Razings
As I watched the recent nighttime razing of the old Chapel and Webster buildings I remembered another church building which was demolished many years ago. That building was the old Latter Day Saints Church on South Church Street. Very likely many readers still remember that unique two story building which was built in the 1920's. Why was it unique? In many ways! The location for one. Traveling from George Town to South Sound, it was on the right hand (sea) side of the road on a sloping site which ended at the coral (iron) shore. Another interesting feature was the construction. The first or lower section was made of flat, white coral stones, mortared one on top of each other to a height of approximately 10 feet. There was no wooden or concrete floor, only sand. The second story was of conventional construction, wooden joists for the floor, wooden siding and corrugated metal roofing (painted red). Each story had wooden windows on the four sides, but only one door to each floor, a single on the first and double on the second, facing the road. Access to the double doors was via a wooden walkway with safety hand railings on each side.
The church building was used by the congregation for regular services and by visiting preachers who from time-to-time conducted night time evangelistic revivals. At such services there were two evangelists who were so very successful in 'conversions' that it was said "Bingham bring 'em and Steimler sting 'em." Sunday school for the young ones was held in the lower section. During week days, schools (equivalent to Primary and Intermediate) rented this section. I was among ten male students of the 'Lincoln Academy' which was there for about two years. The building was demolished after the site was sold for the erection of a private residence; that building has also been demolished; the property is now vacant. Waves from Northwesters and hurricanes have badly damaged the concrete bulkhead which was erected to protect the residence. It is interesting to note that although the ground floor of the old church was flooded occasionally, no damage was inflicted by wave action, even during the great '32 storm.
Readers of this 'ponderings' may inspect the fine little church, 'The Peace Chapel' which replaced the Latter Day Saints Church. The first pastor of the original church was the Rev. N. L. Booker who came to the Island with his wife and daughter in 1925. This daughter, Aarona is the author of two very interesting books 'WOTCHA SAY' and 'UNDER TIN ROOFS' about Cayman of yore. (Both are still available from local book stores). With so many of the fine old buildings of George Town being razed, I ponder and think how fortunate we are to have excellent pictures and post cards in the CI National Archive to remind us our heritage.