over 3,000 residents. At the heart of the small Cache Valley town stands a handsome, though modest, structure that has served as the premiere event center for the city since 1908 when then LDS apostle Heber J. Grant spoke at the site’s dedication.
Originally built by the LDS church for $65,000, the building was sold to the city of Wellsville in 1981 for the same price, almost 80 years later. When the city was unable to keep up with maintenance fees for the building, a group of citizens formed a non-profit organization called the Wellsville Tabernacle Foundation and purchased the tabernacle.
According to a historic compilation titled the “Windows of Wellsville,” “The Wellsville Tabernacle may have been the last major building erected by pioneer methods in Cache Valley, for virtually everything was locally produced and the work done by local members.”
For over 75 years, the site acted as a spiritual center of faith and heritage. In the last 25 years, it has been a gathering place for city celebrations, concerts, school activities and private ceremonies.
But in 2010, the tabernacle closed its doors to the public, promising not to reopen until the Wellsville Tabernacle Foundation could secure $150,000 for roof and truss repairs.
“As a citizen, I have come to love the Wellsville Tabernacle,” said Julie Johnson, member of the tabernacle foundation. “I want to save it because it symbolizes the strength and beauty of a place I call home.“
As a citizen, I have come to love the Wellsville Tabernacle. I want to save it because it symbolizes the strength and beauty of a place I call home.
–Julie Johnson, Wellsville Tabernacle Foundation
Kaylene Ames, also of the Wellsville Tabernacle Foundation, agrees. “I believe it is truly my family's mission to serve on behalf of the Wellsville Foundation and preserve the beauty and heritage of our community.”
And so residents, like Ames and Johnson, have gone to work. Organizing silent auctions, bike races, carnivals and garage sales, residents and foundation members alike have made an ambitious goal of presenting new and creative fundraising events every month.
In addition, Eagle Scouts like Daniel Summit have pulled together resources to repair what they can, as they wait for the overall financial goals to be met.
“We would like to meet our goals by the end of the year,” said Johnson. “It may be wishful thinking, but above all we want people to know the building is not condemned. It can be repaired, and there is hope.”
And that hope is seen at each new event, as Wellsville residents turn out again and again to offer their support and give what they can to preserve a building that has come to mean so much to them.
If you’re interested in learning more about how you can help, members of the Wellsville Tabernacle Foundation can be reached at Wellsville Foundation, Inc. P.O. Box 166 Wellsville, UT 84339,. You can also call Kaylene Ames at 435-245-6950, and the group has a Facebook page, as well.
You can contact Travis at TSPoppleton@gmail.com
