Lehi Roller Mills facts for kids
Lehi Roller Mills is a famous flour mill and a historic spot in Lehi, Utah. The first brick building was built in 1905. It has grown bigger since then. This mill became well-known in the Utah Valley because it was a filming location for the movie Footloose (1984). The Roller Mills was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1994. The building is still there today and is now called ‘Lehi Mills’.
Contents
History of the Roller Mills
How the Mill Started
Lehi was settled in 1850. It took many years for farmers to get used to the dry land and little rain in Utah Valley. They worked hard to grow crops by bringing water to the land. Soon, wheat farmers needed a place to grind their wheat into flour. The first mill in Lehi was started by Samuel Mulliner in 1858. Before that, farmers had to travel far to grind their crops.
In 1905, a group called the Lehi Commercial Club helped build a new mill. They chose a spot on East Main Street because it was close to the Union Pacific Railroad. The first bag of flour was made in April 1906. Soon, they were making sixty to seventy bushels of flour every day. A bushel is a way to measure grain. Within a year, the mill was so popular that it needed to get bigger to make even more flour.
Early Years of the Mill
In 1910, George G. Robinson took over the mill. He updated the machines. By the start of World War I, the flour from Lehi Roller Mills was known for its great quality. When Robinson passed away in 1936, his sons, Sherman and Raymond, kept running the mill. During World War II, the mill helped the country by selling flour to the government. Over the years, new machines have helped the mill make more and more flour.
On the side of the mills, you can still see paintings of the Turkey Red and Peacock Brand logos. These were on the cotton flour bags. Customers knew these logos meant high-quality flour. People even used the empty flour bags to make things like aprons, tablecloths, and pillowcases!
The Flour They Make
Lehi Roller Mills cares a lot about the quality of its flour. They work closely with farmers and use traditional wheat. All their wheat comes from local farmers within 100 miles of the mill. Their two main types of flour are enriched white flour, called Turkey Flour, and all-purpose flour, called Peacock Flour. They also offer Bread Flour, Baking Flour, and Whole Wheat Flour. They use their flours to make mixes for pancakes, waffles, muffins, and desserts.
Footloose Movie
The Lehi Roller Mills became famous as a filming spot for the 1984 movie Footloose. The movie was directed by Herbert Ross and starred Kevin Bacon. The story is about a small town where dancing and rock music are not allowed. The Roller Mills is a very important place in the movie. It's where Kevin Bacon's character works. Kevin Bacon even worked at the mill himself to understand his character better. In a key scene, a group of teenagers have a secret dance at the Roller Mills.
Sherman Robinson, who owned the mill then, was asked by a movie producer to use the mill for filming. The producer thought the mill looked perfect for the big dance scene. Robinson agreed. Filming the movie brought a lot of excitement to the small town of Lehi. Some local people even got to be in the movie as extras. The fame the Roller Mills got from Footloose still helps the company sell its products today. The mill is now a well-known part of Lehi because of the movie.
Modern Roller Mills
Kentucky Fried Chicken
One of the mill's most famous customers is Kentucky Fried Chicken. In 1952, the Roller Mills provided flour to the very first Kentucky Fried Chicken restaurant in Salt Lake City. This partnership helped the mill stay in business. Today, the Roller Mills still provides flour for coating chicken and cornbread mix for KFC restaurants in the Western United States.
A National Historic Place
The Roller Mills became a National Historic Place in 1995. The building still has many of its original parts from when it opened. It also has new additions that show how milling has changed since 1910. You can still see the original grain elevators with the Turkey Red and Peacock Flour logos. Inside, some of the old machines and signs are still there. The mill still uses electric milling and similar technology to make flour. The Roller Mills is also historic because it is one of the few old mills like it still standing in Utah.
The Roller Mills Today
The population of Lehi has grown very quickly in recent years. This has led to many new homes and technology businesses. Because of this, less land is used for farming. This made it harder for farmers to live and work in the area. The Roller Mills also faced serious money problems around 2013 because a big customer didn't pay them.
During this tough time, Ken Brailsford bought the Mills in 2013 from the original founder’s grandson. Before this, the mill already sold baking mixes. But since Ken took over, the company has grown its sales to many more customers. These prepackaged mixes are now sold all year in the mill's new store and online. Their sales have been rising a lot. Ken Brailsford wants the business to keep growing while staying true to its good quality. The grandson of the original owner, Sherm Robinson, still helps run the mill.
The newly named Lehi Mills wants to keep making the same high-quality flour. They do this by having good relationships with their farmers and customers. The mill still looks much like it did when it first opened in 1910. But it also keeps using new technology to adapt and improve.
Images for kids
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View of the Lehi Roller Mills from the South
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A shirt made from a Turkey Brand flour bag from the Lehi Roller Mills.
