SALT LAKE CITY — It has been almost three years since Corinne, a Box Elder County city of a little more than 800 located near the northeast shore of the Great Salt Lake, embarked on a journey to save its beloved historic Corinne Methodist Episcopal Church-turned-city museum and event space.

The church dates back to 1870 as the city popped up as an important stop along the original transcontinental railroad line, and it remains one of the oldest buildings in Utah not tied to pioneer settlers from The Church of Jesus of Latter-day Saints. It's since become a city museum and beloved event space, though it's been closed since the Methodist Church deeded it to the city a few years ago.

Its impact on the community since the very beginning sparked the plan to preserve it instead of tearing it down.

"This church represents a unique history of Utah's minority groups," says Corinne City Councilwoman Karen Caldwell. "Corinne City, as a whole, is a historical marker of the impact that non-LDS groups have had on this state."

After initially struggling to find financial help for the project, Caldwell says the city has finally been able to make significant progress on the restoration project, which is expected to cost almost $480,000 altogether. However, the small city, which doesn't have a large budget, is still searching for the funds to complete the restoration.

It's possible that the state Legislature will chip in. Rep. Thomas Peterson, R-Brigham City, filed a proposal seeking a one-time appropriation of $250,000 that would go toward completing the project.

"This project will help to protect and restore the history of the faith and those who worked on the transcontinental railroad," the document states. "This request is to take the building from its occupancy status, conduct a structural upgrade and begin the restoration of this historic edifice."

The city has already received about $166,000 through various state grants, city funds and private donations, according to Caldwell, who spoke on the issue during a legislative appropriations subcommittee meeting Wednesday. She also provided an update on how the renovation project is going.

Caldwell explained that the city was able to hire architects and engineers to lay out plans. Crews will also begin work to install French drains, upgrade electrical systems and fortify the building's foundation later this year.

But other goals of the project include making the building more accessible for people with disabilities, while also repairing windows and doors, restoring the roofing and installing an HVAC system, according to the city's presentation. There's also a full restoration slated for the building's interior.

"There's a lot more that needs to be done that we don't have the funding for," Caldwell said. "We don't do anything unless we have the money in hand."

City and county officials believe that saving the building will not only preserve a piece of history but can also help improve the tourism experience, especially for people who come to the city to visit Golden Spike National Historical Park.

The museum can help tell the "unique and diverse history" of the area, displaying all sorts of artifacts related to the railroad and the city, Caldwell said.

Corinne was established as a "freight-transfer point" for goods and supplies to mining towns in western Montana, according to the late historian Brigham Madsen, who wrote about the city's history for the state in 1980. The city thrived at the end of the 19th century because of its location along the railroad, reaching a population of about 1,000 — one of Utah's more-populated places at the time.

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It became a melting pot of religions over time, resulting in more than just the Methodist church. Houses of worship were established for members of several other Christian sects, as well as Jewish and Buddhist faiths.

Corinne also survived the Lucin Cutoff at the turn of the 20th century, which wasn't the case for other bustling railroad towns at the time. The cutoff rerouted the line through the Great Salt Lake instead of around it, eventually causing several railroad towns in Box Elder County, like Terrace, to disappear.

The museum would feature this past. Caldwell added that she's even heard from past residents who have since moved to other states looking to donate new pieces to display.

The building can also serve as a venue that brings the small community together for weddings, recitals and other events. One of those events, the city's annual Christmas cantata, was moved to a nearby building last year because there was no electricity or windows at the church as the renovation continues. City officials made a promise to those in attendance that the event will be brought back to the old church one day.

"We're going to accomplish this project," she said.

It's just a matter of when.

The Utah Legislature already passed bills setting up Utah's base budget for the 2024 fiscal year, which Gov. Spencer Cox signed on Thursday. It has until March 3 to determine other appropriations for the upcoming year.

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