San Bernardino 1st Ward Chapel Interior
I was quite surprised by the interior of this building, especially the radial layout placed inside a rectangular exterior. What it provides is a nice space for support rooms behind the rostrum. All of the pews, pulpit, and even choir seats appear to be intact from the original design.
901 F Street
San Bernardino, CA
Built 1933; Sold 1975?
Architect: William Harber
Now Iglesia Cristiana Bautista
Map Location of Building
Long Beach Meetinghouse
I am unsure of any info on this building yet. But I absolutely love the front. I was in San Antonio last week and will be in Washington DC this next week, so there won’t be any posts for probably another week.
6979 Orange Ave
Long Beach, CA
Map Location of Building
San Diego 3rd and 8th Ward Exterior
It was difficult to get a shot of this building with all the trees at the sidewalk and with a tall security fence surrounding the building. This photo is of the chapel, taken from the sidewalk in front of the building. The Cultural Hall is unconnected and to the right of this photo. Access between the two is through an internal courtyard.
5299 Trojan Ave
San Diego, CA
Built 1962
Architect: Deems and Martin Associates
Map Location of Building
San Diego 3rd and 8th Ward Chapel Interior
I was blown away by just about every detail of this meetinghouse. Definitely one of my favorite mid-century buildings.
5299 Trojan Ave
San Diego, CA
Built 1962
Architect: Deems and Martin Associates
Map Location of Building
Matthews Ward Entry
Originally organized as the Florence Ward in 1923, the ward name was changed to Matthews in 1924 after a $15,000 donation towards a building by ward member George Leon Matthews. A convert from the RLDS Church, George was 86 years old in 1926. The ward members suggested and voted for the ward name to be changed in his honor. Because of the donation, construction began immediately. Dedicated the following year, the entire building would cost about $22,000. In 1926, George and his wife also donated an Estey organ to the building.
On Feb 2, 1941 ground breaking took place for a new chapel to be built to the west of the original chapel. The new building was dedicated on Feb 7, 1943 by Charles A Callis of the Twelve. By 1962, the Ward was made the official Indian Branch Headquarters for the area and by Feb 1963, the Matthews Ward would be discontinued and combined with another ward.
The building has since been sold and is now being used by the New Morning Star Baptist Church. The letters ‘LDS’ still remain in the entry lobby off of the busy street which functions as the main entry into the building. Beyond the doors is the Cultural Hall.
210 W Florence
Los Angeles, CA
Built 1941-43
Architect: Harold W. Burton
Now Greater New Morning Star Baptist Church
Map Location of Building
Beverly Hills Ward Exterior
Also known as the Westwood Ward Chapel. This building has a similar, but not as grand entry as the Las Vegas 9th Ward Chapel, also designed by Harold Burton.
10740 Ohio Ave
Los Angeles, CA
Built 1950
Architect: Harold W Burton
Map Location of Building
Beverly Hills Ward Chapel Interior
I believe this building is now called the Westwood Ward, but originally was the Beverly Hills Ward. Built several years prior to the Los Angeles Temple, this Chapel is located several blocks behind it. I love how the Sacrament table is not only centered in the room, but also brought forward as the closest element to the pews. The pulpit is pushed to the side as is the clerk table. This arrangement shows the importance of the sacrament over that of the spoken word.
10740 Ohio Ave
Los Angeles, CA
Built 1950
Architect: Harold W Burton
Map Location of Building
San Bernardino 1st Ward Exterior
The city and valley of San Bernardino were founded by Mormon pioneers sent by Brigham Young. However, it would be many years before Church members would build their own Chapel. Ground was broken in 1930 when the congregation was still a Branch. LDS member William Harber was selected as both the architect and builder on the project. The building was completed and dedicated some time in 1933. I was unable to find an exact date. By 1935 the Branch had grown large enough to become a Ward. From this point until 1942, money was raised to add a Recreation Hall and additional classrooms in a separate building. Part of this newer building can be seen in the left side of the photo. Construction began in May of that year and was dedicated on October 9, 1943 by Marvin O. Ashton of the Presiding Bishopric. I have not as yet been able to find out when the building was sold, but it may have been in January 1975 when a new Stake Center in the city was dedicated. The building now functions as a Christian Baptist Church.
901 F Street
San Bernardino, CA
Built 1933; Sold 1975?
