Work is ongoing to save Yorkton’s old brick flour mill, and the group behind that effort was at the regular meeting of Yorkton Council Monday providing information on their efforts.
Larry Pearen and Gene Krepakevich with the Yorkton Brick Mill Heritage Society told Council the building remains ne important to save.
The mill was built in 1900 by JJ Smith, and sold to Levi Beck in 1902, last operating as a flour mill in the mid-1990s, which makes it historically significant.
That fact was recognized in 1987 when the site was designated a municipal heritage building.
In 2009 the City took ownership of the property for back taxes, and still holds title.
The mill committee launched in 2012, and has been working on maintaining, upgrading and beautifying the property since.
Work has included removal of graffiti on exterior walls, old plaster and paint removal, and work on the building’s foundation and roof. In addition, landscaping including planting of trees has taken place.
Of course much of the committee’s effort has been in fundraising for the work, having raised $191,971 from 2012-’18, 35 per cent from grants, 31 per cent from donations and 26 per cent from fundraising efforts.
But more work lies ahead.
“We’re excited about what it is, but more excited about what it could be,” said Pearen.
The vision includes storyboards in the greenspace which would tell Yorkton’s history through large photographs, and the addition of a building which could house anything from a farmer’s market to a city museum, he said.
The timing of the work predicated on when funds are available, said Pearen.
The presentation did come with a request to Council, that the City continue to cover the cost of electricity to the site, approx. $28/monthly, and water to the site, last operated in 1995, be re-established.
The two requests were referred to City administration for a report to be prepared and presented at a future meeting of Council.
