A history of the Sugar Beet Factory in Spanish Fork, Utah

“Utah achieved prominence in nineteenth-century America for its efforts to produce sugar from sugar beets; and the production of beet sugar contributed substantially to Utah's economy for almost one hundred years.”

A sugar beet factory was built in Lehi Utah and after it was declared a “technical and financial success” in 1897, 17 other factories were built in Utah.

There were many problems that hindered the production of sugar beets in Utah. The “postwar agricultural depression after WWI” greatly hurt the farms and factories in Utah. There was also a blight in the 1920’s that destroyed many sugar beet crops. “Where the disease seemed to be endemic, factories were dismantled or removed to more promising locations. Thus…the plant at Nampa, Idaho, was moved to Spanish Fork.

The factory has since been condemned and is no longer safe to work in. The surrounding buildings are used to manufacture wooden pallets. The rest of the grounds are used as storage for trailers (like the Davis high band trailer) and other waste.

The factory is a popular spot for photographers to take family portraits for clients.
The current owner is LewChristensen. I hope to meet with Lew soon and get more information on the sugar beet factory.

http://www.media.utah.edu/UHE/s/SUGARINDUSTRY.html">http://www.media.utah.edu/UHE/s/SUGARINDUSTRY.html