Benson Grist Mill facts for kids
 |
|
| Established | 1851 (original) June 11, 1988 (museum restoration) |
|---|---|
| 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 a pioneer gristmill worked in the late 1800s. A gristmill is a place where grain, like wheat, is ground into flour.
This museum has four old buildings from the 1800s that were moved to the site. It also has four other structures, including an open-air pavilion. The museum covers almost 7 acres (about 2.8 hectares) and is located along State Highway 138. It is owned and run by Tooele County.
Contents
A Look Back: The Mill's Story
Early Days and 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 help build a mill in the northern part of Tooele Valley. This mill would serve the new communities growing in the area.
By 1851, a sawmill was already working at the site. Then, in 1854, the Lee brothers were hired to build the gristmill. The area was first called "Richville" and was the county seat for a short time. The mill itself was named the "E.T. Benson Flour Mill."
A book from 1961, "History of Tooele County," says that the original gristmill was built in 1854 near Lake Point, Utah. It was known for being very fair. People used to say, "As safe as flour in the lower mill!" when they wanted to show something was very secure.
In 1860, Brigham Young bought the mill for the church when Ezra T. Benson moved away. By 1862, the mill was known as "Young and Rowberry's." John Rowberry lived near the mill and was a local church leader.
Changing Hands and New Technology
Over the years, the mill changed owners many times. In 1922, J. Reuben Clark, who was a lawyer from Salt Lake City, bought the mill property. By this time, the old wooden waterwheel and grinding stones had been replaced. The mill now used a metal turbine and special "grain breakers" to grind flour.
The mill kept grinding flour for local people until 1938. After that, it was used sometimes to grind food for animals. The last person to operate the mill left in 1939.
A Time of Neglect
In 1970, the Clark family sold the mill area to a company called Terracor Corporation. This company planned to build a new community called Stansbury Park. However, they didn't have immediate plans for the mill itself.
For about 25 years, the mill was left unused and uncared for. By the 1980s, it was in very bad shape, open to the weather, and easy for anyone to enter. Luckily, in 1972, the mill was listed on the U.S. National Register of Historic Places. This helped protect it.
Bringing the Mill Back to Life
Saving a Piece of History
In 1983, a person named John "Jack" Smith from Stansbury Park started a group to save and fix up the old mill. His group successfully got the mill property given to Tooele County. The county then created a special group to manage the mill's restoration and operation.
Most of the work to fix the mill and build or repair other buildings at the site was done by volunteers. Tooele County also provided money to help. By the late 1980s, the mill was ready, and visitors could come and take tours.
Exploring the Mill Site
Historic Buildings to See
There are several interesting buildings at the Benson Grist Mill site. A building that looks like it's from the pioneer era was built east of the mill. It serves as the site office. Another similar building was built northwest of the mill and is now a Country Store, where you can buy souvenirs.
The Blacksmith Shop
The Bolinder Blacksmith Shop was moved to the mill site in 1987. It was originally built in nearby Grantsville, Utah almost a century ago. Inside, you can see how a blacksmith worked and what their shop looked like.
The Pioneer Cabin
The Forsyth Pioneer Cabin was built in 1872 by Andrew Barker Forsyth for his wife, Emily Elizabeth Moss. Andrew came to Tooele County in 1866. This cabin was given to the Benson Grist Mill historic site and moved there in 1986.
The Barn and Pavilion
A barn at the site holds old tools and equipment from pioneer farms and ranches in Tooele Valley. There is also an open-air pavilion that was built by community volunteers in 2000. This pavilion 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
