Heber C. Kimball Gristmill, Historical gristmill in Bountiful, Utah
The Heber C. Kimball Gristmill is a three-story structure with a rock foundation and adobe walls trimmed with red sandstone at the corners. The building stands at the intersection of Orchard Drive and used flowing water to grind grain.
Built in 1853, this mill was the first flour mill established in Davis County, Utah. It continued operating until 1892, marking nearly 40 years of grain processing for the growing settlement.
The pond south of the building served as a baptismal site for the Bountiful community during its active years. Water was central to both the mill's work and the spiritual life of early settlers.
The site displays two original millstones that were found in 1984, along with a 1937 replica that stands about 9 feet tall. These items help visitors understand the scale and mechanics of how the mill once ground grain.
Trained bears from the Wasatch Mountains once assisted with work at the mill under the care of George Quinn McNeil. This unusual arrangement shows how creative and resourceful early settlers had to be in operating their facilities.
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