Springville Woolen Mills

"The representative and most successful concern in Springville is the Woolen Mills.
"This prosperous business was established in April, 1877, by James Whitehead Jr. The factory is fully equipped with the latest motive power and machinery, for a number of years the product of this mill was stocking and weaving yarn for the country trade. In 1892 a great many improvements were made and at present his goods are second to none produced anywhere in the West. The product is cassimeres, tweeds, suitings, dress goods, flannels and linings.
"The Capacity is a three Set Mill employing 20 hands and using 100,000 pounds of wool annually and in connection with the mill is a large Steam Dye House. His goods are unrivalled for quality and uniform excellence. The products are handled by jobbers. Much can be said concerning the intrinsic value and quality of his goods, but we prefer leaving the recital of their individual merits to himself knowing that true worth is always appreciated by an intelligent public."

The above material was photographed from the book, Utah County, published in 1897 by the Atlas Publishing Company in Salt Lake City, Utah.

This mill was purchased and operated by James Whitehead, Jr., who had been foreman of the Wasatch Woolen Mills for Brigham Young in Sugar House, south of Salt Lake City. Benjamin William Brindle and all of the Whitehead family members were employed at these mills at one time or another. The Whitehead family lived in part of this mill while the family home was being built nearby.

-Taken from Benjamin William Brindle and His Descendants, by Hazel Whitehead Vorkink

So after reading Hazel's blurb about the Mill, I (the blogger) decided to check out what other information I could on the subject. I found the following:

"The Springville Woolen Mills have been enlarged, preparatory to receiving all the machinery of the Wasatch Woolen mills, including the boiler and turbine wheel, all of which has been purchased by Mr. James Whitehead, jun. After all the machinery has been placed in position, it will take about forty hands to run the factory. The proprieter has now more orders than he can fill on time, but in about two or three weeks he will be prepared to fill all orders in a reasonable length of time."
-The Latter-Day Saints' millennial star, Volume 51, pg 671

Apparently, the Woolen Mills were represented in the 1880 celebration of July 24th, the anniversary of the day when the Saints entered the Salt Lake Valley. This entry was found in the Salt Lake Ddaily Herald, Saturday Morning edition, July 24th, 1880, as one of many entries in the parade:
"The Provo, Wasatch and Deseret and Springville Woolen Mills appear jointly in a car, in which will be a loom in operation, with yarn bailer; appropriate mottoes, with four flags, one on each corner, and drapings will complete the display."

July 13, 1896 The Deseret News:
Want Ads:
"Two Good Weavers, Apply at the Springville Woolen Mills, Springville, Utah County, Utah."