Midway Cannery/Social Hall

55 East Main Street

The site of the Midway Social Hall was part of a grant of 120 acres given to the "inhabitants of the Townsite of Midway" in May of 1872. On August 5, 1873 a portion of that parcel, which included the future location of the Social Hall, was given to one of Midway's early and prominent citizens, David Van Wagonen. On January 31, 1881 Van Wagonen sold a segment of his land, including the Social Hall site, to the "Bonner Bros.", William, Thomas, Robert James Bonner, and the principal owner, George Bonner Jr. Halls or places for amusements and other community events in Midway were scarce. Van Wagoner Recreation Hall was continually over-booked. Seeing the need for a new facility which would serve the community's social and cultural events in Midway, George Jr. decided to construct a hall on his property. This desire for another hall is highlighted by an excerpt from the journal of Moroni Gerber, the son of Midway's first doctor, John Gerber: "Sometime in the late fall of 1894 or 95, the Primary arranged for a children's dance to be held in the Van Wagoner Hall. Accordingly, I took my children in the wagon to town, and to my surprise and disgust, I found the primary children very much disappointed. The hall had been rented to a travelling troop and it was being arranged for a play of some kind. In talking with a number of parents and the president of the Primary, I told them to submit to the abuse and not to make any trouble for the management of the play. I further said that we would have a hall of our own by another year. This statement I soon forgot, but I was reminded of it the next February by Charles Bronson. He asked me when we were going to start to build the hall. It was a surprise to me, having thought no more of my past remark. He said the boys were ready to go. All they lacked was a building leader. He further stated that I'd have plenty of support if I'd go ahead. I immediately proposed a meeting for the following evening to select a building committee. I was delighted to have about thirty of the leading young men present and anxious to go ahead and build the hall." (Moroni Gerber was one of the original incorporators of the Midway Hall Company). In March of 1893, under the direction of Bonner, thirty-three of Midway's citizens signed a petition and legally formed the Midway Hall Company. George Bonner Jr. was elected director and president of the company. On March 23, 1893 Phebie A. and George Bonner Jr. and Eliza and William Bonner transferred title of the then vacant property to the Midway Hall Company for a price of $1,415.00. This property was the primary asset of the Midway Hall Company. The Midway Social Hall was built in 1898 using local labor paid for with shares in the Midway Hall Company. It was constructed out of the popular local building material, "pot rock," a porous limestone formed by "hot pots" or hot springs in the area. The stone was quarried from the ground by cutting the rock off of the surface. "Pot Rock" made a good building material because it was easily obtained and provided good insulation. As a result, numerous buildings in Midway and Heber were constructed out of the rock. George Johnson, a life-time resident of Midway described the original interior of the hall as a small foyer which opened into a large open room with a stage on the opposite (north) end. As an opera house, the hall contained a stage featuring a roll-up curtain painted by the pioneer artist, Mark Kirby. Beginning with an opening dance on Christmas Eve in 1898, and continuing for almost a half-century, the Hall was the location for Midway's community events. George Johnson describes early events at the Hall to include travelling theatre troops on Friday nights and dances with live bands on Saturday nights. Amusements such as box suppers, operas, dramas, plays, speeches, concerts and dances were held with Midway's orchestra performing. In addition the building was the location for celebrations and community functions. Wedding receptions were held in the hall. On the fourth and twenty-fourth of July the building housed banquets, patriotic programs and dances in the evening for the adults. During World War I a large dinner was held at the hall for the local soldiers before they marched to the Heber City Railroad Depot where they boarded the trains to depart for the war. On August 2, 1910, the Midway Hall Company was dissolved and George Bonner Jr. bought back full title of the building and lot for $3,190.00. Upon his death March 15, 1913, the local L.D.S. wards began negotiations for the purchase of the property. It took some time to settle all of his accounts, so it was not until February 11, 1916, that the Midway 1st and Midway 2nd Corporations of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints obtained title for $3,200. 14. The church continued operating the building as a social hall until 1940 when the new Town Hall was completed. Since that time the Midway Social Hall served as a cannery, a bishop's storehouse and a welfare storage center. The Midway Social Hall changed names and functions throughout the years. It was originally known as the Midway Opera House, the Amusement Hall, and the Midway Social Hall (the name longest associated with the structure). On December 2, 1994 the hall was sold to the Midway Boosters Club. The Boosters added the metal roof and new windows in 2014 and are currently working on an interior restoration.

This building is listed on the National Register of Historic Places