RETURNING TO NORMALCY AND DEPRESSION, 1946-1975
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saints as they sang out praise to their god. Maybe the structure is a little dusty inside, but there is the ever present recognition, that those who settled here before were... sturdy men who know who to budd a budding to last through the ages." At the same time, the Heber City Councd rejected an offer by the county to purchase the building for $60,000.73 Gradually, without much use, the tabernacle weathered and needed repair. In June 1984 Heber City councdman Louis R. Jackson appealed for volunteers to help fix the building. Pointing out that volunteers had donated time and labor to build the tabernacle, he asked for volunteers to help keep it up. In the early days, Jackson explained, "it was a religious focal point. Today, it is just a monument to those who struggled to build it." Robert J. McCormick, a retired engineer, agreed to manage the budding. Jackson hoped that once the building was cleaned up that the city could charge a use rental fee and the budding could maintain itself without cost to the city. The county fair had already asked to use it. A month later Jackson reported that he had only received two calls about the tabernacle. Despite the apparent lack of interest, however, McCormick had been inspecting the building to see what needed to be done. He had determined that the ceiling needed to be fixed and the original soft wood around the windows was rotting out. In addition, the flooring, roof, electricity, and plumbing needed to be inspected. Jackson pleaded that if something was not done the building would be lost. "Those who determined in the saving of the landmark will certainly step forward to continue its existence. Those who find it a financial plague may just sit back and hope that no rescue will materialize.... If nothing is done the building wdl eventuady be a tomb of decay on the inside, while red stones, weatherworn and emblematic stdl spire to heaven on the outside, untd the roof falls in." Some people questioned Jackson's commitment to the project, though. When the city councd planned a vote to put a cement stage on the grounds, Heber City resident Agnes Tucker explained, "We can't expect Mr. Jackson to vote for any improvement for the Tabernacle since he recently obtained the City Councd's approval to remove the Tabernacle's picture from Heber City letterhead. I cannot think of a more appropriate logo."74
