Comments on: William S. Muir: Builder in the Kingdom

By: Carol

Carol — Mon, 04 Apr 2011 02:11:14 +0000

I own a house that was finished by a master plasterer. It looks like perfect crown molding and fancy door frames, but it is all plaster. The closer I look at it the more perfect it is. That was an amazing craft and you can’t find anyone to do that any more.

I like this story.

By: Cindy Barton

Cindy Barton — Sun, 03 Apr 2011 18:30:43 +0000

William S. Muir is my great-grandfather. Our family stories have always been enriched by details of his great life. He grew up on 2nd Ave. and H street in the home his pioneer parents built after they had lived in a dug out for several years. His father and older brothers had all worked in the granite quarries for the temple. He was the youngest of 10 children and cared for his parents until they were both gone. Then he married, Ane Katrina Sylvestersen (Katy). They have five children two of whom died in childhood. The other three all graduated fro the U and became teachers, engineers and business men. In his sixties, he helped his son, Syl, build a home on 11th Ave that still stands today. All this children had the chance to learn to spit nails, which is what they called working as carpenters. Stories of his thrift are legendary, but his great faith is the gospel and dedication to the Savior touch the lives of his family through the generations Thank you for the story that tell usmore of the man we love even after he is gone.

By: Maurine

Maurine — Tue, 10 Aug 2010 06:12:18 +0000

My grandparents’ home (later in my possession–now owned by my son and his wife) was built in 1908. The “upstairs” was only partially finished, so the lath and plaster walls were readily noticed. I took a lot of people upstairs to see the walls, people who only knew about sheetrock and wanted to learn about lath and plaster.

I, too, enjoy reading about “ordinary” people and their accomplishments.

By: Ardis E. Parshall

Ardis E. Parshall — Tue, 10 Aug 2010 00:20:02 +0000

Sure, Nelson, I’ll write to you directly. Thanks.

By: Nelson

Nelson — Mon, 09 Aug 2010 23:59:59 +0000

I’m a long time reader, first time poster, but I want to jump into the line of complimentary commentators. Great read, as always. I would like to add Bro. Muir to our architects and builders files in the preservation office at state history – do you care to share some of your sources for posterity?

By: Mark B.

Mark B. — Mon, 09 Aug 2010 21:24:11 +0000

I remember a friend in junior high school who referred to the sort of workmen who “smoked cigarettes and carried lunch buckets.” I suspect that’s what Bro. Muir’s “fellow craftsman” was alluding to–and it’s not the carrying of a lunchbucket that would disqualify one for the temple recommend!

As to plaster–now that was a wall! The modern replacement–gypsum wallboard, sold under the tradename “Sheetrock” among others, is cheap and easy to install and requires fewer skilled workmen, but it’s flimsy in comparison, subject to dents and dings and breakage.

If you’re comparing “degree of difficulty” on installation, though, it’s a lot easier to nail a piece of lath to the ceiling than a 4′ x 12′ piece of sheetrock!

By: Ardis E. Parshall

Ardis E. Parshall — Mon, 09 Aug 2010 20:01:06 +0000

Regarding class inflections, Mina, I have evidence that William S. Muir was active in a labor union at least as early as 1911. FYI.

By: Mina

Mina — Mon, 09 Aug 2010 19:40:59 +0000

I thought that it might refer to something like that Ardis, and was also thinking it might therefore have a class inflection. All in all, a very interesting look at the importance of the “ordinary man” on whose shoulders everything else usually depends (SteveC your remark on dual structures is quite relevant to this, too).

By: Steve C.

Steve C. — Mon, 09 Aug 2010 18:49:45 +0000

A very enjoyable read. I like to hear of the ordinary people who did their part, whatever that might have been. That is a lesson for all of us. I also like the duality of the story: he worked on the physical structure of the temple then worked on the spiritual structure of the temple as well.

By: Ardis E. Parshall

Ardis E. Parshall — Mon, 09 Aug 2010 18:25:53 +0000

Thank you, all who respond to the same thing that prompts me: recognizing ordinary people who either do something extraordinary, or something that was ordinary in their day but is now seen as extraordinary.

Mina, perhaps the best place to visit would be the Church Administration Building — I don’t know that his work is still intact, but it’s the most likely place, and with your credentials you could probably arrange to see the “new” floor fairly easily. His work still exists in the temple, but the Tabernacle basement and Capitol have been so thoroughly remodeled and modernized in the past few years that I wouldn’t expect any of his work to be identifiable in either place.

As for the remark about temple recommends for his fellow tradesmen, I suspect that referred to Word of Wisdom violations, probably a culture of smoking among the workmen.