Washington Relief Society Hall - Washington City, Utah
Posted by: BruceS
N 37° 07.807 W 113° 30.677
12S E 276917 N 4112258
Historic social and service hall in Washington City, Utah.
Waymark Code: WM52TY
Location: Utah, United States
Date Posted: 11/02/2008
Views: 14
Relief Society Hall
Built 1875
The Relief Society Hall's main section was built in 1875 and the west wing
about 1904. This makes the present "L" shaped building. Both
sections were built of adobes that were produced locally. Its style of
architecture is Greek Revival that prevailed in Utah during the early settlement
days. It is the only remaining late-nineteenth -century public building in
Washington City and is the oldest standing Relief Society Hall in the Church of
Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints.
This building served variously as a meeting house, post office, co-op
store, apartment, city and service club offices and mortuary. After this
building was built, the Relief Society of Washington held their meetings here
but part of the time they met in members' homes, this allowed them to rent part
of the building so that the money could be used to help the poor. One of
their functions was to prepare the deceased for burial. If a long white
board was outside against the building it meant someone had passed on and a
funeral would be planned. The members made clothing, quilts, conducted
fund raising bazaars and luncheons in this building to raise money to accomplish
their goals. - text of marker on site