[Picture on page 79]

Branch building in Santiago, Chile

A NEW BRANCH OFFICE BUILDING

The year 1968 proved to be a notable year in yet another way. The government notified the Society that property on which the branch office was located was being expropriated to permit the construction of the new Pan-American Highway. In December of 1968 Brother Knorr visited Santiago to select another site on which to build a new branch building. A fine location was found in a quiet residential section situated near the towering Andes Mountains. Thereafter we held a special meeting, and the word spread to all parts of the country so that 4,083 converged on Santiago to hear Brother Knorr speak. During his talk he announced the plans for building a new branch office, and the brothers received this news with hearty enthusiasm.

Early in 1969 word was received that Brother Fred Wilson, the branch overseer, was being transferred to Brazil to serve there in that privilege of service. It was a sad day for many local brothers as hundreds of them went to the airport to bid good-bye to Brother and Sister Wilson who, after 20 years as missionaries in Chile, had become very dear to their Chilean brothers. Gilead graduate Pedro Lovato from Argentina was appointed as the new branch overseer.

The construction of the new branch building began in August of 1969. The Society was pleased to hire brothers to do most of the work so that few outsiders had much to do with the building. In all, 35 brothers worked on the structure. In addition, the congregations in Santiago were invited to contribute their time and talents to forward the construction, and they responded in a fine way. For example, La Cisterna Congregation hired a bus to bring the brothers of the congregation to the job site, where the sisters set up a field kitchen so the brothers would have a good meal and be able to work all day. The volunteer workers devoted a total of 3,124 hours to the construction.

The building, set back 35 feet (11 m) from the street, is a white, two-story structure with a wide flagstone entrance flanked by spacious lawns. The front of the building is partially faced with a green tile that softens the startling brilliance of the white cement. The main entranceway is framed in dark marble that stands in sharp contrast with the aluminum framed glass doors and presents a pleasing contrast.

The dedication of this building took place on November 21, 1970, with 255 persons in attendance. In his dedication discourse the branch overseer, Pedro Lovato, showed that a building in itself is not the important thing; rather, it is the use to which the people put the building that is valuable in the eyes of Jehovah. The building has a lovely spacious Kingdom Hall, sufficient facilities for the office and shipping department, as well as living quarters for 16 persons.