Shown here is a view of the Pioneer Monument erected just outside the Temple Square precinct, with an unusual souvenir attached.
The description states:
SL-109 — PIONEER MONUMENT AND “MORMON” TEMPLE
This impressive monument to Brigham Young and the “Mormon” Pioneers, stands at the intersection of Main and South Temple Street. On one side is the statue of the famous scout Jim Bridger, and on the other, Washakie, a friendly Ute Indian Chief. In the background is the magnificent “Mormon” Temple, the most imposing structure in Temple Square, and perhaps the most famed building in the west.
–This is an example of an intact card with the small pouch of salt from the Great Salt Lake, which once would be mailed without issue, but today would not be allowed because it would foul the address reading machines. It was an extra penny to mail such cards when they were new. This card dates from the 1960s.
Month: February 2014
The Haven Motel, St. George, Utah
A brief departure from the environs of Salt Lake City with this view of a typical 1940s era motel, this one located on the now extinct US Route 91 as it passed west and north of the town of St. George.
The description states:
The Haven Motel
3 blocks W. of center of town on U.S. 91
St. George, Utah
Phone 576
New De Luxe, air conditioned units. Electrically heated. Accommodations for 1 to 6 people.
–This structure is unlikely to have survived to the present day. Such buildings were normally demolished as the newer Interstate Highway roads replaced the U.S. highways and diverted tourist trade away in the 1970s. This card dates from the 1940s.
Sea Gull Monument, Salt Lake City, Utah
This monument tells a very unusual story, and is located in the Temple Square in sight of the Mormon Temple, visible in the right background.
The description states:
SEA GULL MONUMENT
The Sea Gull Monument, situated in the famous Temple Square, was erected in commemoration of the miraculous delivery of the Mormon pioneers from starvation when a plague of crickets threatened destruction of their crops in 1848 and 1849. Flocks of sea gulls appeared and preyed upon the destroyers until the pests vanished and the people were saved.
This card likely dates from the 1940s.
Eagle Gate, Salt Lake City, Utah
This long view of the road leading to the State Capitol in Salt Lake City emphasizes the so-called Eagle Gate. This picture appears to be a colorized photo rather than an artist’s rendering.
The description states:
EAGLE GATE
Eagle Gate, as it is called, is immediately east of the Bee Hive House; it was originally the gateway leading into the President Young’s private grounds. The eagle was carved from wood.
–While this card has a marking of the 1947 Centennial, the image shows only cars from the 1930s and earlier, and not a single car from the 1940s. It is likely this image was made before the Second World War, and the card published in the late 1940s with the older image.
Brigham Young, Mormon Leader
This card shows a carefully edited picture of the Mormon leader Brigham Young, lightly colorized after being photographed.
The description states:
BRIGHAM YOUNG
Brigham Young was born June 1st, 1801 in Whittingham, Windsor County, Vermont; ordained an Apostle February 14, 1835; sustained as President of the Church December 27, 1847; and died in Salt Lake City, August 29, 1877.
–On the back is a city seal and the legend “1847 1947 UTAH CENTENNIAL, which clearly places this card in the 1940s.
Utah Capitol Dome, Salt Lake City, Utah
This evocative view of the State Capitol looks through an archway at the Memory Park.
The description states:
This is an unusual view showing the Dome of the State Capitol and a portion of Memory Grove. Within this arbor is located a Bronze Tablet giving the names of these men of the state who made the supreme sacrifice in the First World War.
–The memorial only mentions World War One because the card was made near the end of World War Two, before the memorial could be expanded. This card likely dates to the 1940s, like the others in this series.
Tabernacle Choir and Organ, Salt Lake City, UT
We now move inside the Tabernacle itself and reveal the massive organ and choir population as presented in this era.
The description states:
The “Mormon” Tabernacle Choir is a volunteer, unpaid organization with a membership of 325. It is famous for rite long, continuous serve in the “Mormon” Church, its many years of national weekly radio broadcasts and its frequent concert tours.
The Great Organ of nations renown was originally built in 1867 by Utah artisans. It has been thoroughly rebuilt and enlarged front time to time until it stand today the peer of, if not superior to, any pipe organ in existence.
–A comparison of this image with another posted previously on this site here shows that the arrangement of the singers has changed considerably in the intervening years. This earlier image shows the women completely separated (likely sopranos from altos) by the male contingent. In the other image, from the 1960s, the women and men are on opposite sides of the risers in single groups. It is not known if this was done to improve the quality of the performance, or simply to present a specific image for that card producer. However, this is an artist’s rendition, while the other is an actual photograph.
This card dates from the 1940s.
Mormon Tabernacle, Salt Lake City, UT
This is an illustration of the world famous Tabernacle located on Temple Square in Salt Lake City.
The description states:
This mammoth auditorium is 150 feet by 250 feet and 80 feet high. It is unique and severe in design and employs a self-supported, vaulted type of roof which accounts in part for the unusual acoustics of the building. A nation-wide radio program, featured the great Tabernacle organ and choir, originates in this auditorium.
–The radio program expanded into a TV show as well, and with the arrival of the internet, the choir is broadcast online as well. This card dates from the 1940s.