Caledonia Mill

The Caledonia Mill is a historic mill building located in Caledonia, Ontario, Canada. Built in 1846, it is a heritage property under the Ontario Heritage Act. It is the last water powered mill along the Grand River of Ontario.

History

Construction of the Caledonia Grand River Mill, in its original four-story form, was started in 1846 by James Little. James Little also built the Haldimand House and Ryan House. The mill began operations in January 1848.

Over the years the mill underwent several name changes. At the beginning of operations it was known as the "Balmoral Mill". In 1873 it changed names to the "Grand River Mill", at which time it expanded operations to house offices, flour, feed and a grain elevator. In 1892 it became known as "The Caledonia Milling Company". In 1896 the mill was renamed "Grand River Milling Company". In 1975, the name, "The Caledonia Mill" came into being. Shortly thereafter it ceased operations. A youth named Ian Thompson found the deed and owns it in partnership.

Design

The Mill features a distinctive cupola, a decorative feature rarely seen in Canadian mills of the era. The cupola gives a view of the Grand River Bridge, the only nine-span bridge in Canada.

There have been two major additions to the Mill. The first occurred in the 1880s when a two story L-shaped addition was added. The second was a two-story annex added in the 1900s. The three sections combine to make up the look of mill as it stands today.

Museum

The mill is one of only a handful of existing artifacts from the Grand River Navigation Company. In 1983, the Town of Haldimand designated the Caledonia Mill a Heritage Property under the Ontario Heritage Act.

In 1996, the Caledonia Old Mill Corporation was given ownership of the Caledonia Mill from former Town of Haldimand. The Caledonia Old Mill Corporation is the first corporation to be directly affiliated with a heritage mill in order to restore it.

The mill museum shows the life of some of the workers who left behind information about how and when the Train Bridge was built, when their children were born, and how they would hide behind the grinders to keep away from their boss.

References

• Martindale, Barbara (1995). Caledonia: Along the Grand River. Dandurn Press. pp. p. 41. ISBN 0920474810. {{cite book}}: |pages= has extra text (help)

External links

• Mill website
• Caledonia History Website
• Chamber of Commerce Website