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Show 2 Brigham young also recommended that the store clerks be women rather than a "big, fat, lubberly fellow handling out calicoes and measuring ribbon." were; 5 Some of the ladies who worked as clerks in the Ephraim Co-op Martha Hansen Beal, Laura Hansen, Millie Christensen, Julia Christensen, and Loretta Anderson. 6 The cooperative served as an outlet for home-grown products. In Ephraim the store sold beef and mutton from the cooperative herds. This was also typical of other cooperatives. 7 The cooperative movement, as symbolized by the Ephraim Cooperative Building, was an important part of the Mormon story. "Cooperation, it was believed, would increase production, cut down cots, and make possible a superior organization of resources. It was also calculated to heighten the spirit of unity and 'temporal oneness' of the Saints and promote the kind of brotherhood without which the Kingdom could not be built." 8 The use of the building as a cooperative store marks it as being of great historical significance. In addition were several other uses which enhance its historical value •• The cooperative store occupied the first floor of the two-story structure. The second floor was constructed as a recreation hall and as a Relief Society meeting hall. second story. Dances and parties were held in the The building became not only an economic but also a social center for the community. In 1888 plans were made for the establishment of the Sanpete Stake Academy. Funds were not available for the construction of a building and so the Relief Society Hall above the Co-op store was secured. Furniture and equipment was purchased and on November 5, 1888 the Sanpete |
