PICTURES TELL THE STORY--OLD PAYSON TITHING HOUSES

PICTURES TELL THE PAYSON STORY

OLD LDS TITHING  HOUSES

    The construction of the first Tithing House in Payson began in 1858.  The new building was located near the center of the fort on the southwest corner of today’s 200 North and Main Street.  The Payson Third Ward Church was constructed on the site in the early 1930's.
    The cellar for the building was excavated and  sandstone walls were laid up.  The pioneers then installed the floor joists of the main floor.  There were also 10 courses of adobe laid up for the beginning of the main floor walls.  The floor served as the roof of the cellar.  The floor of the cellar remained dirt.
    A stage was built in the south end of the unfinished main floor.  This served as gathering  place for the settlers.  The pioneers used candles and rag “bitches” (rag that was soaked in oil and lit.)
    There was no more work done on the building until 1860.  At that time, more adobes were hauled to the site and the remaining walls of the first floor were finished.    There were some more timbers brought down out of the canyon and it was partially framed during the fall.   It remained in this state during the winter.
    In September 1861 the members of the church laid up another story of the Tithing House.  Some timber had been sawed and plans were made to put a roof on the building.  The bishop and about ten men went into the canyon and obtained more lumber for the completion of the roof.
    When the building was finished, the cellar that was about three to four feet underground was used for the storage of tithes and offerings in kind.
    There were many public events held on the main floor that was about six steps above ground level.  The second story of the building was used for school classes.
    The Bishop’s Tithing Office as located at the north end of the main floor.  To the west of the Tithing House was the corn crib and a granary.  Further to the west of the corner could be found a large barn.
 

  In 1901, a newer Tithing House was constructed just to the south of the original one.  It was constructed just north of the John B. Fairbanks home. This newer Tithing Office building stood until it was demolished in 1959 and the property became part of the parking lot for the LDS Third Ward Church.  The Third Ward building had been constructed in 1932 near the site of the original Tithing House that had been previously torn down.
    In 1910, the Stark Store that was located south of the Tithing House on the opposite side of the street burned down.  The telegraph office had been located in the store.  After the fire, the telegraph office was relocated to the Tithing Office building.
    In addition to the photo of the original Tithing House, we have located a photo of the newer Tithing House when it was being demolished.