A Paper Mill Was Built And Left To Decay At The Mouth Of A Utah Canyon
By Courtnie Erickson|Published January 25, 2022
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Courtnie Erickson
Author
From Southern Utah to the Panhandle in Idaho, Courtnie Erickson has lived in what she believes are the best (and the most beautiful!) areas in the country. She graduated with a journalism degree from Utah State University and has more than 15 years of professional writing experience. You’ll likely see her with a Dr. Pepper in her hand and a pair of running shoes on her feet. Courtnie is a writer and editor at OnlyInYourState.
There are ghost towns and abandoned buildings scattered all around the Beehive State. However, out of all these buildings, the Cottonwood Paper Mill, located at the mouth of Big Cottonwood Canyon, is one of the most remarkable. This abandoned building has quite a history that dates back to the 1800s. Unfortunately, today, it just sits empty with dozens of stories left untold.
In Cottonwood Heights, at the mouth of Big Cottonwood Canyon, is the Cottonwood Paper Mill. This building was completed in the 1880s by the Deseret News Corporation.
Henry Grow was the architect and builder of this remarkable building. This paper mill was made using granite found in nearby quarries and it took three years to build.
Equipment for the Cottonwood Paper Mill was purchased from the Sugarhouse Paper Mill and by using lumber from nearby canyons and old clothing, the mill produced up to five tons of paper a day. Most of this paper was used for publishing the Deseret News, Utah’s first newspaper.
Many workers who heard the fire alarm that day thought it was an April Fools' Day joke and ignored it. Before they realized the reality of the situation, the fire had grown out of control.
For years following the fire, the paper mill sat empty. Many individuals even tried to renovate the old building but after some time, the building was once again abandoned.
The building was officially condemned in 2005 and today, the public is not allowed access onto the property. It is currently listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
The paper mill draws a lot of attention as many Utahns believe it is haunted. There are numerous ghost stories circulating about this abandoned paper mill in Utah.
Some people claim the old paper mill is haunted by two spirits and a dog who were burned in a fire. Others say an old caretaker who died on the property also wanders around the building.
Do you believe this building to be haunted or have you heard of any ghost stories involving this abandoned paper mill in Utah? If so, we’d love to hear about it in the comments!
