Phoenix, Arizona, USA
Construction Program and Message of the Phoenix Second Ward1
by Rae Rose Kirkham
Bishop George F. Price and his two Counselors, George F. Macdonald and Golden K. Driggs launched into the project of a new home immediately. A committee was chosen to decide upon the building site. The southeast corner of Third Avenue and Latham Street was bought soon afterward at a cost of sixty-five hundred dollars. Before the plans for the new building were ready, an offer of twelve thousand dollars was made for this piece of ground. The proposition was accepted. The site diagonally across the street on the Northwest corner was purchased. This not only yielded a five thousand dollar profit, but afforded a south and an east front, which is preferable in this climate.
During the summer our farsighted leader traveled to Salt Lake City and to California to make a study of many modern Latter-day Saint Chapels. It was his aim to determine the choice of a building for our Ward that would combine convenience, beauty, and economy. Bishop Price then consulted with Pope & Burton of Los Angeles and Salt Lake City, and Louis S. Alexander, who was associated with them. With the approval of President J. Robert Price, he advised these architects to submit the plans. This firm had been the architects of the Phoenix First Ward, the Hollywood Stake tabernacle, and notably the Hawaiian and Canadian Temples.
The Superintendent of Construction
Brother J. Earl Heder, who now resides at 1223 Rowland Avenue, El Monte, California was chosen as superintendent of construction. He was recommended by Pope & Burton as the person capable of representing them. One of his recent outstanding achievements had been the completion of the Hollywood Stake House. Brother Heder was faithful and worked night and day. He made the architects' dream come true.
Actual work began December 20, 1928 when William Jarman first broke the ground with his tractor in company with Osmer D. Flake and Bishop Price. Crews during the day built forms and laid out plans in such a way that unskilled volunteer labor could work at night. The yard was electrified to facilitate construction after dark.
In the meantime the Phoenix Latter-day Saints began to raise money. The General Authorities of the Church in Salt Lake City had said they would match every dollar raised locally. In addition to assessments paid generously by the members, many interesting and unusual methods assisted in defraying the expenses. Progressive dinner parties netted two hundred eighty dollars. Luncheons served at the Church and State Fair brought in more than one thousand dollars. Plays and other types of entertainment assisted the finance committee. Phoenix merchants contributed generously by discounting purchases of materials.
Bishops George F. Price and John H. Udall appeared at a regular meeting of the bricklayers union and appealed to these workmen to donate what time they could toward the laying of the brick. Canute P. Breinholt and Ellis H. Johnson were the only Latter-day Saints who help membership in the union. However, when Bishops Price and Udall withdrew from the room, this non-religious organization voted to carry the following plan of assistance. With Ellis H. Johnson appointed as contractor in charge, the union members came daily in various numbers until the brick work was completed. One hundred eighty-five thousand brick were laid with each man contributing one-half of his usual compensation to the cause.
The united endeavor of so many people inspired all members in a spirit of true fellowship, indeed, in a greater understanding of and joy in each other.
Thus it is that the beautiful Second Ward Chapel is dedicated. Its portal stands ajar to invite the world to a comprehensive study of the ordinances and principles of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. January 17, 1932, seventy-two investigators were present at the regular Sunday evening services. Thanks is due for this courteous interest. The Phoenix Second Ward is grateful for the continual privilege of teaching the gospel to countless persons who inquire about the glorious to countless persons who inquire about the glorious message revealed from God through his Prophet Joseph Smith. Thus is God's work re-established in the earth again. The church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints bears this witness in all humility.
Description
The architectural style of the Phoenix Second Ward is distinctively Spanish. The building is constructed in the shape of the letter L. When one enters the chapel, admiration amounting to awe arrests the attention. There in solemn dignity the black oaken pews stand row upon row over a wine red floor carpeting. The high oval ceiling arches downward to supporting columns that again sustain successive smaller arches on either side of the room to form the aisles. Here is a marvel suggestive of a Moorish retreat. The walls are modeled in tiffeney blend oyster shell grey. The decoration of the arches is frescoed in semi-Gothic design. All ornamentation is in keeping with the architectural style but toned to partake of a devotional spirit. Surely this is the restful place where one has always wanted to be. The choir loft in the extreme west end circles behind the pulpit. A beautifully carved, black oaken buttress partitions this section of the auditorium from the
main assembly. The pulpit has been placed away from the center aisle so that the speaker may better view the eyes of the audience.
