Escalante's first church stood on or near this spot as a two-story building of white sandstone. Its upper floor served as the LDS Chapel and for recreational purposes, while the lower floor housed classrooms for church organizations and at various times for public school classes. The building was erected in 1885 under the direction of Bishop Andrew P. Schow, with Morgan Richards as the stone mason. The bell in its belfry called ward members to church and to funerals for nearly sixty years.