Moving the Cabin

Saving history
Farm is preserving bishop's storehouse
By Rachelle Graham Close-Up Correspondent, Salt Lake Tribune

A symbol of the past as well as an historic means to tithe is being preserved.
A genuine bishop's storehouse built in the early 20th century was recently relocated to the Wheeler Historic Farm in Midvale. The granary served as a tithing shack for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
Kelvin and Burniss Kemp bought the former Midvale Union Ward bishop's granary in the 1950s. The Kemps' surviving children chose to honor what they believe was their parents' wishes and donate the building to the Wheeler Historic Farm. The storehouse was recently moved only a few miles away from the Kemp residence to the farm.
The storehouse was purchased in the 1920s and was moved from its original location by two men who used two teams of horses to move the structure. The Kemps later purchased the structure and moved it to their property.
The bishop's storehouse persevered through weather and time largely because it was built using "false timbering" construction method and cedar materials. The LDS Church created tithing granaries like the one at Wheeler Farm in 1905. A 1908 rule change required the bishops to convert their "in-kind" storage into cash which eliminated the need for such granaries. If church members could not afford to pay 10 percent of their monetary income, as asked by church leaders, they would pay with in-kind donations rather than cash.
Rick Snow, head farmer for the Wheeler Historic Farm, said it is a rarity to find an authentic bishop's storehouse. There is only one other remaining storehouse of this style in Utah. The other building is in Riverton.
"In the old days people would take part of a crop and donate it to the bishop's storehouse to be used for the less-fortunate and the needy people if they had excess items," Snow said.
Snow believes the storehouse will add a nice bit of history to the farm. He plans to use it for a meeting place for Granite School District students who take agricultural classes at the farm. Eventually, it will be used as a display room for antiques.
"As far as the bishop's storehouse is concerned, it will fit right in [with] educating students and the style of the farm," Snow said. "The idea in the long run is to save the storehouse from destruction."
Beverly Wheeler-Mastrim, an heir to the Wheeler family for whom the farm is named, said the Kemps appreciated history and greatly contributed to the farm, where the storehouse will fit in perfectly.
Kelly Larsen, one of the Kemps' daughters, said education was very important to her mother, who encouraged all of her children and grandchildren to pursue any type of education that was available.
Larsen said her mother was a close friend of the Wheeler children and spent much of her childhood playing at what was then a working farm. She said the family used the building as a gathering spot for many holidays and celebrations.
The Kemp family's Easter party was the first outdoor activity after each long, cold winter and anticipation would build for months. The storehouse was heated with a wood stove so the kids could get out of the cool spring breeze. The cabin also housed community activities, including Cub Scout meetings.
"We are very happy and proud that the Wheeler Historic Farm will preserve this cabin and allow others to continue to enjoy it as we did," Larsen said.