A piece of the city's history is up for sale.
The Heidelberg Restaurant, a landmark of pioneer heritage in Farmington, will be sold at auction on Friday, May 1, 7 p.m. at the Salt Lake Hilton Hotel, 150 W. 500 South.TNT Auctions will sell 31 other properties that evening. A TNT spokesperson said so far there has been much more interest shown in the Heidelberg sale than in any of the other properties up for bid. There's no minimum figure for the bidding.
The former restaurant, wedding center and mill sits on a 7-acre site at the foot of the Wasatch Mountains at approx-imately 800 N. Main St. The stone structure was built 130 years ago.
The pending sale of the building, listed on the state register of historic sites, has generated some concern by Farmington residents - especially Daughters of the Utah Pioneers - about what will be done with it in the future. Because it is located on a hill with a good view, some fear it might be demolished and a subdivision built on the site.
"There's not much we can do about it," said Theda Judd, a Farmington DUP member who lives near the old restaurant. "We'll have to find out who gets it. People are very interestPlease see HISTORIC on B2
ed in saving it. . . . There will be a lot of opposition if it is razed," she said.
Clara Richards, also of Farmington and a descendant of Willard Richards, the pioneer leader who built a mill on the site that was a forerunner to the Heidelberg structure - had similar opinions.
"I have a lot of concerns. I think to have to auction off the building is terrible."
Richards said the old mill is soundly constructed and has been the target of recent vandalism.
Besides the historical plaques that were ripped from the building and stolen, priceless stained-glass windows have been broken and old doors have been ruined.
Despite some earlier reports in the media about the Farmington City Council turning down requests to buy the Heidelberg, Mayor Robert W. Arbuckle said there were none.
"We've never discussed it in a council meeting," Arbuckle said, noting the agenda for the council's next meeting doesn't include the Heidelberg.
Arbuckle said the council is concerned about all the historic buildings in the city, and he believes the Heidelberg's historic stature might stop a new owner from simply tearing it down.
He also said no DUP members had approached the council to his knowledge, and the city does not have money available to purchase the building. Reports the city turned down an offer to buy it are also untrue.
The Heidelberg became state property in 1986 after a thrift and loan company that had acquired it failed. Proceeds from the auction will reimburse thrift depositors.
According to a detailed history of the Heidelberg written by Tory McDonald - a Richards' descendant - for a University of Utah research project, Willard Richards, first editor of the Deseret News and second counselor in the LDS Church's First Presidency under President Brigham Young, built the first road up Farmington Canyon in 1849.
He saw the need for obtaining lumber in the area, and he made a lumber mill on the Heidelberg site, near the canyon. Richards also felt a flour mill was needed and, believing he would soon die, left money and plans for the latter to be continued after his death. He died in 1854.
The first flour mill was started in 1852 and finished in 1854 on the site of the Heidelberg. An improved mill, a part of today's Heidelberg, was started in 1860 and finished June 19, 1862, at a cost of $14,310.28.
The structure has been remodeled and expanded over the years. At one time, it was a restaurant and wedding reception center, complete with a honeymoon cottage.
Prior to the Heidelberg era, the mill was called the Old Rock Mill Farm. Judd said she remembers it sitting vacant for 33 years before the restaurant came along.
The Heidelberg never lost its rural flavor, and even today, only a dirt road leads to it.