The Goderich Signal-Star, 1972-05-18, Page 21te THURSDAY. MAY 113 1972
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W01.1*...The
SECOND SECTION
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This is the third season for Falls Reserve Park at Benmi l ler. It h.as camping grounds and picnic areas
4nowand more•changes are planned. The ri,yer serves as a peaceful and beautiful comlletion to the
area. SomeBenmiller.residents are opposed to the Park because they are afraid it might disrupt their
peaceful "vill'age stafrpho"tes
•
BY LYNDA MacGILLIVARY
Benmiller in Colborne
township is one of tne prettiest
places on earth. With a population
of just 50 citizens, one wouldn't
expect to find. mach happening—
but this quiet little cOmfnunity
nestled by the Maitland River has
both a history and titbit* of -muck,
Benmiller has two mills that
are presently being rebuilt and
there is some question as to
exactly for what purpose. It is the ,.
woallen mill, not the grist mill,
OVer which all the controversy is
raging.
Verne 'Gledhill. ;' a retired'
hoping that they Pave
from the highway into here," she
says
Since she and her husband took
over the store a year ago.
'business has improved..And this
summer the couple Will operate
the concession booth at the park.
During the construction period,
tourism Might decline. But once
the area could reach an all Unit?.
high
Verne Gledhill isn't in favour of
the project. but he takes the
attitude.' -You can't stop'
progress.. Things change,- Ile
says the new bridge built last
resident of the says the summer by Huron County was a
for artists and craftsmen in the further west but plans were
old mill. But Geneva,' Store owner chane,ed. partially becatise of
Naida McClinchey. says,6she has , public pressure. Referring to the -
it to he a private club that. wirl department says it is going
eventuallrevoltye. through, there's nothing you can
• Construction on the ,new do about it."
building was started about one
month ago, and now the foundation
. for what appears to be a spiral
staircase is being paired. Mrs.
dining rOom is being planned for
building in hack of the structure.
In any case, both Mrs.
Mc/Unchey and -Mr. Gledhill frl
"From talking to Mr. ly,ey,
doesn't hope to hurt Benmiller,
but improve it,'" related Mrs.
,"Peter Ivey's a, fine
Gledhill, "He cares about
.The township of -Colborne, in
w
•
which Benrniller situated. is
-dry". A liquor Vote was
requested by the Machinists'
'Union in‘1971.` hut the bid was
defeated. Thenext date it can be
yoted on again is 1973. Still, Ivey
wouldn't have to worry abdut
obtaining a license it the club is a
private one.
SWIMMING. AREA POW
CONSERVATION PARK
With the_proposed plans_ for a
safe swimming and boati—ng Eirea
underway by Maitland Valley
Conservation Authority, the park
many summer invaders.
Mrs McClinchey of.the general
fourists aren't anything neW
Benmiller," he laughed. "I can
remember when you couldn't get
near the woollen _mill in the.,
summer for cars.'"'
utilizing the proposed swimming
area, for fishing,, bringing their
fishing reels and bait to the river,
hopefully try1ng their tland at that
well-known outdoor sport.
BENMI I.. LER-PAST
Verne has lived at
village hasn't really changed
unti,l recently. ,He
remembers Jonathan Miller,
deptiew of Ben Miller, for when)
the village is named. Ben Miller
was an Englishman who came to
Canada and founded Ike
settlement in,1848. He worked p.`,8
the grist mill keeper.
'Jonathon Miller is believed to '
have been the largest ma.n in
Huron- County at one time,
standing six feet tall and weiOing
06 pounds. But.for a man of his
size he moved *abdut with an easy
grace that was remarkable. He
was born in the township ln Which
he died. It is said that when he Ned
it took ten men. to carry tits
casket, with part Aaf the wall
removed to get the body through.
•
Beim -liner once was a thriving
the roadtrom the grist inill.*Mid
there was the woollen ml11 as well
,the vibolten mill in 1877, wliere
Benmilfer' blankets were made.
The mfir remained in operation
until 1969.
Now all that remains of
,,Benthiller is the,keneral 'store
and a welding shop which. sit
across from each other. But
there's still the charMing little
waterfall with its roar that is the
heartbeat of Beniniller.
store has, alreadY noted the
arriVal of at least eight trailers
She commented, "My f' first
Thorp are quite a few SI.11111Iler
CottageS situated in the district. If
• the proposed swimming area in
Maitland River does become a
* reality, there be Many a
happy -sun worshipper enjoying. it
on those hot summer days that are
c011Sel'Vdtinfl Area is the -worst
thing that ever happened to the
He SayS that while most
people are thought ful and careful,
'' • element" with no concern for
what Mr. Ivey is plunning at the
public! .or ii-F-i-yate. property .
grist mill. A parking Iot for about -
20 crs has beem built adjacent to
Gledhill isn't too impressed
with all the discussion about.
= the grist mill hut it the former
'attracting tourists to the area..
woollen 'mill, according to Mrs'.
to be. open. a year from ;June,"
Engineer Jim Britnell says .the
construction of a neW ,bridge in
frbrit of the .01d woollen mill. will
he the **summer works.program''
for his crew. Work on the project
- 'already underWaV, and will
•complemenr-the pew bridge built
last year' at Benmiller by Buron's
road gang,..
Some reSidents are in fayour of
such a project, while others ..are
greatly. opposed.
Mrs„ McClinchey likes, the
al
•
Those who enjoy fishing at these lovely falls wi rr soon have to share this part of the Maitland River with
" sun,worshippers if the Maitland Valley Conservation Authority gets its plan into action. Authroity
members are considering the possibility of making it into a swimming and boating area. To do so may
necessitate a change in the scenic view of the falls, lessening the Ricturesque quality of the present
falls, --staff pho_to
This narrow bridge at Bepmiller will ;loon be made safer a.s the County of Huron gets underway with its
"summer works program"; the woollen mill over which all the current controversy rages lies .to the
right of the bridge.—staff photo
Here is Benmiller of the past, nestled in Colborne Township on the
Maitland River. The britlge can be seen . as it was before
. recOnstruction. Qn the far left can be seen the Pfrimnier grist mill,
n-o-W-C-lue-for some changes — no one knows exealy what. Across the .
eoad from the is the site of the former Benmiller Hotel. This
phOto was supplied W.E. Elliott.—staff photo
4.
Here i s a serene WOW Of Maitland River through Ole of the P a ries budding teees. On the other 'side can
be seen cottages. Every year mot:e tourists build cottages in order to enjoy peaceful summers in the
•
Benmi I le r',s General Store sits across the street from the wielding shop, the only remaining business
in the arpe. It it a typical general store. One can buy hunting -cap* and jackets 10 it, atprig with • variety ,-
of grocieries. Mr. tend Mrs. E. McClinthey own the 'charming little store. *