Critical repair work is expected to begin this fall at Taylorsville’s oldest building, thanks to more than $300,000 in donations raised in less than a year.

The Alrasool Islamic Center (1247 W. 4800 South) was constructed as a meeting house by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. The original building (which was subsequently added to) was completed in 1894 – just one year after the faith’s Salt Lake City Temple was dedicated. In fact, historians believe “leftover” materials from the Temple construction were used in the local structure.

The Taylorsville building was completed two years before Utah gained statehood (1896) – and more than a century before Taylorsville was incorporated (1996).

Three years ago, the Alrasool Islamic Center became the first Taylorsville building added to the National Register of Historic Places. A few months later, the Taylorsville-Bennion Heritage Center (1488 W. 4800 South) – barely a stone’s throw from the Islamic Center– was also added to that prestigious list.

Then last year, Alrasool officials announced their fundraising campaign to make necessary repairs on the building. Islamic Center Board of Directors Member and Sunday School teacher Hassan Mardanlou reports it’s been a big success – even though they have not yet reached the “finish line.”

“We’ve received everything from significant donations from foundations to thousands of dollars, in much smaller donations, from our members,” Mardanlou said. “We have raised nearly about $350,000 to date; but we need to reach our goal of $500,000 in order to receive our entire matching grant.”

That’s another part of this story you’ve read in these pages. Back in fall 2023, Alrasool Islamic Center received a $250,000 grant from the National Fund for Sacred Places (fundforsacredplaces.org) based in Philadelphia. However, that grant requires a 2-for-1 match. Alrasool must raise a half-million dollars on its own in order to receive the entire quarter-million dollar grant.

Several months ago, the Taylorsville center contracted with a Salt Lake business to help in the effort. 

“Our structural repair architects encouraged us to hire a professional fundraiser and recommended Scott Mietchen who operates FRCI (Fund Raising Council, Inc frcigroup.com),” Mardanlou said. “He’s raised about $135,000 for us so far, with even more pledged.”

“They’ve asked me not to reveal the specific amounts, but we’ve received substantial donations from the Semnani Family Foundation (semnanifamilyfoundation.org) and the George S. and Dolores Doré Eccles Foundation (gsecclesfoundation.org),” Mietchen said. “The (Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints) has also made a significant donation. We have pledges for about $340,000 now and I believe we can reach our goal of $500,000 in the next couple of months.”

In mid-January, Alrasool hosted an Islamic celebration and fundraiser where several thousand more dollars were donated, primarily from center members. Mietchen joined Mardanlou at the event. Also on hand was former Preservation Utah Executive Director David Amott, who’s remaining active in the fundraising effort now as a volunteer.

“The Alrasool Islamic Center is up against its deadline with the National Fund for Sacred Places to submit reconstruction improvement plans in order to receive their matching funding,” Amott said. “However, when we show them the progress we’ve made in fundraising, it’s possible they may match (by half) the amount we have now, while also extending our deadline to raise the rest. Once Sacred Places promises a grant, they want grantees to succeed. I am confident we will get there. We still have a lot of sticks in the fire.”

Mardanlou is anxious to see repair work begin. Overall estimates to completely restore the 131-year-old building have ranged from $2 million to $4 million dollars. If they have the entire $750,000 to work with later this year, he expects it to be spent efficiently – and quickly.

“Outside our center we need significant repair work completed on the foundation,” Mardanlou said. “We also need to replace many of our bricks and seal all of them to strengthen the building. Inside, all of our windows on the north and west walls need to be replaced. They were changed out years ago and are now just plastic. They leak a lot of heat. These are huge, 20-foot-high glass panes. We also need cracks in the ceiling repaired. Much of that damage was caused by the 2020 earthquake.”

Mardanlou continues to encourage Taylorsville residents of any faith to visit the Alrasool Islamic Center to enjoy this slice of community history.

“This sacred building was first constructed by Mormon immigrants as a place where Church members could gather to worship and socialize,” he said. “Who knew, 130 years later, another group of immigrants would come to this same place to rebuild it to serve future generations. We want people to come share in the history.”

The Alrasool Islamic Center Board of Directors welcomes individual visitors – or church, scout or other groups – to tour their building. In keeping with their faith, visitors are asked to remove their shoes and women are asked to wear headscarves, or hijabs. Taylorsville Mayor Kristie Overson is among those who have done that.

“The Islamic Center offers such a great opportunity to actually visit Taylorsville history,” she said. “What a wonderful way to learn about our friends and neighbors. I was not at all uncomfortable about taking off my shoes; and, of course, I am going to respect their faith and wear a scarf over my head.”

City Councilwoman Anna Barbieri also likes the idea of non-Muslim groups touring the Alrasool Islamic Center to learn more about it.

“I think kids can learn so much if they tour the center,” she said. “I’m sure many of them have grandparents who know all about that building and would be tickled they are learning about it. The Islamic Center is one of the reasons I love living in Taylorsville. We have so much diversity. To have a group investing the kind of money they are to keep that building from going by the wayside is just wonderful.” 

Those interested in arranging a visit to the Alrasool Islamic Center, or donating to their restoration fund, can get more information at their website, aicutah.org. λ