The Yorkton Brick Mill Heritage Society was formed in early 2012 by individuals interested in encouraging the preservation of the oldest surviving brick flour mill in Saskatchewan. The mill was constructed in 1898 by John J. Smith to support the new settlement's agricultural base. The mill was reinvented a number of times by changing ownership and needs until falling into disuse in the late 1980s.
Now the mill needs some refurbishing, and society plans to raise funds through a silent auction in just over a week.
Juanita Brown, a member of the committee and board of directors for the Society, said that they decided to hold the auction as they are unsure if they will hold their usual supper to raise funds. That annual dinner started in 2017 and become a major fundraising event for the Society. From a small beginning in 2017, the dinner in September of 2019 was a sold-out event at St. Mary's Cultural Centre, raising $22,000.
Brown said that the response from the community has been overwhelming for the auction.
"We were looking for some ways, like all non-profits, to raise some much-needed funds for the mill. This idea was presented to us to do an online auction and perhaps what makes this auction unique compared to other online auctions is it has a number of beautiful items, but it also has a number of really interesting experiences, which we thought went well with the idea of the historical part of the museum," she said. "The organizations and businesses in Yorkton have been absolutely fabulous stepping up to the plate."
Brown said that the interest in the mill is something that has been growing over the years.
"I've been involved with the mill for a few years now, and every year it seems like there's more and more interest in the community in, not just preserving and restoring but doing some historical things around the mill," she said. "I'm really excited in the interest that the community has shown, and every year it just seems to grow."
The auction will open up on June 10 and last until June 17 until 7 pm., with 70 items and experiences up for bid.
"At this point, this money is to finish things like the history storyboards that are going there, to do some more stabilizing on the mill building itself," Brown noted
For a look at the items up for bid and to register you can visit charityauction.bid/flourmill2021
Juanita Brown, a member of the committee and board of directors for the Society, said that they decided to hold the auction as they are unsure if they will hold their usual supper to raise funds. That annual dinner started in 2017 and become a major fundraising event for the Society. From a small beginning in 2017, the dinner in September of 2019 was a sold-out event at St. Mary's Cultural Centre, raising $22,000.
Brown said that the response from the community has been overwhelming for the auction.
"We were looking for some ways, like all non-profits, to raise some much-needed funds for the mill. This idea was presented to us to do an online auction and perhaps what makes this auction unique compared to other online auctions is it has a number of beautiful items, but it also has a number of really interesting experiences, which we thought went well with the idea of the historical part of the museum," she said. "The organizations and businesses in Yorkton have been absolutely fabulous stepping up to the plate."
Brown said that the interest in the mill is something that has been growing over the years.
"I've been involved with the mill for a few years now, and every year it seems like there's more and more interest in the community in, not just preserving and restoring but doing some historical things around the mill," she said. "I'm really excited in the interest that the community has shown, and every year it just seems to grow."
The auction will open up on June 10 and last until June 17 until 7 pm., with 70 items and experiences up for bid.
"At this point, this money is to finish things like the history storyboards that are going there, to do some more stabilizing on the mill building itself," Brown noted
For a look at the items up for bid and to register you can visit charityauction.bid/
