 |
 The Old Stone Mill National Historic Site and the Museum of Industrial Technology are owned and operated by the non-profit organization, The Delta Mill Society. We are a self-funded, volunteer based organization whose operational funding comes from memberships, donations, sales from our gift shop and various fundraising activities. This core funding pays for the annual costs of the buildings (maintenance, utilities, insurance, etc.), exhibits, and some staffing. We also undertake special fundraising campaigns and solicit government grants to help with our restoration efforts, new exhibit development and extra staffing.
The photo below is a visual representation of what our funding efforts have accomplished so far on the mill structure (the changes on the inside of the mill are even more dramatic - you'll have to come for a visit to appreciate that).
There is a long list of people and organizations that have helped along the way. A full list of names of donors and supporting organizations can be viewed on the donor board inside the mill. This page will briefly review those that have helped us.
VOLUNTEERS
 |
2011 Ontario Volunteer Service Awards (Steve Clark MPP on left), l to r = Anna Greenhorn (40 years), Art Shaw (25 years) and Mary Freiday (15 years)
|
The strength of The Delta Mill Society is the people that make things happen. This includes a very active and hands-on Board of Directors (all volunteers), excellent staff and a group of enthusiastic helper volunteers. In 2010, the 200th anniversary of the mill, a total of 77 volunteers worked throughout the year on various activities - planning and managing the year-long celebration, giving people tours of the mill, helping out at the various 200th anniversary activities, helping set up exhibits and much more.
Bingo Team - a very special mention must be made of our "bingo team" - who, year after year, have provided a significant part of our core funding through participation in charity bingo (in Brockville). In 2010 the team consisted of: Peggy Bond, Mary Byrd, Mary Freiday, Anna Greenhorn, Evelyn Saunders, Bronte Smith, Carmel Watt, and Lyall Whaley. The bingo hall has now shut down, but the Old Stone Mill wouldn't be what it is today without the invaluable contribution of the Bingo Team.
A big thanks goes out to all our dedicated volunteers!!
STAFF
To keep the mill open 7 days a week during the summer, to oversee the restoration work and to create professional interpretation (signage and programs) requires paid staff. The Delta Mill Society has been extremely fortunate in being able to obtain the services of two stellar individuals, our curator Paul George and our assistant curator Natalie Wood. We could not have taken the mill to where it is today (physical restoration, purchase and installation of operating equipment (water wheel, millstones, bolter) and incredible interpretation signage and exhibits) without the services of these two professionals who have work far and above their direct job descriptions. We are struggling in 2011 to find funding for Paul and Natalie - we're trying to keep them on for as long as we can. A huge thanks to these dedicated individuals.
In the summer, you'll find a smiling face greeting you at the mill and museum. This is often one of our summer students - usually hired with the help of a government summer student grant. These students have been a great help in allowing us to keep the mill and museum open, with regular hours, for the visiting public.
DONORS
The Delta Mill Society has been extremely fortunate to have the financial support from generous donors, both individuals and businesses, over many years. The contribution of donors, both big and small, has been a significant factor in taking the mill from a delapidated building in 1972, to a physically restored structure and now a mill that can grind flour as it did 200 years ago.
We have had so many donors over the years, that in 2010, we set up an electronic donor board in the mill to properly present all their names. That board now shows 205 individual donors, 39 business and organization donors and 104 donations made in remembrance of loved ones. We thank them all!
GRANTS
While our fundraising from memberships, donations, gift shop sales and various fundraising activities supplies much of our core funding - when it comes to large projects, such as the physical restoration of the mill (1998-2004), the installation of operating equipment (waterwheel, millstones, etc.), the development of high quality exhibits and the hiring of professional staff - additional financing in the form of government grants is required.
The Ontario Trillium Fund has provided generous grants both to help with the large (1998-2004) restoration of the old mill and also our 200th anniversary celebrations in 2010 (exhibits and events). Parks Canada has provided grants and technical expertise to help us with the restoration of the building and has been very supportive of our work to bring the Old Stone Mill back to full glory. The Township of Rideau Lakes has been very supportive of our heritage efforts, both through grants and in-kind contributions. The federal Department of Canadian Heritage's Building Communities through Arts and Heritage Programme helped us with our 200th anniversary and the installation of operating milling equipment. The Ontario Museum Association has provided CMOG grants to help with museum interpretation. Grants from HRDCS (Canada Summer Jobs) and Young Canada Works have helped with summer student staffing.
|
We're Open to the Public And, with help of our volunteers, members, donors, staff, and government heritage support programs, we plan to keep this 200 year-old mill open for at least another 200 years!! |
If you would like to help us continue our work, please consider taking out a membership and/or making a donation (a charitable tax receipt will be issued for donations) and/or volunteering to help us (see our contact information below).
|
 |
|
The Delta Mill Society
Box 172, Delta, Ontario K0E 1G0
Tel: 613-928-2584 (office)
Email: info@deltamill.org |
|
|
|
About Us
