The News Herald (Willoughby, OH)
Kirtland docudrama being produced
Lights, camera, action. Historic Kirtland is ready for its close-up.
An hourlong docudrama about the area where The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints was headquartered from 1831 to 1838, after being formally organized in western New York, also will include the story of the events surrounding the construction and dedication of the Kirtland Temple.
A combination of commentary and vignettes, the film will be completed and shown in October.
At the request of the filmmakers and production crews, details about the dates of the shoot are not being disclosed.
Public Affairs Representative Karl Anderson, serving as a historical consultant for the film, said the tourism Historic Kirtland brings in—and the city in general— makes it the best-kept secret in Lake County.
“We attract 70,000 visitors a year, with many of them coming in for the summer from Utah, California, all over the United States. We get visitors, members of the church not only from all over the country, but also from across the world. We have missionaries here now. The project will film in multiple locations. It’s great to see the publicity we’re receiving in a faith-driven project.”
Anderson, who will also appear in the film with his wife, Joyce, added the real story is the church’s early presence in Kirtland.
“Before it ended up in Salt Lake (City, Utah), the church was set up here and served as a gathering place,” he said. “People came from all over, all of our church organizations happened here in Kirtland and all over Lake County. We built the temple and missionaries were sent all over the world. When we left, the church went to Missouri under some persecution, but the prophecies by our president, Joseph Smith, said the church would return to Kirtland — and build up Kirtland.”
Much project restoration has taken place on the Historic Kirtland site, lending an authentic feel and look for not only the production, but also for all visitors, an element the film will reflect, said Gilbert Jennings director of the Historic Kirtland Visitors’ Center.
Anderson detailed the restoration of the property’s Newel K. Whitney Store and home, tavern, schoolhouse, sawmill and ashery.
“Before the temple, our headquarters were here in the (general) store, which still has the ledger from the 1830s,” he said. “We have displays, also, in the tavern. Industry-wise, we have the sawmill, which provided lumber for construction, and the ashery, which was the first chemical industry in the country. And Benjamin Franklin got the patent for the ashery.”
The ashery remains the only replicated ashery facility in all of North America, Jennings said.
“They burned wood and out of the ashes they extracted the chemicals that are used in salt making and cleansing products, potassium chlorate and potassium sulfate. Pot ash is the product they were making.
“Another point of interest is Fairport Harbor, the lighthouse is where missionaries would depart, going across Lake Erie to the Erie Canal,” he said. “That system played a big part as a transportation method. They would go to Buffalo, pick up the canal through New York. We’ve participated with many of the local historical groups to detail this history.”
With the sites dedicated in 2002, Historic Kirtland, and the church, has likewise grown, Anderson said.
“Ohio was pretty brand new, so to speak. This was the Western Reserve. Early settlers didn’t come to Northeast Ohio until the late 1700s, mainly because that term, ‘the Western Reserve.’ The land was held by the state of Connecticut, given to Connecticut for war reparations. The British had burned great sections of that state and the government just gave it to the state, calling this the Western Reserve of Connecticut.
“The Western Reserve Land Company didn’t start selling the lands off until 1797, 1798, and so these lands were preserved, and some of our members were the first citizens in Lake County and Kirtland,” Anderson said. “The development caught the attention of the church.”
Former Brigham Young University and NFL quarterback Steve Young, who is a descendant of Brigham Young, second president of LDS Church, will partially narrate the film.
Young’s participation, as it turns out, extends far beyond the movie, Anderson noted.
“He had a Kirtland Tshirt on once in a photo that ended up in a ‘Sports Illustrated’ story,” he said. “In his own book, he talks about it and his faith. A photo (of Steve) currently hangs in (Kirtland) city hall. He was a factor for us in getting approval in getting the roads changed down here, and we funded the roads that go around Historic Kirtland.
“We changed the roads and the historic site has caught on in the West, and Brigham Young University, along with private donors, are funding the project. It will be a fascinating movie.”