Media Release
April 3, 2009

RE: Ontario Trillium Foundation Grant

The Delta Mill Society is proud to announce that it is the recipient of an Ontario Trillium Foundation grant in the amount of $155,500 over the next 20 months.

This money will be used to hire staff, to develop and promote exhibits, programs and special events, as well as to recruit and train volunteers for the 2010 Bicentennial Celebration of The Old Stone Mill National Historic Site.

2010 marks the 200th anniversary of the local landmark. Built in 1810 by a prominent local resident, William Jones, the stone mill employed the latest in milling technology - the automatic mill. This revolutionary labour-saving invention replaced much of the backbreaking work of operating a gristmill. This system included automatic elevators that moved the grain through the mill as well as cleaning, sifting, and packing machines, all powered by the movement of the waterwheel.

The last mill owner, Hastings Steele deeded the mill to a group of local citizens in 1963, forming the Delta Mill Society. Since then, the Delta Mill Society has performed two restoration projects on the structure, a stabilization project in the 1970s and a four-year, one million dollar restoration project completed in 2004. Now the Delta Mill Society is working on developing interactive and engaging exhibits that tell the story of the mill and its technology.

The Ontario Trillium Foundation Grant will allow the Delta Mill Society to stage a special exhibit about the ‘millpond’ (the body of water that provided the power to operate the mill), along with new educational and public programs. The 2010 Bicentennial Celebration will be a year-long celebration that recognizes the history of the mill and the community. The opening ceremonies are planned for June 5th, 2010.

Since receiving notice of the funding, the Delta Mill Society has hired two local residents to take on the challenge of preparing for the 2010 Bicentennial Celebration. With his extensive museum experience, including fifteen years at the Canadian Museum of Civilization, Paul George will assume the role of Project Manager. Joining him in the role of Development Officer, is Natalie Wood, who brings with her programming, exhibit and volunteer management experience from several Kingston-area museums.

“This is a very exciting time to be working at the mill,” says George, “there will be a lot of activity in the months leading up to 2010.”

In addition to the special exhibit, the programs and the special events, the Delta Mill Society also plans to install some of its recently acquired 19th century milling equipment, with the hope of holding demonstrations in 2010, for which the stones would be turning, even if initially not water-driven. “Along with the sound of the water passing through the building, the moving machinery will provide visitors with the atmosphere of a working 19th century gristmill” says George.

If you are interested in contributing to the Delta Mill Society, or in volunteering with the organization, feel free to contact us (see below). The Old Stone Mill National Historic Site is located at 46 King Street in Delta and The Delta Mill Society offices are located in the Museum of Industrial Technology at 4 Court Street.

For more information contact:

The Delta Mill Society
Box 172
Delta, Ontario K0E 1G0
Tel: 613-928-2584
email: info@deltamill.org


For more information about the Ontario Trillium Foundation
please visit their website at:
www.trilliumfoundation.org