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Show 48 When the Park's Department maintenance building was erected, the mill again fell into disuse. A fire in the upper story partially destroyed the roof and perhaps the second floor. The basement, perpetually flooded by underground springs or water from the aviary pond, was filled with sand to within five feet of the ceiling. Various earlier remodelings had already resulted in alterations of several original doors, windows and auxiliary openings. During the mid-1920s, a well-intentioned but ill-advised exterior remodeling occurred. Pseudo-half-timbering was cosmetically applied to give the English Tudor look then in vogue. SS Perhaps of greater damage was the ivy planted along the foundation which grew quickly up the walls, its tendrils and acidic excretions tearing into the soft adobe. The lack of an overhanging cornice (an original design defect) allowed water to run off the roof, down the walls and into the ground along the foundation. Eventual compression of the clay beneath showed up in settling cracks which spread through the building's outside walls. Rather than correct the problem, the walls were stuccoed to give the appearance that all was well. Ultimately , even the stucco buckled under stress, again exposing the adobe underneath to the elements. Another movement to preserve the mill came in 1933 when, after a sevenyear effort by the Daughters of the Utah Pioneers to secure caretaking rights to the mill, the City Council leased it to the group for $1.00 per annum. The official minutes for 15 November 1933 read as follows: Mrs. E. H. Eardley and committee of the S. L. County Chapter of the D. U. P. were presented and urged the preservation of the Brigham Young Mill in Liberty Park and stated that anything connected with Brigham Young and the early days is of interest to tourists and asked that at any time the city is in a position to build a tool house at Liberty Park and to vacate Old Mill, that same be turned over to them .for a museum to hold many relics now in their possession. On motion of Mr. Finch the Board of Commissioners adjourned, all members voting aye. Harold B. Lee, Temporary Chairman. 89 |
