County
Salt Lake
Year Built
1920 (classrooms and amusement hall); 1926 (chapel addition)
Architect
Rutherford & Ashton
National Register?
Listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Also, a contributing resource within the Wells National Historic District.
Status
Lost
Status Explanation
The LDS Wells Ward Meetinghouse was destroyed by fire on May 26, 2024, just one day before it was scheduled for demolition. After the fire was put out, the building was taken down that same day. The meetinghouse had been closed and fenced off since the March 2020 Salt Lake City earthquake made it unsafe to use. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints decided the building could not be repaired. They listed it for sale in December 2022, with the condition that the buyer would have to demolish it. When the sale did not go through in May 2023, the church applied for a demolition permit in May 2024. Before tearing it down, the church made a high-resolution 3D scan, took many photographs, saved the chapel's bas-relief, and donated a time capsule to the Church History Library. The fire, which is being investigated as possible arson, destroyed the building before the planned demolition could start. The site has now been cleared. Although the building was listed on the National Register and was part of the Wells National Historic District, these honors did not protect it. Because it was privately owned and not a local landmark, the owner could demolish it once a permit was approved.
About the Threat
The March 2020 Salt Lake City earthquake caused severe damage to the Wells Ward meetinghouse, making it uninhabitable. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints decided the building could not be repaired and closed it for good. In December 2022, the church put the property up for sale at $1.6 million, but with a key condition: any buyer had to demolish the building. Although some developers were interested, including those who wanted to rezone the land for townhomes, the sale did not go through in May 2023. The church then removed the property from the market and announced in May 2024 that it would handle the demolition itself, citing ongoing safety and stability issues. A demolition permit was filed with Salt Lake City, and demolition was set to begin as early as May 27, 2024.
Access
The building had been gated and closed since the 2020 earthquake. Trespassing remained a problem, with Salt Lake City Police records showing 20 calls for service at the address between January 2020 and May 25, 2024. These included thefts, vandalism, burglary, and trespassing. The building was not open to the public.
History
The building had been gated and closed since the 2020 earthquake. Trespassing remained a problem, with Salt Lake City Police records showing 20 calls for service at the address between January 2020 and May 25, 2024. These included thefts, vandalism, burglary, and trespassing. The building was not open to the public.
What can be done? What was learned?
The loss of the Wells Ward happened over four years, from the earthquake in 2020 to the demolition in 2024. There were several points where things could have turned out differently. The church's requirement that any buyer demolish the building removed one option. The failed sale in 2023 removed another. Without an agreement for adaptive reuse before the building got worse, the community was left with no choice.
The church's efforts to document the building before demolition, including 3D scanning, photography, architectural recording, and saving materials, are an important preservation practice. Even though the building is gone, this record now exists when it might not have otherwise.
The building's listing on the National Register did not stop demolition. Because it was privately owned and not a local landmark, the owner could demolish it once it had a permit. This case, like the Phillips Congregational Church, shows that being on the National Register does not guarantee local protection.
What is the timeline?
The demolition permit was filed in mid-May 2024. In the weeks leading up to demolition, the Church completed a high-resolution 3D scan of the building, took many photographs, preserved the chapel's bas-relief, and donated a time capsule from the building to the Church History Library. All of this was finished before the planned demolition in late May. The fire on May 26, 2024 happened just one day before demolition was scheduled.
What has been the public discussion?
The building's fate was widely reported by the Salt Lake Tribune, KSL, Fox13, and Building Salt Lake from March 2024 through the fire in May 2024. Earlier in 2024, the Liberty Wells Community Council hoped the property would be rezoned for single-family homes after demolition. An arson investigation began after the fire, but no public findings have been reported. The church's documentation efforts, such as 3D scanning, photography, and the preservation of a time capsule, were also covered by KSL and the Tribune.
Links to more information and articles.
Salt Lake Tribune (May 2024 — demolition permit filed): https://www.sltrib.com/news/2024/05/17/historic-latter-day-saint/
Salt Lake Tribune (May 2024 — fire and demolition): https://www.sltrib.com/news/2024/05/26/four-alarm-fire-breaks-out-salt/
KSL (May 2024 — fire investigation): https://www.ksl.com/article/51024253/investigation-underway-after-fire-destroys-historic-salt-lake-church
KSL TV (May 2024 — neighbors, building left in disrepair): https://ksltv.com/650400/neighbors-say-wells-ward-meetinghouse-was-left-in-despair-for-years-before-fire/
Fox13 (May 2024 — fire and demolition): https://www.fox13now.com/news/local-news/three-alarm-fire-breaks-out-at-salt-lake-city-church
Building Salt Lake (May 2024 — fire destroys building on eve of demolition): https://buildingsaltlake.com/historic-wells-ward-burns-down-on-eve-of-planned-demolition/
Salt Lake Tribune (March 2024 — church opts for self-demolition): https://www.sltrib.com/religion/2024/03/09/one-lds-churchs-architectural-gems/