Heber C. Kimball Gristmill
Encyclopedia
The Heber C. Kimball Gristmill
was built in 1853 under the direction of Heber C. Kimball
. Constructed within what was known as North Mill Cañon (Bountiful, Utah
today), the gristmill ground grains for nearly 40 years. During a period of a few years, the mill employed trained bears which were captured in the mountains east of the mill. Once burr mill
s became obsolete due to the invention of roller mill
s, the building was employed as an entertainment center. Today, only the foundation and a few feet of the adobe walls of the original three-story building remain.
Some 30 yards east of the original site stands a monument consisting of a replica mill, two original burr-type gristmill stones re-discovered in 1984 and three four-foot high pillars commemorating individuals involved in the planning or operation of the mill.
. It consists of a 1:3 scale replica burr mill built in 1937 and two original burr-type grist stones found in 1984 during city excavation for a debris catch at the end of Mill Creek. Also erected are three four-foot-high pillars dedicated to three men involved in the building and operation of the mill: Heber Chase Kimball, Daniel Davis and George Quinn McNeal.
Gristmill replica
The gristmill replica was constructed in September 1937 by the Daughters of Utah Pioneers. The replica sits 30 yards east of the original burr mill, which was built in the early 1850s and operated through 1892. The replica mill measures nine feet six inches high with a depth of 8 feet 6 inches and a width of 6 feet. It is open to the public at all times and can be accessed via Mill Street from Orchard Drive in Bountiful, Utah.
Gristmill stones
When roller mills were introduced in the late 19th century, burr mills became obsolete. The Heber C. Kimball Gristmill stopped operation in 1892. Ninety-two years later (1984), Davis County, Utah
and Bountiful began construction of a debris catch site for Mill Creek. The debris catch site would sit in the same place that the gristmill stood 100 years earlier. During excavation, two original gristmill stones were found. Although out of use and buried for nearly 100 years, the stones are in remarkably good condition. Under the direction of the Sons of Utah Pioneers
, the stones were put on display 10 yards to the north of the gristmill replica created about half a century previously by the Daughters of Utah Pioneers.
in the First Presidency
of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, decided to grist
grains. He had family in the area and Bountiful (then known as the North Cañon Ward) was heavily engaged in grain production. The site in the North Mill Cañon was chosen and he received land rights in 1851. Kimball selected Daniel Davis, an early Mormon
convert adopted into the Kimball family, and Davis began clearing ground on July 18, 1852. Nine months later, on April 20, 1853, Isaac Hunter and Daniel Davis laid the northwestern and southeastern cornerstones respectively. The following day, Heber C. Kimball dedicated the building.
The mill was finished shortly thereafter and Davis managed the site while living in an adobe house southeast of the mill. George Quinn McNeal, a local trapper, assisted Davis. McNeal, with the help of Jerry Ellis, trapped and trained black bears from the nearby Wasatch Mountain range to work in the mills. Later, McNeal would attempt to travel the United States and show his trained black bears, but the trip was cut short as the bears "misbehaved" not far out of Bountiful.
After the death of Heber C. Kimball in 1868, his estate sold the grist mills to Bountiful Cooperative Mercantile for $8,000. By 1892, the mill had stopped all operations. The building was used into the early 20th century for entertainment.
Gristmill
The terms gristmill or grist mill can refer either to a building in which grain is ground into flour, or to the grinding mechanism itself.- Early history :...
was built in 1853 under the direction of Heber C. Kimball
Heber C. Kimball
Heber Chase Kimball was a leader in the early Latter Day Saint movement. He served as one of the original twelve apostles in the early Latter Day Saint church, and as first counselor to Brigham Young in the First Presidency of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints from 1847 until his...
. Constructed within what was known as North Mill Cañon (Bountiful, Utah
Bountiful, Utah
Bountiful is a city in Davis County, Utah, United States. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 42,552, a three percent increase over the 2000 figure of 41,301...
today), the gristmill ground grains for nearly 40 years. During a period of a few years, the mill employed trained bears which were captured in the mountains east of the mill. Once burr mill
Burr mill
A burr mill or burr grinder is a device to grind hard, small food products between two revolving abrasive surfaces separated by a distance usually set by the user. Usually the device includes a revolving screw that pushes the food through...
s became obsolete due to the invention of roller mill
Roller mill
Roller mills use cylindrical rollers to grind all sorts of materials rather than crushing them or grinding them between stones such as in a traditional grains mill. Roller mills are usually used for industrial grain milling and for grinding gravel into smaller rocks or pulverizing them...
s, the building was employed as an entertainment center. Today, only the foundation and a few feet of the adobe walls of the original three-story building remain.
