HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Lucknow Sentinel, 1997-03-19, Page 53storcal Gorrie mill to be restore
by Marilyn Arscott
estled on the banks of
the Ice choked
.Maitland : river,, in
Huron County, the building
.looks abandoned and some
what lonely, Another forgotten
piece of Canada's history, But
the people of Gorrie, Ontario
are not yet ready to let go of
the past,.
A decision was made in
'1994 by the community :to-.:
restore the Maitland Mill to its
former. glory. Their eventual
goal is : to -have the : Mill com
,pletely refurbished in time for
Howick Township's sesquicen ,
tennial in 2006.
In 1856, the Maitland Mill,
owned by the Leech family
was the prime.industry of
"Howick Village" as. Gorrie
• was known then. ,By the late.
1800s the Mill' was the.. busiest'
in the area and: prosperity came
to the village;' Various spin, off
industries such as, a barrel foe -
tory, shingle Trill and furniture.
- factory employed many peo.
'pie; .hotels` and general stores
thrived.
When the chaitpersona of.
the restoration..cornmittee,,
Linda Henhoeffer and
Rosemary ' ltognvaldson point
out various pieces of milling
equipment ,explaining their
functions, the pride in their
community's efforts is obvi-
ous.
7The last owner of the mill,
Ben Maguire, left the people a
great legacy when he closed
the mill in 1962 leaving most
of the machinery :intact," says"
Henhoeffer. She is also grateful
to residents who have donated'.
artifacts, found in their, homes,
.•for exhibit in. themill.
The restoration will take
many years of hard work; but
thisis a labor of love and many
have offered :their and talents at
no cost in 'order to see' it.
through.
At, present, the mill is open
to the first floor and work will.
•
proceed on the development of`
the park and Play equipment.
Throughout the year there
are concerts, tours and a gift
shop featuring , locally Made
. The second annual Polar
Bear Dip took place recently '
with participants raising
money towards the restoration.
'The citizens of Gorrie and
Howick Township., are special
people indeed, They are ,the
keepers of the past.
•
r: -
.
The Maitland NMI,.in Gorrie isunder ole refurbishingb the o 1e� of that communi . Price the rime Indus-
: try, of "Howick Village, plans. are: to have the project Completed: by 2006. (Arscott. phot*} ,
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