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Show TRACY AVIARY HATCHES PLAN FOR RENOVATING HISTORIC CHASE MILL By Lisa Thompson, UHF Program Director S ometimes it takes a while for a good Frederick Kesler, Utah's most prolific and Chase retired in 1860, he deeded his farm idea to catch on. After the Salt innovative mill builder and designer. and mill to Young. Several of Young's Lake City Council announced its inten- Kesler utilized the most advanced machin- sons operated the mill until it closed in tion to demolish the Chase Mill in Liberty ery and milling techniques available in the 1879. In 1881, Salt Lake City purchased Park in 1898, Frederick Kesler pleaded for mid-19th century. Powered by a state:of- the old Chase Farm from Young's estate to the building's preservation in the pages of the-art horizontal turbine waterwheel, the create the city's first public park. the Deseret News. Over the next "I built the old 80 years, the mill flouring mill that building was put stands in Liberty to a variety of park [sic] for -, uses, including a Brigham Young winter barn for in 1852," Kesler animals when the wrote. "I would municipal zoo was say, beautify its located in Liberty surroundings and Park and a Daughmake it attractive, ters of the Utah and thousands of Pioneers relic hall. people will take During last 20 pleasure in viewyears, three aring one of the old cheological digs landmarks of the have revealed a early days of great deal of inforUtah." mation about the One hundred mill's operation. years later, the The mill has also T racy Aviary is received some making Kesler's maintenance dream a reality. work. The buildThe historic Chase Tracy Aviary intends to renovate the historic Chase Mill to house an education center. As ing, however, has Mill is located just shown in this rendering, the renovation plans include re-exposing the mill 'sfirst story west stood vacant and outside the wall and creating an amphitheater for aviwy and community gatherings. inaccessible to the aviary'S current public as no one boundaries in Liberty Park. The aviary automated Chase Mill could be operated had developed a feasible plan for its use. plans to extend its boundaries to include by a man and a boy. Two pieces of Tracy Aviary's plans promise to the mill and renovate the building. In equipment with Kesler's signature on breathe new life into this Utah landmark. addition to providing much-needed space them remain inside the mill today. The aviary intends to restore the Chase for the aviary's education center, the Like most of the mills Kesler designed, Mill to its original condition as much as renovation of the mill will preserve and the Chase Mill has three levels and a possible. The project will also include a open to the public one of Utah's most clerestory monitor roof. A good example seismic upgrade, new mechanical, electrisignificant historic buildings. of early Utah craftsmanship, the mill cal, and plumbing systems, and reThe Chase Mill is not only the state's features a framework of heavy timbers exposing the mill's first story on the west oldest existing flour mill, but also one of held together with mortise and tenon side. Allen Roberts of Cooper/Roberts the oldest remaining buildings from the joints secured by wood pins. On the Architects, well-known for his many period of Mormon settlement. It was exterior, the mill's first story of Red Butte preservation projects around the state and constructed between 1849 and 1854 on sandstone (originally above ground on the research on historic mills, is the architect Isaac Chase's 110-acre farm . The flour mill west, northeast, and northwest sides) for the renovation. In addition to the education center, the was part of an industrial complex of eight supports adobe walls. buildings which also included a carding Brigham Young became Isaac Chase's renovated mill will house an exhibit on the mill and a lumber mill. partner in the mill just about the time the mill's history, aviary administrative offices The Chase Mill was designed by building was completed. When the aging (Continued on page 12) HERITAGE NEWSLETTER OF THE UTAH HERITAGE FOUNDATION MAy/JUNE 99 11 |
