Woolen Mill - Built 1870

This was the venture of the Brigham City Co-op, Lorenzo Snow's experiment in a town that made nearly all it needed. The cooperative raised its woolen factory here in 1870, powered by Box Elder Creek, spinning wool into blankets and cloth — until fire leveled it in 1877, a blow the co-op never recovered from. But the mill outlived the movement that built it: James Baron, once a hand there, took it over, and four generations of Barons ran it for a century, outlasting every other woolen mill in Utah. Fire finally took the building in 2015.

What the plaque says

This is the site of the Baron Woolen Mills. The mill was built in 1871 under the direction of Lorenzo Snow as part of the Brigham City Mercantile and Manufacturing Association. Tragically, the mill burned to the ground in 1877. It was quickly rebuilt; however, the cost of rebuilding and other financial problems forced the Association to close and transfer its assets to private ownership. In 1879, the mill was sold to its manager James Baron. In 1892 James decided to move the mill to the city of Hyrum. His son Thomas took over operations in 1894 and chose to bring the mill back to Brigham City in 1915. Thomas and his family worked hard to rebuild the mill in Brigham City, which had been destroyed by a fire in 1907. Although building a successful business took time and hard work, by 1927 the mill had one of the largest direct sales forces in the United States with about 200 salesmen, 50 employees on site, and sales of more than a million dollars annually. The mill produced blankets, dresses, sweaters, blazers, and scarves. The woolen mill remained successful through the great depression, and during World War II the woolen mill operated 24 hours a day to produce blankets for the military. In 1949, the mill burned down a third time. It was quickly rebuilt and operations resumed in January 1950. In 1968 the Barons received the "Distinguished Service Award" for industrial advancement from the Utah State Economic Development Conference. The Baron family continued to operate the mill until 1988 when then owners Duke, Dale, and Rex Baron retired, and the mill was sold. In 1998 the mill ceased operations and sat vacant until it was severely damaged by a fire in 2014 and destroyed by a fire in 2015. The Baron Woolen Mill contributed significantly to the local economy for nearly 120 years. It has been recognised as one of the most successful woolen mills in the United States with a reputation for honesty and high quality products. This monument was erected to honor the employees and owners of the mill whose hard work and honesty made it such a success.

Where it stands

Worth the stop nearby

• Wellsville Mountains — 8.9 mi
  The steepest mountains in North America for their height
• Hyrum State Park — 12 mi
  A family-friendly reservoir at the mouth of Blacksmith Fork Canyon
• Powder Mountain — 15 mi
  The largest ski resort in the United States by acreage — a famously uncrowded "PowMow" now remaking itself under Netflix's Reed Hastings.
• Logan — 18 mi
  A vibrant college town tucked into a stunning mountain valley

More markers nearby

• Historic Brigham City Relief Society Granary — steps away
• Brigham City Fire Station — 0.4 mi
• Brigham City Co-op Store — 0.4 mi
• Brigham City Tabernacle — 0.6 mi