Nancy Long Christenson well remembers 1979, when she hauled large barrels of bird and rat droppings from an old mill at 1095 W. 7800 South.
From that rather messy beginning, Christenson and her husband, Chris, have transformed nine acres near the old Archibald Gardner flour mill into Gardner Historic Village, a combination of eating establishments and small businesses located in old buildings lavishly landscaped to provide an inviting atmosphere for shoppers.Even though the village is becoming increasingly popular as a shopping center, the Christensons aren't sitting on their laurels. Their plan is to transform an old warehouse into a banquet hall and either erect new buildings or find other old ones that would enable present business tenants to expand their operations.
Nancy Christenson's ultimate goal is to construct a new building and call it The Pony Palace, a place where her Shetland ponies can be housed and her collection of rocking horses will be displayed. A sloping path to barn-style doors will be lined with a fence that will have an iron horse's head on each pillar.
Before getting to the recent history of the village, one must go back to Gardner's history and the impact he had on the area. Gardner was born in Scotland in 1814 and immigrated to Canada as a young man. There he built his first mill, and he also met and married his first wife. They came to the Salt Lake Valley in 1847 with some of the earliest pioneers.
In addition to helping build irrigation systems in the valley, Gardner built a flour mill in West Jordan in 1853. In 1877, the mill was dismantled and moved to Fairfield, but Gardner built another mill at 1095 W. 7800 South. The mill was surrounded by a mattress factory, a broom factory and a blacksmith shop.
In all, polygamist Gardner had 11 wives, 47 children, 270 grandchildren, and descendants in most of the United States and 22 foreign countries. Gardner's legacy is maintained in a museum in the village, housed in a building erected in 1860 and donated to the Christensons by the Clifford Carson family in Tooele County.
Contained in the museum are Gardner's journals for his transactions at the flour mill, deeds, clothes worn by the wives, china, eating utensils, drills and a picture of Gardner's house in Scotland.
The next owner of the property was Jonas Erickson, and later John Aylett purchased it and processed grain into flour, grits and bran. The mill remained vacant for many years until Harold and Eula Crane bought it in 1957. The Cranes used the mill until 1966 as a place to store, ship and sell grain.
Sitting in disrepair for many years, the mill caught Nancy Christenson's eye in the late 1970s and she and her first husband, Joe Long, purchased two acres that included an old warehouse. She originally wanted to turn the mill into a house, but because it was a candidate for the National Historic Register the restoration had be done a certain way.
The Longs divorced in 1980 and Nancy abandoned her plans to live in the old mill. Instead, she restored the building into Country Furniture and Gifts. In 1985 Nancy married Chris Christenson and in 1986 they obtained additional acreage north of the mill.
In 1990, the Christensons opened Archibald's Restaurant, located in the mill silo. Adorning the circular walls of the silo is a mural depicting Gardner's life.
In the intervening years, the Christensons have obtained some old buildings that are occupied by merchants selling a variety of wares. They include Backwoods Trading; Metal Merchant, Quilt Shop; Village Whites; Angelina's Dolls; Border Connection; Country Customs; Honey Suckel & Ivy; Mariann Collections; Scents & Fine Things; Sweet Aftons; Victorian Shop; Village Wood Shop; Head to Toe; Twiggs & Moore; E.W. White Photographic; and Crystal Sheep Co.
Close to the village is Archie's Eats, a delicatessen with sandwiches, salads and softdrinks.
Black Goose Design, an interior design company located at 97 N. Holden, Midvale, will move to an old building at the village just as soon as one is located and moved to the site. It is managed by one of Nancy Christenson's daughters, Angela Seeley, who is vice president of Gardner Mill Corp.
With shop owners wanting room to expand, Christenson plans to have old buildings moved to the site or build new ones to look as if they are old, allowing the village to retain its character. She has purchased the old Payson Flour Mill. It has been dismantled and will be pieced together soon.
Christenson has the windows and doors from several old buildings. Combined with wood-shingled roofs, they'll help make new buildings look as if they were built 100 years ago.
Because of the demand from large groups visiting the historic village, the Christensons will remodel an old warehouse into a banquet hall where people can enjoy a meal cooked on outdoor grills and watch a video on the village's history.
Wanting to give something back to the community, the Chris-ten-sons three years ago held their first scarecrow and pumpkin festival in the first week of October. Volunteers made the scarecrows, which were sold to businesses for Halloween decorations, much like the Festival of Trees sells donated Christmas trees with the proceeds going to the Primary Children's Medical Center.
The first year, the scarecrows brought in $4,000, which was donated to Utah Boys Ranch. The second year that increased to $17,000 and last year the festival brought in $70,000. The Christensons have a goal of $100,000 this year. The couple was overwhelmed with the response and attendance.
In the planning stage for June 9 and 10, 1996, is the June Jubilee, which will feature games, food, music, contests and a cookout. Because Nancy Christenson has muscular dystrophy, proceeds from the event will go to the Muscular Dystrophy Association.
Although she shuns titles, Christenson is chairman of the board of Gardner Mill Corp. and a general partner in Country Furniture Part-ner-ship. She attributes the success of the village to her family, her employees, the customers and her tenants.
Son Joe Long is chief executive officer of Gardner Mill Corp.; son Mike Long directs the construction; daughter Teresa Bickmore manages Country Furniture; and son-in-law Barry Bickmore is the controller.
Christenson said she doesn't work for the money but is involved because she can see what is being accomplished and most of all she likes to be around people.