In Thomas Bullock’s notes, now part of the Journal History of the Church, for 19 September 1849, one reads that on Monday, 17 September 1849, Brigham Young, Heber C. Kimball and Willard Richards [the then presidency of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints], and others
“rode out from Fort Utah in three carriages, accompanied by five men on horseback, to look out a location for a town. “They found a very eligible place, about two miles southeast of the Fort, where it was decided to build a city a mile square, to be laid off in blocks of four acres each, divided into eight lots of half an acre each, reserving the center block of four acres for a chapel and schoolhouses, the streets to be five rods wide...”
By reason of its being about “two miles southeast” of the presumed location of Fort Utah, it would appear that the present location of the Tabernacle was the “center block.”
However, it was at the present location of Pioneer Park, what was then called the “Public Square”, at the present-day address of 500 West and Center Street, that ground was dedicated and broken for the first Provo meeting house under the direction of Apostle George A. Smith, then acting president of the Provo Stake. Later, after the foundations had already been laid, work on it was abandoned on advice from Brigham Young.
In those days, title to a public block or square was conferred by the government and, on 30 September 1871, Ulysses S. Grant signed a patent.
“Whereas Abraham O. Smoot, mayor of Provo ... by virtue of an act of Congress approved March 2, 1867, entitled, ‘An act for the relief of the inhabitants of cities and towns upon the public lands,’ has deposited in the General Land Office of the United States a certificate of the Registrar of the Land Office at Salt Lake City, Utah Territory, whereby it appears that full payment has been made by the said Abraham O. Smoot ... according to the provision of the act of Congress of the 24th of April, 1820, entitled ‘An act making further provision of the sale of the public lands’ ... [then followed the legal description of the Provo lands involved in the patent, including Block 66 on which the Tabernacle stands]... “Now know ye that the United States of America ... do give and grant unto the said Abraham O. Smoot, mayor of the aforesaid, in trust as aforesaid and to his successors, the said tract above described... “In testimony whereof, I, Ulysses S. Grant, president of the United States of America, have caused these letters to be made patent and those of the General Land Office to be hereunto affixed. Given under my hand at this city of Washington the thirtieth day of September in the year of our Lord one thousant eight hundred and seventy-one and of the Independence of the United States the 96th. By the President, Ulysses S. Grant.”
“Whereas Abraham O. Smoot, mayor of Provo ... by virtue of an act of Congress approved March 2, 1867, entitled, ‘An act for the relief of the inhabitants of cities and towns upon the public lands,’ has deposited in the General Land Office of the United States a certificate of the Registrar of the Land Office at Salt Lake City, Utah Territory, whereby it appears that full payment has been made by the said Abraham O. Smoot ... according to the provision of the act of Congress of the 24th of April, 1820, entitled ‘An act making further provision of the sale of the public lands’ ... [then followed the legal description of the Provo lands involved in the patent, including Block 66 on which the Tabernacle stands]...
“Now know ye that the United States of America ... do give and grant unto the said Abraham O. Smoot, mayor of the aforesaid, in trust as aforesaid and to his successors, the said tract above described...
“In testimony whereof, I, Ulysses S. Grant, president of the United States of America, have caused these letters to be made patent and those of the General Land Office to be hereunto affixed. Given under my hand at this city of Washington the thirtieth day of September in the year of our Lord one thousant eight hundred and seventy-one and of the Independence of the United States the 96th. By the President, Ulysses S. Grant.”
