AMERICAN FORK — For 12 years John Hawker has been married to a dream. He wanted to find the perfect place for a reception center after cultivating a 23-year career in decorating and floral design.
Hawker envisioned a turn-of-the-century building with a style that harks back to the refinement and grace of the Victorian era.
Then last winter he found his dream in American Fork.
"I've always wanted to do a reception center and always wanted it in red brick. I don't know why, but when I saw the building I knew I wanted it," said Hawker, who owned and managed Orem Floral.
After a lot of work, Hawker says he's created Utah County's largest reception center, now called Northampton House.
The building at 198 W. 300 North was an old LDS church and social hall. Built in 1903, the Gothic-revival building was first used as a place of worship for members of the The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
In 1938, an addition was built to show silent movies and hold dances. Eventually, the congregation moved into a new building, and the LDS Church put the building up for sale.
When Hawker walked through its doors last January, the building was in decline. The grand stained glass windows in the chapel had been bricked up and the roof hadn't been repaired in years.
For several years, the 15,500 square-foot facility was a private day-care center, licensed to care for more than 100 children.
Hawker knew it was going to take a lot of work to realize his dream.
"It was all really old, outdated, worn-out '70s-looking stuff."
Everything had to go.
Hazardous material crews removed asbestos insulation. Dozens of Dumpsters were filled while workers gutted the building.
Hawker's brother, Brent Hawker, a real estate investor in Colorado Springs, invested in the project. Hawker said he also sold his flower business in Orem to pay for the renovation.
Several months and more than $1 million later, Austrian crystal chandeliers were mounted, varnished woodwork and classic carpet installed and stained-glass windows glowed.
Shantelle Parker, who used to work at the church when it was a day-care center, couldn't believe the change. As a bride-to-be, Parker wants her reception to be at Northampton House.
"I walked in and looked at it all and went, 'Wow.' " she said.
Hawker said the facility will be more than a reception center. The building includes a tuxedo and bridal shop, photography studio, dance floor with sound system, full restaurant-style kitchen and two reception rooms. Bonnie Lee, the center's in-house caterer, said she can prepare traditional dishes, as well as a family recipe.
Hawker also wants to find a seamstress or tailor who will make and alter custom wedding gowns.
"I'm always delighted to see a building like that saved," said American Fork City Councilwoman Juel Belmont, who leads the city's historical preservation committee. "I feel that saving (buildings) gives us landmarks and gives us a sense of community."
Belmont said local historians were skeptical at first about Hawker's sincerity. They aren't now.
Hawker is working on placing the Northampton House in the National Register of Historic Places.
E-MAIL: gfattah@desnews.com