Improvements in the Logan Temple

Improvements in^ the Logan Temple

BY MRS. EDNA L. SMITH

Answering the request of the associate editor of the Era forinformation concerning the renovation and improvement of theLogan Temple, I will say that President Joseph F. Smith, BishopCharles \V. Nibley with Snsa Young- Gates, and myself, visitedLogan, on Saturday, May 1, last, and spent the day in inspectingthe temple and grounds.

This temple was commenced in September, 1877, and dedi-cated May 17, 1884. Since that time no improvements to thebuilding have been made, only the necessary cleaning of the in-terior having been done. So many changes being made in the artof building since that day, and so few of the many things neededfor the comfort and well being of the devoted Saints who at-tend the services in this sacred house being installed at that time,the Presidency and Presiding Bishop decided to inaugurate aseries of renovations and improvements.

John Lawrence, supervising engineer at the Temple Block,Salt Lake City, was instructed to visit Logan, inspect the structureand make recommendations. He, therefore, with the aid of SisterE Ina L. Smith," and the assistance of President Budge, prepare 1plans and made recommendations to the First Presidency, whichwere approved, and they were authorized to supervise the workof remodeling.

The work could not be very well undertaken until the sum-mer recess. But all plans were laid to commence work immedi-ately at the close of the summer's work. Since that time work-men have been constantly engaged in the various, phases of reno-vation.

The mechanical improvements undertaken, which were car-ried on under the supervision of Elder John Lawrence, under thedirection of the Presiding Bishopric, were very extensive, theheating system having to be entirely reconstructed. Changeswere made in the pipe lines, the returns being lowered to givegreater efficiency, and to reduce the cost of operation.

*Sister Edna L. Smith was appointed, over ten years ago, byPresident John R. Winder to take charge of the interior of theSalt Lake Temple, and to supervise the changes then being made inthat great structure. _ President Winder realized that the naturalquickness of a woman's eye would discover many conditions that aman would not see, and hence happily made the appointment whichhas proved very satisfactory to all concerned.—Editors.

IMPROVEMENTS IN THE LOGAN TEMPLE 459

The art of illuminating with electricity being practically un-known when this building was constructed, no provision wasmade for the lighting of it other than by the oil lamp or tallowcandle. It was necessary, therefore, to wire the building, whichwork was done, under the most modern and approved methods.Most of the wires are strung in conduits to avoid any possiblechance of fire, the danger of which is increased without conduitsin wiring an old structure. Modern electroliers and lights wereplaced in each room.

The plumbing in the building originally was very primitive.The installing of this work, therefore, was a stupendous task.Nine lavatories, and four drinking fountains have been placed ondifferent floors. Two comfort stations are placed on the outsideof the building, while the wash rooms are almost entirely rebuiltand improved. The walls of every room in the building havebeen either painted or washed.

Doors were cut through the massive six foot granite walls,opening into two larg'e rooms, one at the east and one at the westend, between the towers on the first floor. These rooms, have notbeen used in the past, not having had access to the body of theTemple. The east room was made into a rest room where moth-ers and children can rest and be made comfortable, awaiting theirturn to take part in the ordinances. The west room is fitted withlockers, and made into a rest room and dressing room for themen.

Seven rooms were created out of unused space in theinterior of the house; making rooms for the recorders, a ladies'dressing and rest room, rooms for lockers and others needed forvarious purposes.

A vacuum cleaner was installed to better enable the templeemployees to keep dust and dirt from accumulating on the floorsand walls. Hardwood floors were laid in some of the roomswhere the old wooden floors were badly worn. Three beautifulart glass windows have been installed, new draperies have beenhung, velvet and silk being used in some of these hangings, whilethe rest are muslin and linen. New and beautiful carpets havebeen laid in some of the rooms; one beautiful rug having beendonated for one of the inner rooms. The Relief Societies of theseven stakes in this Temple district are preparing carpets for thehalls and other space needing carpets. In fact the labor and ma-terial required to make this building thoroughly modern ran intoa large amount, in the neighborhood of $40,000 having beenspent, to make the building thoroughly modern and a suitableplace for the work which is being carried on within its walls.

For the kitchen appointments, which have also been re-newed, personal donations of Mrs. C. W. Nibley and Mrs. DavidEccles were given amounting to more than a hundred dollars each.