Part of the great view from the 11th floor of
Fidelity’s corporate office in Tempe is one of Tempe’s most iconic and
important historical buildings, the Hayden Flour Mill. It is among the primary reasons behind
Tempe’s existence.
The mill was one of
Arizona’s oldest continuous working businesses, built in 1874 and operated
until 1998, 124 years! It functioned as
a working mill, processing wheat, corn, and other grains, and producing about
100,000 lbs. of flour daily.
Since its operational demise in 1992, it’s been considered a
blight on the city landscape by many. But
rightly so for such an important part of the city’s history, the mill has taken
on a new life. Today, the property
fences are down, and recent improvements have turned it into a Tempe amenity.
The lower walls have been sandblasted, new lighting added,
and interpretive signage of the building’s history adorns the building. You can stroll and look through the ground
floor windows and see some of the old flour grinding equipment. The grounds are now open for picnics and
casual entertainment, with a lush lawn, a concrete concert stage, and a grove
of trees for shaded enjoyment. 
Some construction will continue on the site until the grand
opening on October 5th.
Attend the grand opening for free, 5 – 10pm, with a dedication ceremony
at 6pm.
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