Historic mill continues to leave its mark on Utah

Historic mill continues to leave its mark on Utah

(Provided by Matthew Sandberg)


4 photos
Save Story
Leer en español

Estimated read time: 4-5 minutes

This archived news story is available only for your personal, non-commercial use. Information in the story may be outdated or superseded by additional information. Reading or replaying the story in its archived form does not constitute a republication of the story.

SALT LAKE CITY — Founded more than a century ago, Granite Mill is Utah’s oldest architectural woodwork firm. In fact, it’s one of the oldest family owned mills in the United States.

But the story of the mill predates its beginnings in Sugar House in 1907. In the late 1880s, Swedish immigrant Frederick R. Sandberg volunteered to help with construction of the Salt Lake LDS Temple. An expert woodworker, he labored on the spiral staircases that are still one of the signature features of Utah’s most well-known building, according to the Sandberg family. It was the first of many Utah landmarks on which his family would leave their mark.

Sandberg decided to open a woodworking shop where he could put his skills to use and also provide work for other Scandinavian immigrants arriving in the Salt Lake Valley. After securing the necessary funds, he opened his mill in the “Granite Stake” neighborhood of Sugar House.

Granite Mill thrived in its first year, but tragedy soon struck. According to the family's history, catastrophic fire raged through the building in 1907, causing extensive damage. Undaunted, the family regrouped and rebuilt. The mill resumed operation before long and even began to expand on its earlier production.

The Sandberg family did predominantly residential projects until the tumultuous years of World War II when the mill contributed to the war effort by taking on many important construction projects for the military.

A group of Granite Mill employees poses in 2013. (Photo: Provided by Matthew Sandberg)
A group of Granite Mill employees poses in 2013. (Photo: Provided by Matthew Sandberg)

Frederick's son, Wayne, joined the family in leading Granite Mill through this time. Following the war years, he helped steer the mill toward more commercial and institutional projects. The work began to have broader cultural impact, harkening back to the original staircases crafted by his father in the temple, the history says.

Wayne Sandberg led the company until 1978 when he decided to run for office in the state Senate, according to the Sandberg family. Squaring off against a popular incumbent, most political observers wrote him off. Surprisingly, he won (by less than 40 votes).

Wayne’s son, W. Gary, then assumed the leadership role at the mill. During his tenure, the experts at Granite Mill crafted interior wood finishes for some of Utah’s most notable structures. The list includes the Utah State Capitol, the Governor’s Mansion, Symphony Hall, the Cathedral of the Madeleine, Stein Erikson Lodge, Salt Lake City Library, EnergySolutions Arena, Huntsman Cancer Institute and the LDS Conference Center.

When Frederick Sandberg took on his first major woodworking project in Utah more than 100 years, it was in an LDS temple. Fittingly, his descendants continue that tradition. Granite Mill has since worked on nearly 50 temples worldwide, including the recently remodeled Ogden temple.

Three of W. Gary’s sons, Sandy, Matthew and Christopher, now form the leadership of the mill. This fourth generation of Sandbergs, joined by about 50 artisans who work in the shop (many of whom are third- and fourth-generation workers), are committed to contributing to the legacy of quality established by Frederick Sandberg.

“We don't do all the woodwork around, just the best,” Frederick was known to say.

Located at 2200 South Main Street, the modern Granite Mill is a curious combination of old-world craftsmanship and cutting-edge technology. In one corner of the shop, the intricate details of a custom door are honed by hand. In another corner, a computer-controlled saw completes tasks in minutes that would’ve taken Frederick Sandberg’s original staff a full day to accomplish.

Many of the tools may have changed, but the attention to detail remains the same: “The quality and commitment of our employees is the lifeblood of our business,” explained W. Gary.

It seems safe to say that Frederick Sandberg would be proud. Granite Mill has been recognized as Best of State numerous times, including in 2014, and the family continues to take on worthwhile projects, big and small, which create a lasting legacy.


![](http://media.bonnint.net/slc/2538/253882/25388238\.JPG)
About the Author: Grant Olsen -----------------------------

Grant Olsen joined the KSL.com contributor team in 2012. He covers outdoor adventures, travel, product reviews and other interesting things. You can contact him at grantorrin@gmail.com.

Photos

Most recent Utah stories

Related topics

Utah

STAY IN THE KNOW

Get informative articles and interesting stories delivered to your inbox weekly. Subscribe to the KSL.com Trending 5.
By subscribing, you acknowledge and agree to KSL.com's Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.

KSL Weather Forecast