The 'old mill' as everyone locally simply refers to it is one of those properties in Yorkton which has become something of an anomaly.
For the most part people understand the dilapidated old brick building is of historic significance locally, and in the general story of the early settlement of the region, and of course it is exactly that.
"In 1898, a flour mill was built on North Front Street (now Livingstone) by John J. Smith. Records indicate the mill was built of bricks from Smith's own brick plant in Yorkton and sold to Levi Beck after a few years. The City of Yorkton's assessment roll, dated 1900, records a grist mill elevator owned by J.J. Smith on Lots 9 and 10 Blk 9, assessed at $15,000 with taxes amounting to $31.15," outlined a report by Cynthia Alcorn circulated to Yorkton Council June 13.
There are not many buildings in the entire region which can trace roots back to the late 1800s, nearly a decade before Saskatchewan had been granted provincial status.
Fewer still are as significant to the development of the region that what a flour mill was. The mill provided flour, a staple food need for immigrants, and a market for locally grown wheat. It was an example of local value-added agricultural processing, something much talked about and sought after today.
While the significance of the old mill might be generally understood, that has not yet translated into a local effort which has been successful in saving the old mill as an historic attraction.
There has been talk about saving the mill through the years, both from private owners and concerned citizens, but nothing was achieved, and the property eventually ended up in City-hands.
Last year the City moved to clean up the site, sending attached wood buildings under the demolition blade, leaving only the brick building, and an attached for sale sign as it has been hoped the property might find a new business user.
Now a new citizen group has stepped forward to champion the idea of the mill becoming a tourist draw in Yorkton. The J.J. Smith Mill Committee made a presentation at the same June 13 meeting of Council asking that the City turn the property over to them for restoration and future maintenance.
The Committee's first step would be to have the site designated a heritage site.
"There is a good possibility the Mill and Site would be designated Provincial Heritage Status if an application was received by the Provincial Heritage Property Department," said Sheila Harris, head of the new Committee at Council June 13.
It was curious to hear Council questioning if the historic designation would hinder selling the property. It was rather clear the Committee seeks to have the property preserved, and not sold back to private hand.
From the heritage designation the Committee was clearly prepared to move forward.
"If the City approves these requests, the J.J. Smith Mill Committee will register as a non profit society and be responsible for repair and maintenance, etc. of the building for years to come," said Harris.
Restoration will not be cheap, but it would save a rare piece of our heritage. Harris said, "At this time we haven't established a budget," but added it would likely be $300-to-$500,000.
Yorkton Council really has only one question to answer. First do they deem it important to preserve the mill as a historical site.
The answer should be a rather quick yes, and the Committee offers a last chance to achieve that worthwhile goal.
Then it's a matter of making it happen quickly while the committee has momentum to get the ball rolling. Certainly other municipalities have historic sites which non-profit organizations fund and manage, so this is not creating the wheel, but is instead following an established template.
The mill deserves one more chance to be important to the city just as it was more than a century ago, Council make sure it has that chance.
