Obed Taylor Designs Were Not Above the Ability of (Died July30,1881), Salt Lake City Builders to Execute Them
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PIONEER Their Lives ALLEN ROBERTS nable to resist the opportunity of Allen D. Roberts received a B.A. degree in engaging in the popular sport of Art and Design from Brigham Young lambasting Mormon life and University in 1973 and is currently culture, an architectural working on his master's degrees in correspondent for the Western Architect and architecture and history at the University Building News (14 July 1890) delivered an of Utah. Men is currently the unjustifiably cruel and biased evaluation Architectural Historian for the State of what wasessentially Mormon architecture: Utah, and is working on a preservation policy for historic buildings owned by the Whatever may be said of attractions of LDSChurd.1. Salt Lake City, in many respects it must be acknowledged that architecturally 68 SUNSTONE the place is woefully behind the age, problems and the complex solutions they and the weather-beaten and ambling demand. But the architect of today would adobes present an appearance that feel no more comfortable in the shoes of does not accord with the ideas of the pioneer architect. "Builderlarchitect" is modem civilization. Only to the a more appropriate term for the antiquarian in his studies and multi-disciplined designer who usually researches of primitive inhabitation of designed and built his structures and many can they be of interest. personally worked out every problem. There were few professionally trained Even after 43 years of constant architects in 19th-century America. A development and refining of the select few aristocrats received school architectural profession in the Mormon training at the Ecole des Beaux-Arts in Corridor, the myth of a spiritually and Paris, but most architects were materially impoverished people living in semi-skilled draftsmen - usually rustic adobe buildings under the rule of carpenters, masons, or contractors -who despotic leadership which suppressed also possessed artistic sensitivity and individual expression still persisted drawing skills. Texts for these self-made among the uninformed. Yet in fad there designers were limited to a few carpenter's were probably few western cities in the and builder's guides and house pattern region better prepared to execute books. From these the builderlarchitect architectural designs of the finest quality would select his favorite Greek or Gothic than Salt Lakecity in its pioneers days. To Revival comice details, window and door be sure, the predominant style of building types, moulding and stair patterns, etc. for the first f;?wdecades consisted of Strict formulas depending on rules of vernacular forms and indigenous proportion and scale, symmetry and other materials, but skilled architects and principles of art were religiously adhered builders were sent to many of the major to by the better designers to insure that settlements at an early date, causing a their plans and elevations were endowed rapid development of building technology with the proper correctness, order, and and a consequent urban imagery unity. Most plans for major buildings were expressing contemporary ideology. well drawn, considering the primitive The contribution of early Mormon drafting implements available, but usually architects and their arclhtecture has never included little more than exterior been adequately explored. Because of the elevations, floor plans, and a structural Salt Lake Temple, Tabernacle, Beehive transverse section. There were a few notes and Lion houses, Salt Lake Theatre, and on the plans, but a list of specifications Council Hall, we know of the fine written out in longhand, and cost accomplishments of pioneer architects estimates, would be provided if the owner Truman 0.Angell, William H. Folsom, requested them. and Henry Grow, but outside of these Many Mormon architects in pioneer Utah men, little is known of Utah's early were well acquainted with styles of eastern designers. It is the purpose of this article to and midwestem America and Europe, illuminate a part of our architedural past especially Great Britain. Several had by identifying several of Utah's early worked on the temples in Kirtland and designers and discussing their significant Nauvoo. two ambitious structures which works. proved that Mormon designers had, if The Role of Architects in the Mid-19th given adequate technology, the ability to Century aeate and execute splendid designs. Lagging building technology was the The typical amhitect of 1850 would obstacle which prevented other western undoubtedly feel lost in the office of a architects from developing monumental modem architect, with all its complicated architecture of the type that had grown up catalogs, drafting machinery, in the East. A comparable intermountain paperwork and, most of all, grand design city, Denver, Colorado, did not develop its SUNSTONE 69 natural resources during its formative There was no attemptby either the Church years as rapidly as Salt Lake did and or architects themselves to develop a consequently its pre-railroad architecture distinct "Mormon" style; thus, except for was less impressive than Salt Lake's. The ubiquitous vernacular styling we find no limitations resulting from primitive pronounced regional "high style and technology were removed at an early date little real uniqueness in mid-19th century for Mormon architects. Mainly because of Utah architecture. Designs came from the Church'sdesiretoestablish a permanent Chicago, St. Louis, and Kansas City in the Midwest; Boston, Philadelphia, and New ir and beautiful Kingdom of God, the development of a building industry was a York in the East; and Denver and San top priority in new Mormon settlements. Francisco in the West. Even Public works programs in most cities ethnic-dominatedtowns such as Midway, guaranteed a continual supply of Spring City, and Millard used American competent aaftsmen for major plans, forms, and detailing almost construction projects and rapidly entirely. A major desire seems to have exploited natural resources - i.e., day for been to divest Utah of its early image as a adobes and brick, lime for mortar and desert land of scattered villages with log plaster, iron for nails and machinery, trees andadobe cabins. While not attempting to for structural lumber and decorative trim, create a uniquely Mormon style, iiis - - giving architects the materials they apparent that the Church and its architect needed to erect fine buildings. The members had a general consciousness of advantages of well-planned cities, architectural reputation. Many superb cooperative employment programs, and bt-lildingsserved to reflect the Church's the inherent skills of aaftsmen who came presence, strength, taste, and awareness from many parts of the world were of fashionable styles of the day. utilized by Mormon architects to produce Let us turn now to specific architects, their structures which frankly amazed many lives and works. ~e&usethey are already objective travelers who observed the well known and have been the subject of territory's progress through its numerous articles, Truman 0. Angell, architech tral maturation. William H. Folsom, and Henry Grow will While the relationship of Church and not be discussed at length. Rather, four lesser known,even totally forgotten, architect was symbiotic, the Church did architects whose works were important to not go so far as to deaee that certain styles be followed (with the possibleexception of the development of pioneer architecture throughout early Mormondom will be the temples) in its buildings. Good considered. workmanship, use of the best materials, and practical designs were encouraged, but architects were at liberty to express themselves individually, provided their Obed Taylor designs were not above the ability of (died July30,1881), Salt Lake City builders to execute them. The limitations imposed on design were few and many On 25 July 1855, Elder George P Smith critical writers who predicted the temple received a letter from San Francisco which would never be completed or the great gives us our initial aquaintance with clear-spanning tabernacle roof would Obed Taylor: "I am at present stopping never stand were fortunately with a brother Obed Taylor whom Brother disappointed. Excessive designs and those Parley (P. Pratt) baptized last spring. He which too strongly suggested a was a Canada acquaintance of my wife relationship to the apostate Pturgy of Martha, rejoices in the tmth, and is Catholicism or other iconoclastic of pagan extremely arduous to gather."' For some religions were avoided in favor or reason Taylor did not "gather'' to Zion 1 relatively simple and straightforward untilabout 1871. His death on 30 July 1881 ': ': ' forms. came while the architect was at the height of a bright career which, unfortunately, SUNSTONE 71 ended after only ten years of practice in brick, but the front and mof featud Utah. During those ten years Obed Taybr marvelous Itabnate cast iron. produced many of the state's finest and Perhaps receiving impetus fnom Richard best-known stnrchms. Taylor was for M. Upjohn's @or Eist National Bank several years the partner of WhH. (1871) on South State Street, Folsom and Folsom. This talented team designed the Taylor produced the largestiron front ever Deseret National Bank (1873,the original erected in the territory. Due to its modubr Z.C.M.I. with its famous cast-iron and precast system, several additions were storefront (1876), and the Feramon Little made to the old front wihtdisturbing ~iden~.2Taylor's independent works the effectiveness of the original design. were no less impressive: Ogden's The Deseret National Bank and the Z.C.M.I. and First National Bank Block Z.C.M.I. Building in Ogden were similar (1881),3 the late Salt Lake 18th Ward in appearance, both calling upona classical meeting house,' the Salt Lake Assembly decorative vocabulary for the main Hall, and the large Coal* Tabernacle. ornamental ele~nents.~Both buildings Nothing is known of Taylor's architectural were three storiestall, occupied corner lots, background in Canada and San Frandsco. and had clipped comers with the main He was a quiet, retkingman by nature and entries facing the street comers at 45 left no account of his early degree angles.