Wednesday, July 11, 2012

Trip to Lake Point, Utah concluded.


The Benson Gristmill was built in 1854 under the direction of Ezra Taft Benson, an apostle in the Church of Jesus Christ of latter-day Saints. The mill served the surrounding communities and wheat growers as a commercial flour mill until 1939.


The next day we again drove west from Salt Lake to the Benson Mill. We discovered on our first trip there that you need a good map to guide you around the area. The pamphlet we picked up at the mill was perfect, but I had to spend an evening studying it to finally discover the course we needed to take.

E. T. City Historical Buildings and Homes in Lake Point, Utah explained that there are two sides to Lake Point today. The busy Interstate 80 and State Road 36 interchange, and the other that begins immediately south of the interchange. There the landscape quickly switches from asphalt and lights, to green fields and small, quiet lanes. Without the tour map you may entirely miss it. We had the preceding day.

There are remnants of John and Mellie Morgan's times in Lake Point and at the Benson Mill. Called "Lake Point" today, E. T. City was originally settled by Mormon Pioneers in 1854. The settlement was named after LDS Church Apostle Ezra Taft Benson. The name "Lake Point" was later taken from the resort that was built on the nearby southern shore of the Great Salt Lake in the 1870's posted here.   


The area surrounding the mill is filled with cabins and buildings that have been moved or built there, reminiscent of earlier times.



Restored wagons were a close up reminder of rugged uncomfortable travel.


I couldn't resist the kitchens and implements that filled them. These separators brought back my own childhood memories. A stainless steel version of the one to the left stood on my Grandmother Frazier's back porch while we lived with her in 1949-50. She washed it after each use, and left the parts to drain on her kitchen counter.


This enamel front coal range was probably a Cadillac in its day. I wonder how many homes in this area actually enjoyed one of these.


Across the highways and closer to the mountains was the Lake Point Cemetery. The town was founded in 1854, undoubtedly the cemetery was also. Horses grazed in the field across the lane from it.

Information from the pamphlet mentioned above.

1 comment:

  1. I have really enjoyed reading about your Lake Point adventure. I would have never known about all this if you had not shared your 2 days trips. Thanks

    ReplyDelete