Get ready for some surprises the nest time you visit the historic Provo Tabernacle, now closed for renovation.
First off, a striking new interior paint job is sure to grab your attention. It’s aimed at restoring the tabernacle’s original colors and decorative style.
A contrast from the blend of whites and pastel greens of recent years, the new decor features “antique white” walls and ceiling, dramatically accented by brown, green and gold tones on the woodwork, ceiling borders and balcony supports.
A major part of the improvement project will be a sophisticated new sound system designed to overcome a perennial problem by making the edifice as acoustically adequate for the spoken word as it always has been for music.
And finally, for both acoustical and decorative purposes, a deep green, heavy-density carpet is being laid in the pew areas, with a patterned version replacing worn carpet in the foyer, aisles and stairways.
You may love the new color scheme, call it “beautiful” as did carpeting contractor Bruce Kelly when this writer visited the tabernacle the other day. Or you may have reservations as did another observer who thought the ‘adobe brown” trim made it ”a bit drab.”
If beauty is in the eye of the beholder, it will help a great deal for you to understand the goals of the decorators. ”We’re sort of looking over our shoulders at history,” says architect Paul L. Anderson of the LDS Church’s Historical Arts and Sites Committee. which set the colors alter meetings with authorities of the sponsoring stakes of Provo.
“We’re attempting to restore the tabernacle’s appearance as it was…give it the 19th Century look of old-fashioned richness.” Anderson says a similar restoration project was completed in Logan last year.
Interestingly, the newest of several Provo Tabernacle improvement projects comes near the 100th anniversary of the structure’s early beginnings. The original building committee was appointed a century ago this month. Fundraising already was under way, and ground was broken in the spring of 1883.
The first use of the far-from-completed tabernacle was for a memorial service Aug. 8, 1885 for Ulysses S. Grant, Civil War general and 18th U.S. president who had died July 23.
While the building was used frequently after Provo hosted the 56th and 57th annual general conferences of the church in April 1886 and 1887, financial struggles in that pioneering era delayed final completion and dedication until April 17, 1898.
The intricate re-painting in the current restoration protect was accomplished by contractor Jesse Marrott. How did the decorators determine the color scheme? According to President Harold L. Miller of Provo Stake, they cut through layers of paint to the original surface besides studying early-day photographs of the interior.
Miller says a second phase of the project is planned next year in which additional tabernacle improvements will be made. At that time it is likely a “wood grain” will be applied to the brown woodwork surfaces via a special brushing technique to simulate the original stained wood effect.
Financed 96 percent by the Physical Facilities Department of the church, the improvements were initiated by the five stakes of the Provo Region – Provo, East Provo, Provo Central, Provo South, and Provo West, assisted by Oak Hills, Edgemont South, Sharon West and Sharon East which also use the tabernacle.
Sound system studies were conducted under Frank M. Morris, senior audio design engineer for the church building department. Completion of sound improvements are anticipated in September although the renovated building is expected to be used for the Provo Stake conference Aug. 29.
John D. Chamberlain, high councilman in charge of physical facilities for the agent Provo Stake, has been mindful of the dual task of preserving the tabernacle while keeping it functional for modern-day uses. “You really catch the spirit of this elegant old building when you work with it,” he said.