Motorcycle in the foyer, pews on floor, pigeons in the heights -- a church for a home is fun and a little odd

By Devin Felix

April 30, 2007 | HYRUM -- As you approach the church, it seems a stately and imposing structure - slightly worn after 104 years, but still sturdy and dignified. A metal plaque informs passers-by that it was constructed in 1903 as the Hyrum First Ward Meetinghouse, and that it's on the National Registry of Historic Places.

And then a young boy comes barreling out the front door of the church on a bike and screams his way down wooden planks spanning the stairs that lead to the door. And you realize there might be more to this church than just what's written on that plaque.

After changing hands several times in its history, the old church, at 290 South Center St., is now owned by Dave and Suzi Bates, who live there with their five kids, ages 5 to 17. But on any given day, you're likely to see more kids than just those five traipsing through the chapel, the foyer and the gymnasium of this multi-story church-home.

"It's kind of an open playhouse for the whole neighborhood," said David Bates.

And that's just the way the Bates family wants it to be. Since buying the building and moving in last August they've worked to make their new home a place that welcomes and draws both children and adults.

In the gymnasium, which was added onto the building years after its construction, a climbing rope hangs from the ceiling (though it's more frequently used for swinging than climbing, Bates says) On a stage in the gym is a full-sized trampoline. Boats, balls, musical instruments and other toys are strewn about. A motorcycle is parked in the foyer.

Inside the spacious chapel, rows of wooden pews face a stage in one corner of the room, on which several guitars stand (the neighbor kids have a band there, Bates said). A balcony, supported by several thick wooden pillars, holds more pews and a faint cooing sound can be heard overhead.

"Sometimes pigeons come in the church," said 5-year-old Piper Bates, the building's youngest resident. "Sometimes one comes and sometimes two. I go look at them with my dad."

Sometime between 1903 and now, a drop ceiling was installed in the chapel, hiding the original arching cathedral ceiling above it, Bates said. Pigeons use the space between the ceilings for breeding and nesting.

Previous owners remodeled part of the house to make it into a livable space, with kitchens, bathrooms and bedrooms.

The Bateses want their home to be seen as a place for community gatherings, and they have many plans for inviting and entertaining neighbors in their home. Last October they held a Halloween party that hundreds of people attended, children and adults alike.

"My oldest daughter is in high school and her boyfriend has a band, so they came and played at the party," Bates said. "We unscrewed these first four pews and took them out to make dance floor."

They plan to hold more community parties in the future, as well as more relaxed events such as open mic nights, and "Soup and Stories Nights," Suzi Bates said.

Besides being a place for kids and adults to play, the church also houses two businesses. In the basement is the headquarters of Just Be..., Suzi's sewing and design company. She designs and sews purses and skirts that she then sells online or at stores in Utah, Illinois, Texas and Europe.

The original foyer of the church has been converted to David Bates' office where he runs a mortgage lending business. He also writes frequently for magazines and recently finished work on an epic 33-song musical called "Prometheus," which he co-wrote with musician Michael Allen Harrison.

The family moved to Hyrum from Salt Lake because it was "way too crowded and busy." They had seen the church years earlier, and talked about living there, though it wasn't for sale at the time. In August, they came to Hyrum looking for a home, when they spotted the church. As they approached it, they met the building's owner coming out with "for sale" signs in his hand.

Bates recalls: "I said, 'Is this your building?' and he said, 'Yeah, do you want to buy it?' So we did."

The LDS church owned the building and used it for services until the 1970s. In the years since, it has changed hands several times. Hyrum City planned to use it as a museum, but decided it would be too costly to maintain (it's got an "old boiler in the basement the size of an elephant," Bates said). In the 90s a Baptist congregation owned it and used it for services.

Living in a giant, century-old church is not exactly convenient. When the Bateses bought the building it was in need of extensive cleaning and repairs. They spent last winter fixing it and removing junk that had accumulated over the years. Even though they only heat the apartment section of the church during the winter, monthly gas bills can still be quite high. To Suzi and David Bates, though, it's worth it.

"We always wanted a big, crazy, creative place to live," he said. "We just asked ourselves, 'Would I want to grow up here if I were a kid?'"

MS
MS