The Bishop's office is entered from the west end of the chapel. It is furnished with walnut table and chairs. The floor covering is like that of the chapel. Velour drapes blend with the color scheme. Doors lead from this room into a sacramental closet.
Acoustics of this building are startlingly clear and are not lost when the massive doors in the northwest corner of the room slide back to augment the seating capacity by the use of the recreational hall.
The chapel has a seating capacity of four-hundred. The choir loft accommodates forty, and the speaker's bench about twenty. By use of the recreational hall, one thousand people can be seated to enjoy services. They can all see the speaker, for the pulpit is constructed at an angle visible from either room, including the stage and balcony.
The recreational hall is spacious enough to accommodate comfortably seventy-five couples at a dancing party. Its unusual beamed ceiling paneled with Masonite is frescoed in modernistic design. The ornamentation of this room and its artistic balcony lends an individual setting to all social entertainment. A series of doors on the west side of this hall open upon a palm-skirted terrace. Doors likewise on the side can be opened into the privacy of the flowered patio and arcade.
In the north end of the recreational hall a modernly equipped stage is hidden to view by gorgeous scarlet velour curtains. These may be drawn aside to expose a reversible cyclorama of druid's cloth and black velour. This installation is hung on swivel beams that readily conform to different angles in the draped effect or to the use of either side of the cyclorama.
The most modern type of kitchen invites the committees who delve into the culinary art. This room has entrances to the amusement hall, the stage, and the terrace.
The hall adjoining the north end of the recreational room leads directly to the second floor where there are seven neatly carpeted classrooms and a projection room, with entrances on the balcony. The hall is also the approach to the small assembly, relief society rooms, rest rooms, and basement.
The small assembly is indeed a remarkable feature. Here one hundred may converse for such services as Primary, Relief Society, Officers' meetings or class work. This conserves the use of the main chapel and helps to maintain its sacredness.
The Relief Society room, adjoining the small assembly, is comfortably furnished in living room style with some nursery equipment.
The basement houses a modern heating and cooling system that provides seasonal comfort for the worshipers. It also contains a large concrete room with an independent entrance, lockers and showers. This is used exclusively to promote activities of the Boy Scouts.
One of the delightful surprises planned by the architects is the quiet patio, with its fragrant blooms, massive walls, and arcade. Reposeful moments await those who converse here with friends and children. At one end of the arcade an approach can be made to the chapel, and at the other end an entrance leads to the north hallway which connects all other parts of the building.
The Austin Organ
The Phoenix Second Ward is grateful to possess one of the most beautiful organs in the Latter-day Saint Church. This exceptional two-manual instrument was installed by the Austin Organ Company of Hartford, Connecticut. This factory sent representatives to make a study of our building. This enabled them to install an organ which has tonal quality peculiarly suited to the Chapel.
Except for the hidden console the complete instrument, with its many, many hundreds of pipes, is contained in a concrete room below the choir loft, which was constructed especially for this purpose.
The Phoenix Second Ward has been made the recipient of this unusually generous gift. The donor's name, because of his reticence, has not until now been publicly announced. For years to come the members and friends who worship in this Chapel will be indebted to Brother M. Allen Anderson, who made possible the beauty and happiness which comes through the ministry of music. Thanks and appreciation for this bestowal is felt by all who listen to the appealing strains of this instrument. Surely blessings will come to him who brings the sacred spirit of reflection and peace to abide in many hearts through the medium of sweet sounds.
SOURCE
1 Dedication program of the Phoenix Second Ward Chapel and Recreational Hall dated April 24, 1932 in the possession of Michael Ensign.