Stansbury Park in Tooele County, Utah — The American Mountains (Southwest)
Benson Grist Mill
Utah Historic Site
National Register of Historic Places
Photographed by Jeremy Snow, May 30, 2026
1. Benson Grist Mill Marker
Inscription.
Benson Grist Mill. Utah Historic Site. The Benson Grist Mill was built in 1854 on Twin Springs Creek by Thomas Lee who had been hired by a corporation within the LDS church. Members of this corporation included Ezra T. Benson, Benjamin Crosland, and John Rowberry. On April 24, 1860, Ezra T. Benson paid Brigham Young two-thirds share amounting to $3,333.33 for all claim to the grist mill. Between 1878 and 1900 the grist mill was once again controlled by the church under the direction of local official Francis M. Lyman. The Richville Milling Company operated the mill during 1900-22, after which time it was purchased by J. Rueben Clark Jr. He tried to produce flour to be sold commercially, but the small mill was unable to compete with larger ones throughout the state. In 1936 a hammer mill was installed to grind feed for turkeys and dairy cattle for the Clark family., The Benson Grist Mill is one of the oldest buildings still standing in Tooele County and western Utah and is regarded as a significant structural landmark. This building was important to the economic growth of the area and represents the evolution of the mill as well as the cooperative movement of the church.
The Benson Grist Mill was built in 1854 on Twin Springs Creek by Thomas
Lee who had been hired by a corporation within the LDS church. Members of
this corporation included Ezra T. Benson, Benjamin Crosland, and John
Rowberry. On April 24, 1860, Ezra T. Benson paid Brigham Young two-thirds
share amounting to $3,333.33 for all claim to the grist mill. Between 1878 and
1900 the grist mill was once again controlled by the church under the direction
of local official Francis M. Lyman. The Richville Milling Company operated the
mill during 1900-22, after which time it was purchased by J. Rueben Clark Jr. He
tried to produce flour to be sold commercially, but the small mill was unable to
compete with larger ones throughout the state. In 1936 a hammer mill was
installed to grind feed for turkeys and dairy cattle for the Clark family.
The Benson Grist Mill is one of the oldest buildings still standing in Tooele
County and western Utah and is regarded as a significant structural landmark.
This building was important to the economic growth of the area and represents
the evolution of the mill as well as the cooperative
Click or scan to see this page online
movement of the church.
Erected 1996 by Utah Division of State History.
Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Agriculture • Industry & Commerce. In addition, it is included in the Utah Historic Sites (NRHP) series list. A significant historical year for this entry is 1854.
Location. 40° 39.047′ N, 112° 17.83′ W. Marker is in Stansbury Park, Utah, in Tooele County. It can be reached from Pole Canyon Road, on the right when traveling west. Marker located on the south side of the Benson Grist Mill historical park. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 325 Pole Canyon Rd, Tooele UT 84074, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Regionally, this marker is in Utah’s Wasatch Front, in the West Desert, and in Greater Salt Lake. It is also in the American Mountain West and in Colorado Plateau. Globally, it is in North America, the Rocky Mountains, the Western Hemisphere, the Western World, and the Anglosphere. Historically, it finds itself in what was once New Spain and also Mexicos Alta California.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are
Credits. This page was last revised on June 3, 2026. It was originally submitted on June 1, 2026, by Jeremy Snow of Cedar City, Utah. This page has been viewed 9 times since then. Photos:1, 2, 3, 4. submitted on June 1, 2026, by Jeremy Snow of Cedar City, Utah. • Andrew Ruppenstein was the editor who published this page.
