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Show NPS Form 10-900-a (846) 0MB Approval No. 10244010 United States Department of the Interior National Park Service National Register of Historic Places Continuation Sheet Mt. Carmel School and Church Kane County, Utah Section number 8 page 3 for years. School consolidation, which took place during the early decades of the twentieth century, resulted in the closure of numerous small schools, such as the one in Mt. Carmel. The fact that the Mt. Carmel School served concurrently as an LDS church meetinghouse during its early decades indicates the close link between church and community affairs at that time. Schools were established as part of the general community development by Mormon settlers, and for obvious economic reasons it made sense to share educational, religious, and community facilities whenever possible. Since the vast majority of the town's population was Mormon there was probably little objection to the arrangement. The reconstruction and expansion of the building in 1923-24 represents two significant points. First, the use of local materials and labor to complete the project indicates that the community was still operating under the spirit of settlement that required cooperation and thrift for survival. In a larger community with greater financial resources the fire-destroyed building would very possibly have been replaced altogether by a new building, perhaps one constructed by a professional contractor using brick or other "imported" materials. Second, the addition reflects the apparent expansion of church programs and the concept of multi-use buildings that the church adopted during the early twentieth century. Previously, Mormon communities often had several church-related buildings a meetinghouse, amusement hall, women's relief society hall, tithing office and so forth. The new buildings of the twentieth century, however, combined those functions under a single roof. They also included classroom space to accommodate new methods of formal and specialized instruction. Though the population of Mt. Carmel did not increase significantly during the early twentieth century, the space needed to carry on church functions apparently did. The period of significance for this building extends from the date of its original construction c. 1890 to its reconstruction and expansion in 1924. Except for deterioration, the building's appearance has changed little over the past 63 years. Adonis Findlay Robinson, ed., History County Daughters of Utah Pioneers, 28ernard A. Tait, letter to Utah State Tait is a lifelong resident of Mt. the school. telephone interview with Bernard Tait ^John Clifton Moffitt. The History of Utah: author, 1946), p. 136. 5Ibid. of Kane County (Kanab, Utah: Kane 1970;,^pp. 453-454. Historical Society, March 1985. Mr. Carmel and remembers the rebuilding of by Roger Roper, March 20, 1985. Public Education in Utah, (Provo, |
