1

1862 August Calmels and Chapee, two French Canadian settlers, arrive from Oregon and pre-empt 160 acres on Pion (Mill) Creek.
1865 Frederick Brent settles on the Parson Brothers (early settlers) property at Duck Lake.
1870 Brent purchases the Calmels and Chapuis land, and takes possession May 1.
1871 Brent builds a two-storey log house and the first stone grist mill between the Columbia River in Colville, Washington State and the Thompson River in northern British Columbia. It is built on Pion Creek, which is later renamed Mill Creek after his milling operation. Over time Brent increases his holdings to over 2,000 acres.
1892 Brent sells his land to Mr. J. T. Davies. Production at the mill ceases.
1900 John Dilworth buys the Davies property. Dilworth further subdivides the Mill property.
1908 The northern eighty seven acres of the property, including the mill complex is purchased by William H. Fleming.
1926 Fleming sells to John Gervers, who lives at the site for the next thirty four years.
1958 The Rutland Centennial Committee unveils a cairn on August 10th, that commemorates the history of the site.
1960 Rev. Everett S. Fleming, the son of W. H. Fleming, buys the remaining 7 3/4 acres of the site, including the house and mill, and takes up residence in his boyhood home.
1967 The roof of the mill is replaced with hand-split cedar shakes.
1983 Both Brent's house and the Grist Mill are added to the Kelowna Heritage Resource Inventory.
1988 Sept. 28. Rev. Everett Fleming dies, and the property is sold.
1993-94 Central Okanagan Heritage Society discusses obtaining the Brent's mill property buildings.
1999 June 14, Kelowna City Council approve the land at the corner of Leckie and Dilworth being considered for designation as a Heritage Park, and that, subject to appropriate funding, the Brent's Mill buildings be relocated, and that the relocation and restoration be considered on a partnership basis with the COHS.
2002 Brent's Mill, homestead and the Gervers' milkhouse are moved from original site to new City Park at Dilworth Drive and Leckie Drive.
2003 February 17, official sod turning for new Heritage Park?to be called Brent's Heritage Homestead and Grist Mill Park.

2

Brent homestead when the Flemings bought it
1907
Mill Creek, Kelowna, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia

Credits:
History of Rutland, Rutland Centennial Committee, 1958, pg. 11
Kelowna Public Archives

3

Brent Mill property during John Gervers ownership
1930s
Mill Creek, Kelowna, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia

Credits:
Lorainne McLarty

4

Muriel Gervers in her father's flower garden
1930s
Mill Creek, Kelowna, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia

Credits:
Gervers Family
Lorainne McLarty

5

Brent Mill property during John Gervers ownership
Late 1940s
Mill Creek, Kelowna, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia

Credits:
Lorainne McLarty

6

A summer view of the Brent/Fleming house and garden
1926-1960
Mill Creek, Kelowna, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia

Credits:
Kelowna Public Archives

7

Natural gas pipes being laid on the Brent/Gervers property
1957
Mill Creek, Kelowna, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia

Credits:
Lorainne McLarty

8

Onion crop and hired man, Einar Lundenburgh on the Gervers farm
1930s
Mill Creek, Kelowna, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia

Credits:
Lorainne McLarty

9

Laying gas pipeline through John Gervers' property
1957
Mill Creek, Kelowna, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia

10

Brent's grist mill (left) and house (right) during ownership by the Gervers family
1926-1960
Mill Creek, Kelowna, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia

Credits:
DeFue, Muriel

11

View of Brent's Mill
1926-1960
Mill Creek, Kelowna, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia

Credits:
Kelowna Public Archives

12

View of a thresher pulled by two paint horses at the Brent/Gervers farm
1926-1960
Mill Creek, Kelowna, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia

Credits:
Kelowna Public Archives

13

Program for unveiling of cairn
10 August 1958
Mill Creek, Kelowna, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia

Credits:
Lorainne McLarty

14

Brent's Grist Mill
10 August 1958
Mill Creek, Kelowna, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia

Credits:
Don Whitham
Lorainne McLarty