KIRTLAND, Ohio — In the early 1990s, when it became apparent that the four-way stop in front of the Whitney Store was dangerous to pedestrians and distracted from the spiritual message of the historic site, local Church leaders considered how they might gain the favor of city leaders to create another road and divert traffic.
In the 1830s, the Whitney store was located in Kirtland along a major travel route on Chillicothe Road. Here, the Prophet Joseph Smith and his family resided for a time.
Traffic increased over the years until an estimated 20,000 vehicles were passing through the intersection each day. Motorists, especially during peak travel hours, could become irritated while waiting at the four-way stop. With the Church's visitors center on one side of the intersection and the Whitney store on the other side, it was feared that it was only a matter of time before a serious accident occurred.
"Our proposal was to redirect traffic around the historic sites by creating a new road," said Karl Anderson, former stake president.
"We had the support of the mayor at that time, Mayor Mario Marcopoli, but we didn't know many of the seven city council members whose cooperation we needed. We had only a handful of Church members in Kirtland at the time and were really unknown in the community. Our presence consisted of the Whitney store and our meetinghouse, which was less than 10 years old. How to win the council's support was a real concern.
"Mayor Marcopoli suggested we build some goodwill in the community. We asked for ideas. He said we should pray," said Brother Anderson.
A few months later the mayor called Brother Anderson to tell him that his prayers had been answered. The mayor explained that a photo in a Sports Illustrated showed San Francisco 49ers quarterback Steve Young on a football practice field wearing a T-shirt that displayed the Kirtland Temple and read: Kirtland, Ohio, City of Faith and Beauty.
It was a T-shirt that had been given to Steve Young in 1984 at the dedication of the Whitney store. He later said he wore the shirt under his uniform for good luck.
Word of the photo quickly spread through town. City leaders were eager to meet those Church leaders who shared their excitement for Kirtland. The photo created near instant friends and endeared two groups with similar desires.
The mayor asked that an enlargement be made of the photograph and framed. It now hangs at the entrance to the council chambers with Steve Young's signature.
"In retrospect, I cannot imagine a more effective public relations opportunity than this," said Brother Anderson. "No designed effort to build goodwill could have been more effective than this answer to prayer. It is paving the way for the growth and development of Church historic sites in Kirtland.
"With the city council's support, the road was opened Aug. 1 after several years of planning. Current projects that are underway will add to Ohio's Bicentennial celebration in 2003," he said.
With the Church's effort to recreate historic sites, Kirtland's current mayor, Edward J. Podojil, is considering how the city might develop this theme by reconstructing its own historical heritage.
E-mail: shaun@desnews.com