Old Stone Mill
Once the centre of a new-settled hamlet, vital flour from farms all around; alive again, 200 years of community pride
The Old Stone Mill was built in 1810 by William Jones and is one of the earliest surviving, fully automatic, grist mills of Upper Canada. In 1817 the mill was described as “unquestionably the best building of the kind in Upper Canada”. It is the only surviving pre-1812 stone grist mill in Ontario.
In 1963, The Delta Mill Society was established with the mandate that the mill would be preserved and eventually become a museum of milling technology. The Delta Mill Society has restored the structural integrity of the mill and made it operational. They have also added many exhibits to explain the milling process to visitors and to also explain the role of the mill in the community.
The Old Stone Mill is a fine example of a community coming together, as the mill would likely be in disrepair without the work of the Delta Mill Society. Instead, it is an educational and historical gem, and an amazing place to visit!
Upcoming Events at the Mill
Check out all the events at the Mill throughout 2018
Link to the brochure here
Amazing Places, Amazing People
Amazing Places deserve to be explored by Amazing People. We want to see and read all about your visit to the Old Stone Mill. We’ll post your photos and stories here! Connect with us
Now you can keep a record of the Amazing Places you have visited. Download our handy Amazing Places Frontenac Arch Biosphere Checklist
Plan Your visit
Take the guess work out of planning your cycling, hiking or paddling adventure to this Amazing Place with these downloadable trail descriptions from the Frontenac Arch Biosphere Network
Hiking: Lower Beverley Lake
Paddling: Gananoque River: Lyndhurst to Delta
Jones Falls to Lower Beverley Lake
Cycling: Edge of the Arch_Delta Loop
While you’re there, check out the rest of the extensive trail network winding through FAB!
How to get to the Old Stone Mill
Driving: The Old Stone Mill is located at 46 King Street (County Road 42) in Delta.
How to explore the Old Stone Mill
The prime artifact of the Delta Mill Society is the Mill itself, an imposing Georgian-style stone structure of four stories. This National Historic Site is a proud reminder of the industrial heritage of Eastern Ontario. In 2005 the newly renovated mill was enhanced with beautiful interpretive signboards and displays. An illustrated self-guided tour allows the visitor to easily browse all these exhibits. In addition to the mill, a display of the early industrial heritage of the Delta region can be found at the museum, in the Old Town Hall, located just behind the mill on Court Street. Both the mill and museum offer a gift shop for your browsing pleasure.
When you first enter the mill, you’ll see and hear the rushing water that first powered a water wheel and later a turbine to operate the various machinery of the mill. Much of this machinery is on display, starting with equipment such as millstones used the early 1800s era and moving up to machinery used in the early 1900s.
Many special events take place at the mill throughout the year. From May to October, there are milling demonstrations on some Fridays and Saturdays. Check the website for dates.
There are also special events at Thanksgiving and Christmas, as well as the Delta Maple Syrup Festival in April, and the Delta Fair in July.
Facilities
Admission to the Old Stone Mill is by donation.
The Old Stone Mill is open daily from Victoria Day weekend (Saturday) through to Labour Day weekend (Monday) from 10:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
About the Delta Mill Society
The Delta Mill Society is a non-profit organization run by volunteers. They are self-funded, relying on memberships, donations, sales from the gift shop, and proceeds from various fundraising activities. They also solicit government grants to help with specific projects.
The society has been working very hard in past years, focusing on the preservation of the main building and the creation and operation of the mill as a museum. The society is very active, operating the museum in the summer months, participating in several local events, and in recent years, embarking on a huge mill restoration project. New members are always welcome. Membership is open to all for $20.00 per year.
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