South Grey Historic Mills
This tour takes you off the main roads to explore some of the forgotten places of Grey County, many of which started around the location of a mill or dam on one of the tributaries of the Saugeen River. This tour could be sub-titled the “Four Headwaters of the Saugeen River” as most of the mills on this tour occur along either the Rocky Saugeen, Beatty Saugeen, South Saugeen or the Main Saugeen. Along the way you’ll enjoy rolling hills, open farmland, dense forest and can imagine the struggles of pioneers working to tame this land more than a century ago. The tour is comprised of 2 main loops, and you can do the whole tour in a day, or one of the loops in a half-day. Pick up a copy of the latest Grey Bruce Visitors Map to help navigate along the way, and also for a full list of the many tourism points of interest along the way.
I. Start your fall colour journey in the village of Markdale on Highway 10. Known as the centre of Grey County, this thriving community is well stocked with fine examples of late nineteenth century architecture. Be sure not to miss "Knarsboro Hall" (now the May Funeral Home), a fine example of Second Empire architecture built in 1881 by Dr. Thomas Sproule. Dr. Sproule served the local area in Canada's Parliament for parts of four decades until appointed to the Senate in 1915. At Markdale's only stoplight, head west on Grey Road 12. You are now in the municipality of West Grey, the largest township in Grey County.
Proceed along Grey Road 12 approximately 8 km until you come to Traverston Road where you turn left. Follow the gravel surface until you round a bend and descend into a gorge cut by the Rocky Saugeen River. Pass over an old iron bridge and note the imposing and beautifully restored three-storey mill on your right. A town plan for this community (the intended name was Waverly) dated in 1856, shows ambitious plans for a large town. Although Traverston was once a thriving hamlet boasting a wool mill and a private school, it was never as large as some had hoped. The community faded to become the quiet retreat it is today. The mill that you see remained in business until 1955 and now serves as a unique private residence.
Continue on until you reach the T intersection at Concession 8. Turn right and proceed, you will descend a steep hill to again pass over the Rocky Saugeen, then on past The Ferns Golf Course until you come to Baseline Road where a left turn should be taken. Baseline Road will turn into McCormick's Sideroad as you follow the bend. McCormick's Sideroad is narrow, but persevere, for the autumn colours are spectacular. Many of Ontario's rare ferns and orchids are found in this less developed area. You will cross many streams here in the Saugeen watershed all of which offer exceptional fly-fishing.
Follow McCormick's Sideroad, cross Concession 2, and proceed to Hwy 6. Turn right and go north 2 concessions to Welbeck Road, where you will turn left. Stay on Welbeck Road and follow the signs to the Welbeck Sawmill. You will pass by the Welbeck Home Hardware Building Supplies store which specializes in woodworking tools and many other unique tools and building materials. Definitely worth a stop and look around! The Welbeck Sawmill dates back to 1872 and was water-powered. It was completely rebuilt as a centennial project in 1967 following a fire late in 1966, and then in 1984 the diesel and electric power were replaced with water. Retrace your route back out to Hwy 6. and turn right, heading south. In about 6 km, you will descend a hill and cross the bridge that passes over the Rocky Saugeen River. On your right is another relic mill, a stone structure which closed mid-century and is now privately owned and has been renovated and recladded. One option to shorten this tour is to proceed directly south on Hwy 6 to Durham, skip to III. Below.
II. Proceed south from the Saugeen River bridge less than 2 km, around a curve and turn right onto Sideroad 18. Head west and proceed through the pioneer hamlet of Aberdeen, turn right at concession 2, cross another bridge and finally make a quick left turn just after the bridge back onto Sideroad 18. Aberdeen was the site of another mill, a sawmill which was established in 1851 and closed in 1917, unfortunately only a few stone pilings remain in the river to mark its existence.