Some 30 yards east of the original site stands a monument consisting of a replica mill, two original burr-type gristmill stones re-discovered in 1984 and three four-foot high pillars commemorating individuals involved in the planning or operation of the mill.
Monument history
The Heber C. Kimball Gristmill monument is located in Bountiful just south of Bountiful High SchoolBountiful High School
Bountiful High School is located in Bountiful, Utah on Orchard Drive. The school mascot is the Brave. BHS is part of the Davis School District, and competes in 4A sports. The Braves won back-to-back state football championships in 2002 and 2003. Bountiful also won the girls soccer state...
. It consists of a 1:3 scale replica burr mill built in 1937 and two original burr-type grist stones found in 1984 during city excavation for a debris catch at the end of Mill Creek. Also erected are three four-foot-high pillars dedicated to three men involved in the building and operation of the mill: Heber Chase Kimball, Daniel Davis and George Quinn McNeal.
Gristmill replica
The gristmill replica was constructed in September 1937 by the Daughters of Utah Pioneers. The replica sits 30 yards east of the original burr mill, which was built in the early 1850s and operated through 1892. The replica mill measures nine feet six inches high with a depth of 8 feet 6 inches and a width of 6 feet. It is open to the public at all times and can be accessed via Mill Street from Orchard Drive in Bountiful, Utah.
Gristmill stones
When roller mills were introduced in the late 19th century, burr mills became obsolete. The Heber C. Kimball Gristmill stopped operation in 1892. Ninety-two years later (1984), Davis County, Utah
Davis County, Utah
Davis County is a county located in the U.S. state of Utah. As of 2010 the population was 306,479, a 28.2% increase over the 2000 figure of 238,994. It was named for Daniel C. Davis, captain in the Mormon Battalion. The county is part of the Ogden–Clearfield Metropolitan Statistical Area as...
and Bountiful began construction of a debris catch site for Mill Creek. The debris catch site would sit in the same place that the gristmill stood 100 years earlier. During excavation, two original gristmill stones were found. Although out of use and buried for nearly 100 years, the stones are in remarkably good condition. Under the direction of the Sons of Utah Pioneers
Sons of Utah Pioneers
The Sons of Utah Pioneers is an organization dedicated to preserving the memory of and studying the history of the Mormon Pioneers of Utah. The organizations is open to "All good men of every age and circumstance who have an interest in the early Utah Pioneers. It is not necessary to have...
, the stones were put on display 10 yards to the north of the gristmill replica created about half a century previously by the Daughters of Utah Pioneers.
Mill history
After arriving in the Salt Lake Valley in 1847, Heber C. Kimball, then 1st Counselor to Brigham YoungBrigham Young
Brigham Young was an American leader in the Latter Day Saint movement and a settler of the Western United States. He was the President of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints from 1847 until his death in 1877, he founded Salt Lake City, and he served as the first governor of the Utah...
in the First Presidency
First Presidency (LDS Church)
The First Presidency is the presiding or governing body of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints . It is composed of the President of the Church and his counselors. The First Presidency currently consists of President Thomas S. Monson and his two counselors, Henry B...
of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, decided to grist
Grist
Grist is grain that has been separated from its chaff in preparation for grinding. It can also mean grain that has been ground at a grist mill. Its etymology derives from the verb grind....
grains. He had family in the area and Bountiful (then known as the North Cañon Ward) was heavily engaged in grain production. The site in the North Mill Cañon was chosen and he received land rights in 1851. Kimball selected Daniel Davis, an early Mormon
Mormon
The term Mormon most commonly denotes an adherent, practitioner, follower, or constituent of Mormonism, which is the largest branch of the Latter Day Saint movement in restorationist Christianity...
convert adopted into the Kimball family, and Davis began clearing ground on July 18, 1852. Nine months later, on April 20, 1853, Isaac Hunter and Daniel Davis laid the northwestern and southeastern cornerstones respectively. The following day, Heber C. Kimball dedicated the building.
The mill was finished shortly thereafter and Davis managed the site while living in an adobe house southeast of the mill. George Quinn McNeal, a local trapper, assisted Davis. McNeal, with the help of Jerry Ellis, trapped and trained black bears from the nearby Wasatch Mountain range to work in the mills. Later, McNeal would attempt to travel the United States and show his trained black bears, but the trip was cut short as the bears "misbehaved" not far out of Bountiful.
After the death of Heber C. Kimball in 1868, his estate sold the grist mills to Bountiful Cooperative Mercantile for $8,000. By 1892, the mill had stopped all operations. The building was used into the early 20th century for entertainment.