Photo –Horace Brown took this photo of his friend on top of his family’s flour mill on Mill Street in 1913. It’s the former Boulton Brown mill, on Mill Street, that is now converted into condominiums. Note that he is hanging onto that ladder for dear life – and the next time you drive down Mill street, note just how high that ladder really is! That is the Bates and Innes (MacArthur) Mill in the distance. from Jumpin’ Around in Carleton Place — Local Urban Acrobats
he local grist and oatmeal mills were bought by Henry Bredin from Hugh Boulton Jr. They continued to be operated by James Greig (1806-1884), who ran these mills from 1862 to 1868 after the death of Hugh Boulton Sr., founder of this first industry of the community.
The Hugh Bolton Grist Mill at 35 Mill street and the Brown Flour Mill next door date from the late 1823. The five story addition was added in 1885 to accommodate a roller press mill. This mill actually operated until the 1960’s until a fire destroyed the interior. In the 1980’s it was converted into condominiums. The original millstone was found during the renovations and put across the street. Hugh had ordered one from Scotland but it never arrived. (wonder what the shipping was on that one) So Hugh went up the river and got some made granite from up the river and carved his own.
When William Hill was head miller at H. Brown & Sons his brother in law Radford was also employed there. The two men presented a contrast in appearance with the former a small frail man while Radford a huge man. The larger sibling sometimes liked to astound onlookers by grasping the top of a 100 pound bag of Sunlight Flour in his teeth and swinging it onto his shoulder without using his hands.
Mary Peden with a background of the Carleton Place town hall and mills on Mill Street
Come and visit the Lanark County Genealogical Society Facebook page– what’s there? Cool old photos–and lots of things interesting to read. Also check out The Tales of Carleton Place.
Information where you can buy all Linda Seccaspina’s books-You can also read Linda in The Townships Sun andScreamin’ Mamas (USA)
lindaseccaspina 