Brent’s Grist Mill:

The major focus of COHS at this time is the restoration of the Brent’s Grist Mill Historical Site. The Society is working hard to secure gifts in-kind, grants and contributions to complete the extensive work required to return this mill to a useful purpose.

House

The history and significance of the Brent’s Grist Mill has long been established. The mill is known to have been the first industrial enterprise in the Okanagan Valley, the oldest surviving grist mill building in British Columbia, and an important part of the pioneering history of Kelowna.

The Grist Mill was built in 1871 by Frederick Brent, one of the earliest settlers in the Kelowna area.  In order for his children to attend Father Pandosy’s school in the Okanagan Mission, Mr. Brent built a thirty-foot long Ponderosa Pine log house with a rectangular profile. The house has undergone various forms of renovation over the years. When the house is completely restored it will be to its visual appearance in 1908.

Grist Mill:

In addition to his home, Frederick Brent set out to construct a purpose-built grist mill of hand-hewn pine logs and whip-sawn lumber. Brent then set out to import a portable mill, complete with a set of mill stones, to bring his vision to life. Brent traveled to San Francisco to buy a portable mill, a hopper and other supplies necessary to complete the mill. The equipment traveled, by sailing ship, freight wagon, river steamer, borrowed home-made wagon, row boat, and horse drawn sledge to its new home on the Brent’s homestead.

The mill was an immediate success. Settlers from up and down the lake, and local natives, brought their grain to be ground into flour. Sometimes a dozen camps would be seen set up along the creeks, waiting their turn at the mill. Often men and boys would amuse themselves by holding pony races and contests in the near-by fields.

In 2002 the Brent house and the milk house were moved from their original site on Pion Creek (which later became known as Mill Creek) to a new heritage site on the corner of Leckie Road and Dilworth Drive in Kelowna. New foundations were installed and the buildings are currently in place waiting for the next step in their renovation to begin. The new Park will be called Brent’s Grist Mill Park, and has been designated as a Municipal heritage Site.