A Short History of the
Mormon Church in Burbank
by Mike McDaniel
During the period after the 1911
incorporation of Burbank into a city, many people arrived to call Burbank home.
Included among these were many members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter
Day Saints (Mormons).
The Church members who lived here
attended services with a small ward (congregation) in Glendale that was
organized in 1923. As Burbank grew so did the numbers of church members. In 1929, members had begun to hold meetings
in their homes in town and it was decided that a regular meeting place should be
chosen. The Odd Fellows hall on Glenoaks between Olive and Angeleno was used at
first. The hall was good, but had to be aired out every Sunday morning from the
Odd Fellows Saturday night meeting cigarette smoke before services could begin.
(Mormons are non-smokers.)
The number of Mormons in Burbank
increased to the point where the Odd Fellows hall was no longer large enough; a
new location was needed with larger meeting facilities. Another church group
had ceased to use the Burbank Woman’s Club building on Olive Ave for their
Sunday services, so in 1931 the Mormon church
leadership was able to rent the Woman’s Club which gave them the much-needed
space.
In 1939 Fire Captain Howard Tolman was called in to inspect the vacant Burbank Country Club
Building at the intersection of Orange Grove and Sunset Canyon. Originally
a private golf course and then owned by the City, the building had been left
vacant and had been vandalized for several years. Upon inspection Capt. Tolman, a member of the church, thought that with some work
the building would make a good permanent location for the growing Mormon
membership. He brought the matter up to the local leaders and several members
who were in the construction business visited the building to investigate.
After a tour they decided that the old country club would indeed make a great
meeting house after some necessary renovation. Warner Brothers was also interested
in the building, but in 1939 the Latter-Day Saint Church purchased the building.
It is still the main Mormon church building in Burbank, housing three wards (congregations).
Church members have been involved in the
Burbank Community since its early days. Burbank history is linked with local
Mormon history as over the years Mormons have owned businesses that have built Burbank
homes, written books, served food, repaired cars, made movies and television
shows, built and designed airplanes and sponsored community social events such
as concerts and community gardens. Many were soldiers who fought and served in
the military, one such was Corporal Larry Maxam,
U.S.M.C., Burbank’s
Medal of Honor recipient. Other church members served the community in civil
service, such as Mayor Carl King, and City Clerk Marion Marshall. Many members also
work for the city and own local businesses today.
Members of the Mormon Church have served
and continue to be of service in the Burbank Community through business and
community activities; they believe that as they serve people they are also in
the service of God.