Brigham City Co-op facts for kids

The Brigham City Co-op was a very successful business group run by the Mormons in Utah. It was a special kind of business where people worked together and shared the profits.

In 1990, five important buildings from the Brigham City Co-op were still standing. These included the main store, a flour mill, a woolen mill, a planing mill, and a granary.

The Co-op Store

Store in 2010

Brigham City Mercantile and Manufacturing Association Mercantile Store

The main store of the Brigham City Co-op was built between 1890 and 1891. It is located at 5 North Main Street in Brigham City, Utah. This building was also known as the First Security Bank later on.

It was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1990. This means it is an important historical building.

Building Design and Use

The store was designed by architects St. James, Woods & Co. from Ogden, Utah. The third floor of the building had a large room. This room was about 50 by 80 feet (15 by 24 meters). It was used for dances and other community events.

Why the Store Was Important

The Co-op store was very important because of its connection to the Brigham City Co-op. This Co-op was a special system supported by the Mormon Church. It was very successful and controlled most of the local economy from 1864 to 1895.

The Brigham City Co-op was a model for other similar businesses. Many other co-ops were started in Utah during the 1860s to 1880s. However, most of them failed quickly. None of them became as successful as the one in Brigham City.

End of the Co-op

A big fire happened at the store on December 19, 1894. This fire helped lead to the Co-op's failure in 1895. After the Co-op closed, the building was used as a bank.

The store building is also important for its design. It is considered the best example of Victorian Eclectic style in Brigham City. This style mixes different design ideas from the Victorian era.

The Flouring Mill

Flouring mill

Backside of the Box Elder Flouring Mill in 2019

The Box Elder flouring mill was built in 1857. A flour mill is a place where grain is ground into flour. This mill was used for making flour until the 1870s. It was a two-story building, about 30 by 39 feet (9 by 12 meters).

Changes Over Time

In the 1890s, the building was sold. It then became a factory that made monuments. It was still a monument factory in 1989. The mill was made bigger with new parts added between 1892 and 1933. This included a large two-story addition built around 1933.

Defense Features

The mill originally had small openings in its first-story walls. These openings were on the west, north, and south sides. They were meant for defense during early settlement times. Later, John H. Bott owned the mill from the 1890s to 1914. He changed these openings into windows and a door.

The mill was also known by other names. These included the Gristmill, Snow and Smith Mill, and Bott's Monument Factory. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places as the Box Elder Flouring Mill. The mill used water power from Box Elder Creek to operate.

The Granary

Granary

A granary is a building used to store grain. This granary was built in 1877. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1990. It is known as the Granary of the Relief Society.

The Planing Mill

Planing mill

The planing mill was built in 1876. A planing mill is used to smooth and shape wood. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places as the Planing Mill of Brigham City Mercantile and Manufacturing Association. It was also known as Merrell's Planing Mill.

This mill also used water power to run its machinery. John F. Merrell worked at the mill. He bought it in 1892 and ran it until 1931. The building was removed from the National Register of Historic Places in 2018.