Benson Grist Mill facts for kids
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| Established | 1851 (original) June 11, 1988 (museum restoration) |
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| Location | Stansbury Park, Utah |
| Type | restoration and replica museum |
| Visitors | 10,000 - 12,000 per year |
The Benson Grist Mill is a special museum in Tooele County, Utah. It lets visitors see how an old-fashioned mill from the 1800s worked. A grist mill is a place where grain, like wheat or corn, is ground into flour or meal.
This museum has the original mill building and four other historic buildings that were moved here. There are also four other structures, including an open-air pavilion. The museum covers almost 7 acres (about 2.8 hectares) of land. It's located along State Highway 138. Tooele County owns and runs the museum.
Contents
History of the Benson Grist Mill
The Benson Grist Mill has a long and interesting history. It was built to help early settlers in Utah.
Building the Mill
In 1850, Brigham Young, who was the leader of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, asked Ezra T. Benson to build a mill in the north part of Tooele Valley. This mill would help the new communities growing there. By 1851, a sawmill was already working at the spot. Then, in 1854, the Lee brothers were hired to build the grist mill.
The area was first called "Richville." It was even the first county seat for Tooele County for a few years. The mill itself was named the "E.T. Benson Flour Mill."
New Owners and Changes
In 1860, Brigham Young bought the mill. This happened when Ezra T. Benson moved to a different area. By 1862, the mill was known as "Young and Rowberry's." John Rowberry lived near the mill and was a local leader.
The original mill was known for being fair. People would say, "As safe as flour in the lower mill!" This meant their belongings were very secure.
Over the years, the mill changed hands many times. In 1922, a man named J. Reuben Clark bought the mill property. By this time, the old wooden waterwheel and grinding stones (called millstones) had been replaced. A metal turbine and "grain breakers" were used instead.
The mill kept grinding flour for people until 1938. After that, it was used only sometimes to grind food for animals. The last person to operate the mill left in 1939.
The Mill Falls into Disrepair
In 1970, the Clark family sold the mill area to a company called Terracor. This company planned to build a new community called Stansbury Park. However, they didn't have plans for the mill itself. So, the mill sat unused and was neglected for about 25 years. By the 1980s, the mill was in very bad shape. It was open to the weather and easily accessible to anyone.
Because of its history, the mill was added to the U.S. National Register of Historic Places in 1972. This list helps protect important historical sites.
Restoring the Mill
In 1983, a local resident named John "Jack" Smith started a group to save and restore the historic mill. This group successfully got the mill property given to Tooele County. They also convinced the county to create a special group to manage the mill's restoration and operation.
Most of the restoration work was done by volunteers. The county also helped with money. By the late 1980s, the mill was ready for visitors to come and explore.
Buildings and Structures
Besides the main mill, there are several other interesting buildings at the site:
- A building that looks like an old pioneer-era home was built east of the mill. It serves as the main office for the museum.
- Another similar building was built northwest of the mill. This one is a "Country Store" where visitors can buy souvenirs.
The Bolinder Blacksmith Shop
The Bolinder Blacksmith Shop was built in nearby Grantsville, Utah almost 100 years ago. It was moved to the mill site in 1987. Inside, you can see how a blacksmith would have worked.
The Forsyth Pioneer Cabin
The Forsyth Pioneer Cabin was built in 1872 by Andrew Barker Forsyth for his wife. Andrew came to Tooele County in 1866. The Forsyth Cabin was given to the museum and moved here in 1986.
The Barn
A barn at the site holds old tools and equipment from pioneer farms and ranches in Tooele Valley.
The Pavilion
An open-air pavilion was built by community volunteers in 2000. It is used for different community events.
Scheduled Events
The Benson Grist Mill hosts several fun events throughout the year:
- Pioneer Fun at the Mill (July)
- Harvest Days - Farmers Market (Saturdays Only, mid-June to mid-October)
- Harvest Festival (Friday and Saturday in October)
- Christmas Lighting event (Monday evening after Thanksgiving)
- Tooele County Arts Guild Ren Faire 2023
See also
- Stansbury Park
- Lake Point, Utah
- Adobe Rock
