Heber Amusement Hall, 100 North & 100 West Streets, Heber City

Source document Quoted word for word from HABS UTAH,26-HEBER,4-. Not written, edited or summarised by this site.

ginal Mormon town square in Utah, not encroached upon by other buildings. One of few spring- mounted dancefloors in Utah. PART I. HISTORICAL INFORMATION A. Physical History 1. Original and subsequent owners: Wasatch Stake of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints Heber City 2. Date of erection: 3. Architect: Mr. Watkins of Provo, Utah h. Builder, suppliers, et;c. : Edward D. Clyde 5. Original plan and construction: The Wasatch Wave on February 9, announced that the new hall would be "patterned after the Apollo Hall at American Fork (Utah)" and that it would be 60 x 120 feet in size. They also stated that "it is expected work will commence next week". However, it was not until April 20, that an article announced the start of construction at the site.

Evi- dently this only applied to the site work since an arti- cle on June 1, informs that "valuable information has been gained and submitted to Architect Watkins of Provo (Utah) who is now drafting plans and specifications for a building which will combine the best features of the most up to date halls of our state." Apparently construction lagged, for the July 2U, issue of the Wave indicated that constiruction was only substantially complete. HEBER AMUSEMENT HALL HABS No. U-28 (Page 2) They described the "building as follows: "The "ballroom is 123 "by 58 feet. The dancing floor is laid, the first of Oregon fir, the second of maple and placed upon 56 springs "bedded on native sandstone. It will "be one of the finest dancing floors in the state.

The ceiling is modeled after the dance hall at Brigham City, with pendant arches running across about 20 feet apart, which is sup- posed to improve the acoustic properties. In the '_ front of the "building will he two dressing rooms, one on each side of the large central door, with a wash room and toilet attached to each. There will also be a ticket office and cloak room in the front end of the hall and over these rooms will be a gallery pro- vided with comfortable seats for those who do not wish to participate in the dance, or wish to rest while watching the others dance." It continues "At the south end of the hall is a platform provided for the use of the orchestra.

The large room west of the hall will be used for the present for refresh- ments where lemonade and other mild drinks may he obtained. While the hall is not completed by any means , the floor has been laid and seats made around the dance floor, so it is convenient for dancing in good weather. A ball was held there last night, and another will be given this evening." 6. Alterations and additions: A kitchen was added to the Southwest corner of the building sometime before as indicated on a Sanborn map of that year. In some remodeling took place as reported in the town paper of that year. Early photographs indicate considerable later revision to the north facade. B.

Historical Events and Persons Associated with the Building: This building was one of the first cooperative projects of the three wards (ecclesiastical subdivision) of the Wasatch Stake of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints (Mormons). Most of the work was done by volunteer labor. C. Sources of Information: 1. Primary and unpublished sources: Interview with Mr. Don Barker, President, Heber City Historical Society. Interview with Ruth Witt, Treasurer, Heber City # Historical Society. HEBER AMUSEMENT HALL HABS No. U^28. CPage 3) Sanbom Map Co., Map of He"ber City, 2. Bibliography; Mortimer, Wm. James, How Beautiful Upon the Mountains, Daughters of the Utah Pioneers, Wasatoh Wave, Wasatch Wave, Wasatch Wave, April 20, Prepared by John L. Giusti, AIA September 5, PART II.

ARCHITECTURAL INFORMATION A. General Statement: 1. Architectural interest: Besides being a typical early Utah public recreation facility, the Heber Amusement Hall is located on the Heber Town Square which is in itself typical of the early Utah town square which provided facilities for governmental, religious and recreational activities. 2. Condition of fabric: Good, although remodeling in considerably altered the original structure. B. Description of Exterior: 1. Over-all dimensions: A one-story, 2" x 6l' north- . south rectangle intersects with an east-west 6l' x kO1 8" rectangle to forra.a 2. Foundations: Red sandstone. 3. Wall construction, finish and color: Rough, coursed red sandstone ashlar. k. Structural system, framing: Masonry walls support a timber roof frame. 5.

Porches and stoops: Concrete stoops at the north and west entrances are modern. 6, Chimneys: Two modern chimneys, one at "Southeast corner and the other at the southwest portion of the west side are brick. HEBER AMUSEMENT HALL HABS No. U-28 (Page k) 7. Openings: a. Doorways and doors: Worth and west doorways have Roman arches over a semicircular window and three doors. The doors are modern. The south stage doorways have heavy timber lintels. French doors have eight lights in each door. h. Windows: Windows on either side of the two main entrances have semicircular arches and are double hung with two-over-one and one-over-one lights. Beneath the arches there are four lights. North windows have four vertical wood panels at the gallery level.

Above the two entrance doors are three round openings which presumably once held glass. All other windows are double hung with red sandstone lintels, and four-over-four lights. 8. Roof: a. Shape, covering: Roof is hipped with gables at the north and west entrances, and is covered with shingles It is suspected that this roof dates from Old views show a false front with a shaped gable. b. Cornice: Wood cornice has crown and bed moldings. C. Description of Interior: 1. Floor plans: The building is divided into a social hall in the west projection and a dance hall in the eastern portion. At the north end of the dance hall a small band shell replaces the larger original stage. At the south end a ticket office, cloak room and two dressing rooms with washrooms and toilet rooms.

Above these rooms is a gallery for non-participant observers. 2. Stairways: The only stairways are at the north end of the dance hall and lead to the gallery along the east and west walls. 3- Flooring: All flooring is maple laid on Oregon Fir. The dance floor is raised and rests on fifty-six springs bedded in native red sandstone. k. Wall and celling finish: Modern acoustical dropped- ceil- ing installed in replaces pendant arches at twenty feet on centers originally put in for acoustical purposes. Walls are plastered, with tongue and groove wainscots.

Heber Amusement Hall Hals

No. U-28 (Page 5) 5. Doorways and doors: Modern folding doors separate the social hall from the dance floor. All other doors and doorways are modern. 6. Lighting, type of fixtures: Modern incandescent. 7. Heating: The present central furnace replaces an earlier one. D. Site and Surroundings: 1. Orientation: The "building fronts &V from the center of 100 North Street and 50' from the center of 100 West Street located in the north-vest quadrant of the historic Heher Town Square and has the Wasatch County Courthouse and Jail to the south-east and the Wasatch Stake Taber- nacle to the east. 2. Landscaping and walks, enclosures: The building is located next to the sidewalks which encircle the park- like Heher Town Square. There is a modern asphalt parking area to the south. Prepared "by C. W.

Barrow, Jr. Student Assistant Architect Utah Project June 30, PART III. PROJECT INFORMATION This record is part of a Utah Survey conducted in the summers of I967 and under joint sponsorship of the Historic American. Buildings Survey of the Office of Archeology and Historic Preser- vation of the National Park Service and the Utah Heritage Foundation. Field work, historic research and record drawings were done under the direction of Project Supervisor Paul Goeldner, AIA (Texas Tech Univer- sity) assisted by Project Historian John L. Giusti, AIA (University of Utah). Photographs were made by P. Kent Fairbanks of Salt Lake City. Student Assistant Architects on the team were Robert M. Swanson and Charles W. Barrow, (University of Texas) and Kenneth L.

Lambert and Keith Sorenson, (University of Utah). Student Assistant Architects were Keith Sorenson, Charles D. Harker and Robert Schriever, (University of Utah) and Donald G. Prycer, (Texas A. & M. University). .^siSlltilP