Caledonia Mill

The mill in Caledonia has presented a spectacular light show during the holiday season drawing people from miles around.

Built in the 1850's by postmaster, James Little, the mill was supplied its power from an existing dam on the Grand River built earlier in 1835 by Ranald McKinnon.

Throughout the decades numerous individuals made their living milling local grain. Under the name, Balmoral Mills, J.B. Holden and John Scott ran the business from 1861. Donald McQuarrie and James H. Thorburn bought the mill in 1869. Wm. Munroe later joined the business known as McQuarrie, Thorburn and Munroe. They ran a flourishing business in flour operating under the name Grand River Mills and in 1875, they purchased and repaired the dam.

In 1879 the mill was sold to Samuel Scott and later the Scott brothers. In 1892, Wm. Scott organized the Caledonia Milling Co. with about a hundred shareholders. It was the last operating, water-powered mill on the Grand River.

The light show begins at 5:30 each day. (See our December 20 post.) When the date-ending becomes available, we will post.

Photo: courtesy of Joel Smith Photography http://www.joelsmithphotography.ca/
Information from The York Grand River Historical Society

Gratitude and Optimism

"Looking forward.., moving forward..." You have heard the expression. Everybody is using it. The words have almost lost their original effectiveness.

Looking at this indomitable kid's face, I cannot stop laughing. Truly blessed with three sons, we look forward with gratitude and optimism. I am wrenched from my complacency, my relatively peaceful existence back to the sleepless nights, chaotic events and the prevailing sheer fear of the next crisis ~ if not a calamity ~ that raising three well-adjusted males entailed.

For a while, I am just going to glance at this laughable photo and look forward...