.jpg)
The Cottonwood Paper Mill (AKA the Granite Paper Mill, or as most of us know it: The Old Mill) was built in 1883 by Deseret News. Some of the granite from the Temple Quarry was used. Equipment from the Sugar House Paper Mill (formerly the Sugar House which Sugar House was named for) was brought in to grind logs from nearby canyons into pulp, which was then placed into molds and dried. During it’s operation the mill could produce 5 tons of paper a day.
It provided paper for nearly 10 years. The railroad increased demand for cheaper paper manufactured outside the area. In 1892 the mill was sold to Granite Paper Mills Company. On April 1st 1893 a fire broke out in the stored paper area. Many workers upon hearing the alarm thought is was an April Fool’s Day joke. After the fire, all that remained was the skeleton of the building.
The structure was partially rebuilt in 1927 for use as an open air dance hall, known as the Old Mill Club, and remained so until the 1940’s. In the late 1960’s, rock bands played there on Friday and Saturday nights. It was also used in the 1970’s and 80’s as a haunted house and craft boutique. It was declared a historic site in 1966 and was condemned by Cottonwood Heights in 2005.
They have begun talking about developing the area and possibly demolishing this neat historic building so I wanted to explore it a little more closely before whatever happens to it. That seems to be a common theme lately.
Quick Details:
Length: We did about 4/10ths of a mile out and back.
Trail Type: Out and back.
Difficulty: Mostly flat, with an optional scramble. DR3.
Elevation Gain: Eh.. ~30 feet or so.
Restroom: No.
Dogs? Yes, leashed.
Other Info: This 140+ years old building is historic! Please do your part in protecting it. Also, do respect the private property and do not cross into the fence line.
To Get Here:
This is off of the Big Cottonwood Trail that we were already doing. But, if you just want to see it the closest parking is at the middle trailhead at 6708 S Big Cottonwood Canyon Rd. which will add about 2/10ths of a mile each way.
Or you can park along the road a little to the south near the Hog Wallow.
The Trail:
Before it was condemned several movies were filmed here. Including Halloween: The Curse of Michael Myers and The Crow: Salvation. Both of which I need to give a re-watch.
Digging into this, I also found an old (1978) movie called Teen Alien that apparently shows a good amount of it. So, I might have to give that a watch soonly.
I just want it stated for the record: We stayed OUTSIDE of the fence line today. We did not trespass at all. 1. My old ass is not climbing no chain link fences. 2. My old ass is not fucking around with barbed wire on the top of a fence. 3. My old ass isn’t going to wander around inside a 100+ year old decrepit, damaged, dilapidated building. 4. I’m too old to run away from security, and frankly don't want to deal with the hassle.
However, the robot security system they installed sure seems to think if you walk down the PUBLIC sidewalk in front of it you are trespassing. And we got "yelled at" by an automated recording that threatened to alert the police.
It spooked me a bit at first but then I was like, I am on public property. I would love to see the city waste resources on me doing nothing wrong. Plus, I am like, 60% sure it is an empty threat. But again, not going to risk it.
However. I remember my dumb teenager years, we used to go explore all sorts of old spooky buildings looking for a thrill. We never damaged or tagged anything. Now that I am older, I can kind of understand that is probably annoying as all get out as a property owner. So, I get it. But seriously, yall need to recalibrate it.
Burnt out area, which I imagine is what was used as the open air dance pavilion.
The tower. I wonder what the tower was specifically for.
Again.
The front.
As I mentioned, back in the day me and my friends did like to explore spooky places. We never crossed the fence, but I do remember there was a neat plaque on the building. Unfortunately the trees out front blocked it from view.
Image from wikipedia. It is really terrible. I am not having much luck finding a better one. Unfortunately, it has been way too long since I have seen it and I absolutely cannot remember even the gist of what it said, but I am sure it was related to the paper aspect.
Well, my bad. It wasn’t where I remembered it being, I thought it was behind the trees. I did get a picture of it today, but not much better. I… might have to come back with the telephoto lens.
I did find a better picture of the historic plaque, which I also was not able to see today.
“Cottonwood Paper Mill
In 1880 the Deseret News Corporation purchased a 26 - Acre millsite including water rights, with Henry Crow, architect and builder, the $150,000 structure, made of granite from nearby quarries with mortar of clay and stone grindings, took three years to erect. The 1860 paper machine from Sugarhouse mill and some new machinery was installed, a 1500-Ft. race brought water through the penstock to encased turbines. The plant could yield 5 tons of paper a day. Chas. J. Lambert, manager, sold to Granite Paper Mills Co. 1892. Destroyed by fire 1893. Restored 1927 as a recreational center.
Central Company”
Windows.
The building is rumored to be haunted. Some people claim 2 or 3 people died in the fire. Though I can find no official source to back that claim up.
I am absolutely open to studying any legitimate rebuttals though.
The tower.
The north side. Again, note I am outside of the fence line.
Plus, I can read.
The north side again.
Again, plus one of the robot security units, which made me a little nervous about getting too close to the fence line. I didn’t want the recording to yell at us again. o.0
After a pretty steep scramble we made it to the back area, again, outside of the fence line.
I found a spot I was able to poke my camera through.
The back. This is why we can’t have nice things. Dumb asses with a spray cans tagging historic buildings.
Funny billboard on the hills above.
Give me the bird"
The back again.
The south side.
Again.
Through the fence.
The little bench above the mill we have been walking along.
Again.
Old parking lot below (now inside the private property line).
The mill and scrub oak.
It looked to me like we could keep going, and I thought it might connect to one of the neighborhoods to the south, were we could connect to the main trail again. Then Landis reminded me of the creek. Oh yeah, that. We would need to find a way to cross it. We decided we didn’t want to risk going much further and not finding a bridge, so we turned back to go back the way we came. Reviewing the map right now, I think that was a good call. I do not see any other bridges.
South side of the building.
With the open air dance floor.
Walking back along the bench. Again, outside of the fence line.
The open air area again.
Another shot through the fence.
Above the barbed wire.
Northeast side.
Steep scramble down.
The north side, plus one of the robot security units. It doesn’t seem as sensitive as the one out front, but we did keep our distance after being yelled at by the first one.
Again.
Broken windows.
The north side.
Coming around to the front.
The tower.
The security bot that yelled at us earlier. It yelled at us again, notice I am not even to the sidewalk, I am still on the shoulder of the road. The damn thing needs to be recalibrated.
The mill again.
Bonus shot from the Big Cottonwood Trail
Similar angle from 1869. Image from Wikipedia.
No comments:
Post a Comment