Provo Third Ward Chapel and Amusement Hall

The Provo Third Ward Chapel is a historic building located in Provo, Utah. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places on April 2, 1979. Construction: Under the direction of Bishop Thomas N. Taylor, the Provo 3rd Ward chapel was completed in 1903, exemplifying one of the first English Parish Gothic churches in Utah. The building was designed by architect Richard C. Watkins, native of Provo. The cornerstone was laid in a ceremony on April 25, 1901. An adjoining amusement hall was built in 1913, and the entire interior was redone in the late 1930s under the direction of architect Fred L. Markham. History: In 1901 the recently formed Provo Third Ward of the Utah Stake was responsible for the construction of a new chapel. Using primarily local materials and locally employed workers, Bishop Thomas N. Taylor, also the mayor of Provo, and his building committee composed of Arthur Dixon, Edgar Perry, and H. J. Maiben, undertook the project. The cost of the new building was $11,000 and it was completed in 1903. The chapel received an organ that had been used in the Provo Tabernacle in 1907. The adjoining amusement hall was added in 1913, but only the top floow was finished at an additional cost of $15,000. In 1926 the lower floor of the amusement hall was completed for an additional $5,600. The Provo Third Ward Chapel and Amusement Hall served not only as a chapel for worship, but also provided the Saints with a place to interact socially in forms of dance, musicals, sports, etc. During World War II the amusement hall was transformed to serve as army barracks for Army Specialized Training Units associated with Brigham Young University. Current use and ownership: The building was eventually vacated by the LDS Church in the year 1979 and sold. Subsequently it has been used for various purposes including serving as the "Ivy Tower" dance club which was a tri-level club playing 3 different genres of music between 1989 and 1992. Head DJ Michael (MIDIhead) Babbitt was one of the club's more outgoing performers who went on to produce music and subsequently win The American Synthpop Award in 2001. Other occupants included Scampi's restaurant and private academies. Since 1992 it has been owned and operated by the Discovery Academy a private school for trouble youth. The Provo 3rd Ward Chapel was designated to the historic Provo Landmark register on April 28, 1995. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1979.