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A different day in Dixie
STORY & PHOTOGRAPHY BY LIN ALDER
Under the crisp sunlight of a November afternoon, I pull open the white metal door at the entrance to the Mormon Tabernacle in St. George, Utah. A gust of warm air greets my face as I pass through the doorway framed by sandstone and plaster walls, two feet thick. A wooden spiral staircase, serving a balcony, winds skyward to my left as I peer through another doorway at the main room where dozens of pews silently face a pulpit.
While I take in the details of this 126-year-old structure, a story of pioneer ingenuity emerges. Pine surfaces are painted with a faux grain pattern to give the appearance of hardwood. Most of the windowpanes offer a slightly warped view outside. The vintage glass survived a boat ride from New York to California and a wagon ride the rest of the way.
For the first time in many years, I am making a sort of pilgrimage to this church house, still the architectural gem of downtown St. George and used for community and religious gatherings. I wanted to reconsider how St. George ‹ once an isolated blip on the map that its pioneer settlers nearly abandoned ‹ has evolved into a popular weekend getaway and one of Utah's fastest-growing communities.
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The March/April 2003 Issue is out. Find it at Las Vegas bookstores today.
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