Spring City Travel Guide

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This beautiful building completed in 1914 is the heart and soul of the town. In the 70's when the town was dying and the chapel was in great need of repairs the LDS church was set on tearing it down. Farsighted locals rallied and convinced the church to restore it instead. It became the beginning of new and better things for the town. Following is a copy from Sanpete County's website:

This Gothic Revival/Romanesque-influenced stone LDS Chapel was constructed between 1898 and 1914, although an inscription stone bears the date”1902.” Richard C. Watkins was the architect of this spectacular edifice. Scandinavian masons Bohlin, Carlson, Larsen and Sorensen did the stone work. The carpenter’s name was Erickson. The building has an elegant, horseshoe-shaped gallery accessible by a stairway in the tower. The chapel features a sloping floor and an ornamental oak pulpit at the west end. Behind the pulpit, hand-grained sliding doors opened into the annex. From the original exposed flooring to the vaulted and beamed ceiling, the interior is replete with beautifully detailed woodworking, all following the Gothic theme. The pulpit and the handmade rostrum chairs for the ward leadership are skillfully carved. The pew ends are decoratively milled, as is the sacrament table. The exterior is equally impressive with its tall, Gothic windows, tall stone tower and buttress and overall massiveness and solidity.
The chapel was conceived in 1882 by LDS bishop James Anderson Allred, who appointed a committee of twenty men to plan the project. It eventually was built at a cost of $40,000, with $6,000 received from church funds, and the remainder being donated by the men and women of Spring City ward. A masterpiece of LDS Church architecture, this chapel was dedicated in March 1914 by Anthon F. Lund, counselor to Mormon Church President Joseph F. Smith. During construction, a classroom annex was added to the rear. A compatible addition was made on the north in 1978, using rock from the same quarry to carefully match the design elements.

You'll have to go to Manti, Ephraim, Mt Pleasant or Nephi if you want a movie. The only thing to do at night here is to sit by the fire and read a book, invite friends over for games or impromptu musicals.

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Located in a prominent place on main street in an old store built in 1905 is the studio and wholesale outlet of Joseph Bennion, potter. He and his wife Lee, who is a wonderful artist, moved to Spring City in 1977 to pursue their life of art in the country. They managed to raise three daughters, throwing pots and painting for their living.
If you happen to be there when Joe is available he will "regale" you with stories of life and love and joy---or that's what it sounded like to me. Maybe I am a bohemian wannabe at heart.

Joe named his shop for the local mountain shaped like its name. He makes pots that are to be used and useful. But at the same time they are truly works of art.

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Manti is actually the main town in the greater central Utah area, and Spring City is off the beaten path. However I wanted to include a little bit about the Manti Temple as I may never get a Manti page completed.

The Manti Temple was the third temple completed in Utah by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints (LDS or Mormon). Though most people associate the temple in Salt Lake City with the church it is not the only one. While it was being built several other temples were completed in Logan and St George in 1877 and Manti's in 1888 with the Salt Lake temple finally being dedicated in 1893.

Manti's Temple design is similar to that of the one in Logan, however it was built from the local light colored oolitic limestone and I feel it is the most beautiful temple in Utah. It stands on a hill and is easily visible to travelers down highway 89.

Though it, as are all LDS temples, is closed to the general public, during June the town puts on the Manti Pageant which celebrates their religious heritage and to which all are invited.