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1854 LDS apostle Ezra Taft Benson arrived in Tooele Valley with orders
from Church President Brigham Young to construct a gristmill that would
serve new pioneer settlements in the area. His labor and commitment
still stand proudly today in the Benson Girstmill, one of America's truly
remarkable historical structures. Located in the northern Tooele Valley
beside a spring-fed pond, the Benson Girstmill was made of rock and wood
by skilled pioneer artisans nearly 150 years ago. The mastery of
their construction methods is easily seen inside the mill where wooden pegs
and green leather were pounded into massive wooden beams. When the
green leather dried, the pegs stayed in place like nails. This
method was also used to build the Tabernacle at Temple Square in nearby
Salt Lake City. |
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From 1854 to the 1940's, the Benson Girstmill ground and processed flour,
bran and cornmeal by the ton. Much of the mill's equipment, brought
by ox teams from St. Louis and other cities during 1854, is still inside
the mill and can be seen during tours. Although is carries the name
Benson, the Lee and Rowberry Families of Tooele were also instrumental in
the construction and operation of the girstmill. The Lee Brothers
were hired by Benson to design and build it. In 1855 the mill
site community became known a Richville and served as the Tooele County
seat until 1861. Other business operations opened besides, like a
tannery and black smith shop. Richville quickly became a center of
commerce for Tooele Valley, and the Benson Girstmill was the
centerpiece. Farmers and their families would arrive with their
harvests and stay for the day picnicking or swimming, while the girstmill
operator turned harvest in usable food. Mill ownership has changed
hands several times over the years. Among the more prominent owners
of the mill site was J. Rueben Clark, Jr., a Grantsville resident who
served in the General Presidency of The LDS Church, and who also served a
U.S. Ambassador to Mexico.
After the last bag of flour was ground in the 1940's, the girstmill lay
silent for over 40 years, gradually falling into disrepair. In 1983
an ambitious committee of volunteers acquired the mill site property and
began restoring the structure one piece at a time. The restored
mill, which is widely recognized as one of the more intact pioneer era
industrial buildings in Utah, captivates the interest of visitors from
around the world.
Rapidly approaching its sesquicentennial, the Benson Girstmill was hailed
as the most significant structural landmark between Salt Lake City and
Reno, Nev. when it was placed on the National Register of Historic Sites
in 1972. Today, the past and the present converge at the mill, which
is home to a variety of events and celebration steeped in the traditions
of Utah's early settlers. One popular event is the annual Benson
Girstmill Pageant which features a musical tribute to the area's colorful
history. |
