American Fork in Utah County, Utah — The American Mountains (Southwest)

Log Cabin Grist Mill

First Flour Mill in American Fork

Photographed by Bill Kirchner, October 2, 2018

1. Log Cabin Grist Mill Marker

Inscription. During the winter of 1850-51, Arza and Sabina Adams moved their family of seven children here from Mill Creek, Salt Lake Valley. They built a log cabin across the street east of where you stand. Journals tell that Arza built a grist mill near his log cabin. Arza learned how to build and operate flour mills from his father, Capt. Joshua Adams, in Ontario, Canada. The Adams Flour Mill was the first to produce baking flour for American Fork families. In 1833 Arza moved the water wheel, mill stones and other workings 4½ blocks north of here and built a larger mill near the Lake City Fort. During his lifetime, Arza also built and operated a third flour mill one mile north of town.

No photographs exist of the original 1851 mill. The log cabin and water wheel in front of you is a replication of that grist mill. Arza Adams built this log cabin at 243 North 100 East, American Fork in 1880. It became the home of his daughter, Bets Adams Robinson. The cabin was taken down log by log in 2012 and reassembled on this site in 2014. The water wheel is a replica of a wheel built in the mid 1800s. This park property originally belonged

Paid Advertisement

Click or scan to see
this page online

to Stephen Chipman who was Arza’s maternal uncle.

This Log Cabin Grist Mill stands as a Historical Monument of American Fork City and a tribute to Arza Adams, pioneer miller and one of the co-founders of this city.

Erected 2015 by Sons of Utah Pioneers and Daniel K. Adams, Arza’s Great-Grandson. (Marker Number 189.)

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Industry & Commerce. In addition, it is included in the Sons of Utah Pioneers series list. A significant historical year for this entry is 1833.

Location. 40° 22.242′ N, 111° 47.988′ W. Marker is in American Fork, Utah, in Utah County. It can be reached from the intersection of South Center Street and East 300 South. Marker is located in Centennial Park. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: American Fork UT 84003, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in the Wasatch Front

and in Greater Provo.

It is also in the American Mountain West

and on the Colorado Plateau.

Globally, it is in North America,

the Rocky Mountains,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically,

Photographed by Bill Kirchner, October 2, 2018

2. Log Cabin Grist Mill Marker

it finds itself in what was once New Spain

and also Mexico’s Alta California.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: The American Fork 2nd Ward Meeting House (approx. 0.3 miles away); Welcome to Robinson Park (approx. 0.4 miles away); William S. Robinson Park (approx. 0.4 miles away); Fort Wall at American Fork (approx. 0.4 miles away); Bank of American Fork (approx. 0.4 miles away); First Free Public School (approx. 0.4 miles away); The Freedom Tree (approx. half a mile away); The Historic City Hall Bell (approx. half a mile away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in American Fork.

Log Cabin Grist Mill image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Bill Kirchner, October 2, 2018

3. Log Cabin Grist Mill

Credits. This page was last revised on May 12, 2020. It was originally submitted on May 12, 2020, by Bill Kirchner of Tucson, Arizona. This page has been viewed 917 times since then and 80 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on May 12, 2020, by Bill Kirchner of Tucson, Arizona.