The Grantsville Meetinghouse constructed in 1865-66 is locally significant as one of a limited number of early LDS meetinghouses still standing that was built in the traditional style of early church buildings, based on the Greek Revival temple form, and in traditional building materials, adobe that was plastered over. It is particularly unusual among early meetinghouses in that the vestry was attached at the rear of the building and not on the front as was most common. The building served as a center for religious and community activities in the early days of Grantsville and is a reminder of the importance of the church in all aspects of pioneer life. A 1952 addition is not included in the historic register nomination.
The Grantsville First Ward Meetinghouse is located at 297 West Clark Street in Grantsville, Utah and was added to the National Register of Historic Places (#82004165) on February 11, 1982.
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In 1848, Thomas Ricks and Ira Will-is built the first structure on what is present day Clark Street in Grantsville. The building was a herd house used by the two men who were herding stock for Brigham Young and Bishop Edwin D. Wooley.
On October 10, 1850, Joseph McBride, Harrison Severe and their families arrived and established Willow Creek. In March of 1851, the families moved across the valley and resided in the settlement of Pine Canyon. The reason for this move was for protection against the Indians in the area who had been raiding cattle from the white settlers. In December of that year, McBrides, Severes, and five other families returned to establish a permanent settlement. It was at this time that the first “branch” of the IDS Church was established at Grantsville. In 1852, the townsite was surveyed by Jesse W. Fox under the direction of Colonel George W. Grant, an officer in the Nauvoo Legion. Grant had been chosed by Brigham Young to help the Saints protect themselves against the Indians in the area. In 1853, the town was renamed “Grantsville” in honor of Col. Grant.
In March, 1854, Elder Wilford Woodruff called for more volunteers to help settle the area. This call took place at a conference of the church held in the tabernacle in Salt Lake City. In 1853, a fort was begun and by fall of 1854, it was nearly completed. The fort wall had a five foot thick base that gradually narrowed to an eighteen inch thickness at the top. The wall was twelve feet high. It was during this period of time that the first meetinghouse was built. The log structure had a dirt floor and was approximately 20′ x 16′. The building served as the hub of community life. It was located in the area west of the chapel that is now Cooley Street. In 1865, plans were made for a new meetinghouse. The building was to be located within the fort walls. The building would be made of adobe bricks and the clay for these bricks came from the pits located a quarter mile north of the building.
In July of 1865, construction of the building began under the direction of Hugh Alexander Ross Gillespie, a native of Scotland who had come to Tooele in 1853. Gillespie is also responsible for building some of the structures at Camp Floyd and bad come to Utah to work on the Salt Lake City Temple. The building was completed in June of 1866 at a reported cost of $10,000. The building was 60 feet in length and 38 feet wide, with a vestry located on tbe back of the building that was 22 feet by 18 feet. The “Presiding Elder” of the Grantsville Branch at the time of construction was Thomas H. Clark.
Dedicatory services for the building were held July 14, 1866. Those attending the services included Brigham Young, Wilford Woodruff, George Albert Smith, and Franklin D. Richard, with the dedicatory prayer being offered by George Q. Cannon. At these services, Brigham Young blessed the Saints and requested that there should be not dancing in the new meetinghouse. Members of the community are proud of the fact that every man who is or has been president of the LDS Church, has spoken in this building with the exception of Joseph Smith.
In 1877, the Grantsville Ward was established and William Jefferies became the first bishop of Grantsville. During these early years, the church continued to serve as the hub of the community, as did the log structures in the 1850s and early 1860s. The meetinghouse was the center of social and community life, as well as religious life. By the early part of the Twentieth century. Grantsville had grown to the point that the ward was divided and the Grantsville Second Ward was established. This took place in 1914. It was at this time that the Second Ward Meetinghouse was built on Main Street. This building was recently demolished (1980). The addition on the eastern end of the First Ward building was added in 1952 to provide classroom space. The meetinghouse was used until 1978, when a new building was built. After the move to the new building, discussion as to the use of this building took place. Plans included demolition at one point. There was also speculation about the city buying it. When the city decided not to buy the building, Tate Mortuary of Tooele purchased the building. In the future, the building will be used for viewings and funeral services.
The Grantsville Ward Meetinghouse is a one story, gable roof, rectangular structure whose style is derived from the Greek Revival temple form. It is situated gable end to the street. Classical elements include a boxed cornice with returns on the gable ends, and quoins. The pattern of the quoins is repeated around the door which is centered on the facade.
The meetinghouse was constructed of adobe, and then stuccoed. The thickness of the walls exceeds two feet. Wood shingles have been replaced by asphalt shingles on the roof. A vestry was added to the rear of meetinghouse. It has a gable roof and a cornice similar to the meetinghouse.
The façade is symmetrical, the door centered between two windows. Above the door is a medallion on which is printed, “LDS Chapel, First Ward, 1866.” All the windows on the meetinghouse and vestry are the double hung sash type, and those on the meetinghouse have a transom over them.
The main assembly room has undergone extensive remodeling. The choir loft was removed to make way for a bigger rostrum area. In 1952 a complex of classrooms and other auxiliary rooms was added to the east of the chapel, it detracts only slightly fromthe original integrity of the building and is not included as part of the nomination.