Architect: William Harber
Now Iglesia Cristiana Bautista
Map Location of Building
Maywood Ward Exterior
Dedicated on Easter Sunday of 1949 by Spencer W. Kimball after 24 months of construction.
4407 Randolph St
Maywood, CA
Built 1949
Map Location of Building
Huntington Park Ward Detail
6531 Middleton St
Huntington Park, CA
Built 1926
Architect: Lawrence Nowell
Map Location of Building
Huntington Park Ward Exterior
Groundbreaking was held on Sunday, June 13, 1926 and completed by December 12 of that same year when meetings were first held in the building. The main hall had a seating capacity of 600 with an amusement hall directly below. On Sunday, January 2, 1927 the building was dedicated by Pres. Heber J Grant. Later that year plans were made to greatly expand the building to form the Los Angeles Stake Tabernacle. Construction on this Stake Center began January 3, 1928 and was completed on May 22, 1928. A unique feature of the Tabernacle was a Lounge, the idea of Stake President Caldwell, that offered a luxurious parlor for socializing. The Stake Tabernacle was eventually dedicated on June 2, 1929. More recently the building housed a Spanish-speaking Stake, but now houses only a single Spanish-speaking ward.
6531 Middleton St
Huntington Park, CA
Built 1926
Architect: Lawrence Nowell
Map Location of Building
Berkeley Ward Relief Society Room
1501 Walnut St
Berkeley, CA
Built 1934
Architect: Theodore G Ruegg
Click for Map Location of Building
Berkeley Ward Pipe Organ
1501 Walnut St
Berkeley, CA
Built 1934
Architect: Theodore G Ruegg
Click for Map Location of Building
Berkeley Ward Exterior Detail
1501 Walnut St
Berkeley, CA
Built 1934
Architect: Theodore G Ruegg
Click for Map Location of Building
Berkeley Ward Exterior Balconies
Small balconies coming off the Relief Society room.
1501 Walnut St
Berkeley, CA
Built 1934
Architect: Theodore G Ruegg
Click for Map Location of Building
Berkeley Ward Chapel Exit
1501 Walnut St
Berkeley, CA
Built 1934
Architect: Theodore G Ruegg
Click for Map Location of Building
Berkeley Ward Chapel Interior
The beautiful wood panel at the back slides down to allow for overflow into the cultural hall for larger meetings.
1501 Walnut St
Berkeley, CA
Built 1934
Architect: Theodore G Ruegg
Click for Map Location of Building
Berkeley Ward Chapel Interior
The window blinds were drawn for General Conference, so it was a bit dark, and I unfortunately didn’t have my tripod. As a result, the picture is a little grainier than I would like, but it’s a magnificent chapel. And the low light adds to the rustic feel from the exposed wooden trusses.
1501 Walnut St
Berkeley, CA
Built 1934
Architect: Theodore G Ruegg
Click for Map Location of Building
Berkeley Ward Window
1501 Walnut St
Berkeley, CA
Built 1934
Architect: Theodore G Ruegg
Click for Map Location of Building
Berkeley Ward Exterior
1501 Walnut St
Berkeley, CA
Built 1934
Architect: Theodore G Ruegg
Click for Map Location of Building
Vallejo Ward Exterior
This building was built in three main phases. The Assembly room that is now the Recreation Hall was built first in 1943. A large Classroom addition was built in 1954. Finally the Chapel and Tower as seen on the left half of this photo were added in 1955. The chapel and tower addition were planned at the time of the classroom addition in 1954. The most likely reason for separating the two phases a year apart from each other was funding. Fortunately, all three of these designs were all by the same architect. A fourth addition was done much later in 1973 by architect Brian L Johnson. This addition consisted of a new classroom wing that protruded forward towards the street and in some ways mirrored the chapel that also had been brought forward to the street.
110 Los Santos Ct
Vallejo, CA
Built 1943
Architect: Theodore G Ruegg
Click for Map Location of Building
Claremont Ward Lobby
2334 Stuart Street
Berkeley, CA
Architect: Possibly Leslie Dean Price (He designed the Overlook chapel in Walnut Creek – a similar looking building)
Dedicated 1955. Renamed Oakland 5th Ward in 1965. Ward dissolved in 1970 and sold to a Christian church – possibly the Unification Church (Moonies). Sold to Hare Krishna’s several years after this.
Now the New Jagannatha Puri (ISKCON Berkeley Hare Krishna Temple)
Click for Map Location of Building
LDS ARCHITECTURE 