Pioneer Silk Industry

Utah tried to make silk, and this was one of the places it tried hardest. In 1867 Paul Schettler set five acres in mulberry trees and built two cocooneries here, importing a Swiss weaver, Elizabeth Von Bergen, to run the looms. It was part of a territory-wide campaign — Brigham Young's mulberries from France, Relief Society women and children feeding finicky worms leaf by leaf. The silk was real; the profit never came, and the bounty ended in 1905. The cocooneries are long gone, the neighborhood residential, only stray mulberry trees left as evidence around the valley.

What the plaque says

In 1867 Paul A. Schettler, an ardent supporter of the silk industry in Utah, acquired this land and planted five acres in mulberry trees, the leaves of which were used to feed silk worms. He built two cocooneries near this location. Elizabeth Von Bergen (Beck), a Swiss weaver, came from France to operate the looms installed by Schettler. Several types of looms were used.

Where it stands

Worth the stop nearby

• This Is The Place Heritage Park — 1.4 mi
  A living history village at the mouth of Emigration Canyon
• Natural History Museum of Utah — 1.4 mi
  A world-class museum built into the foothills above Salt Lake City
• Red Butte Garden — 1.6 mi
  A 100-acre botanical garden with panoramic valley views
• Gilgal Sculpture Garden — 1.6 mi
  A surreal and eccentric sculpture garden hidden in a residential neighborhood

More markers nearby

• Miller Park — 0.3 mi
• Curtis Park — 0.8 mi
• Mount Olivet G.A.R. Obelisk — 1.0 mi
• Mount Olivet Civil War Cannon — 1.0 mi