As you head west, you will cross over the Saugeen River twice more, and the Rocky Saugeen has now joined the main Saugeen coming from Durham, just downstream of Aberdeen, and you will notice a much wider and slower moving river. After approximately 8 km, turn left at the stop sign onto Grey Road 3. You will shortly cross the main branch of the Saugeen River again and come to the stop sign at Grey Road 4. Turn right and head into the bustling community of Hanover. Hanover is a regional service centre, and a fine place to do some shopping or to stop for a meal. Grey Road 4 is also 10th Street, the main street of Hanover, proceed west to the lights at Grey Road 10, or 7th Street, and turn left or south. In 4 or 5 blocks you will reach the Hanover Raceway and Slots, which provides great entertainment at the horse races Saturday nights until early October. Continue south approx. 4km to Concession 18, passing over the South Saugeen River, and take a left to visit the Saugeen Conservation Authority Headquarters. Here is a wonderland of ponds, forested trails, sulphur springs and seasonal wildflowers. A picnic area is available as well. Retrace your route back to Grey Road 10, turn left and head towards Neustadt.
A stop is recommended to take in the Old World ambiance of this community. Named by Harrowsmith Magazine as one of Canada's prettiest villages in 2001, Neustadt offers a number of quaint buildings and shops with all kinds of unusual finds. For information and samples stop at the Neustadt Springs Brewery, dated from 1869 and designated as an Ontario Heritage Building. While technically not a “mill”, the brewery uses crystal clear underground springs to create its fine products, and depending on season and availability, a tour of the Brewery down into the underground caverns is a highlight. After visiting the galleries, shops and historic sites in Neustadt, proceed east on Grey Road 9, or Queen Street. A left at Barbara street will bring you to an unassuming stone house, the birthplace of John Diefenbaker, Canada's 13th Prime Minister. Head back to Grey Rd 9, turn left, go 2 blocks and turn right onto Fortier street, which leads out of town and becomes Sideroad 5. Continue 2 concessions south, and just before Normanby Road 9, look for a woodlot on the right, with a solid German fieldstone schoolhouse (S.S.#13 Normanby) dating from the pioneer era. The father of John Diefenbaker, taught here from 1895 to 1897. Take a left on Normanby Rd 9, and after a series of hills and valleys and a number of classic fieldstone farmhouses you will round a bend entering Ayton, home to yet another well-maintained grist mill, the Ayton Mill, now serving as a private residence. This mill is particularly photogenic, and the dam beside it creates a large mill pond on the South Saugeen River, on the south side of the bridge.
Proceed east on Normanby 9 which becomes Grey Road 9, and follow the signs around a right and a left on the outskirts of Ayton. Just east of town, look for Filsinger’s Organic Apple farm and store. Pick up some apple cider, vinegar or apples and browse their well-stocked selection of organic and health foods. Back on Grey Road 9, head east to Hwy 6, take a short jog to the north and take Southgate Road 12 into Holstein. Turn north at the stop sign onto Grey Road 109, and stop in at the General Store. Just across the road and slightly north of the beautifully restored schoolhouse runs xx creek, headwaters of the Beatty Saugeen. Xxx Head north on Grey Road 109, cross Grey Road 9 and proceed on Sideroad 39, past Wilder Lake Road to Southgate-Glenelg Townline. Turn left and head to Hwy 6, then turn right and proceed north to Durham.
III. While in Durham, make a stop to enjoy the outdoor murals and scenic river parks that characterize the river town. Once home to 7 mills, only one remains, presiding over the Heritage Walkway Bridge, one block north of the light on Hwy 6 . The Durham Mill was built in 1909 and produced oats which were shipped across Canada. Eventually the mill burned, was re-built as a feed mill, and is now privately owned. Across the Street is the Durham Art Gallery, and McGowan Falls, one of Grey County's waterfalls is a short distance to the east along George Street.
Continue east on Grey Road 4 from Durham through Priceville and Ceylon until you come to Flesherton. Flesherton has several good eateries and is home to the South Grey Museum. The final mill stop on this tour is found at Hoggs Falls, head east on Grey Road 4 one concession, turn left at East Back Line, and follow the signs to Hoggs Falls, on Lower Valley Road. Hoggs Falls was the site of a sawmill that was short-lived in the late 1800’s, built by William Hogg. Hoggs Falls is also a popular stop on Grey County’s Waterfall Tour, and is part of a major Bruce Trail expansion that connect to Eugenia Falls. This marks the end of the tour, and you can return to Markdale by heading back out to East Back Line, turn right and head north to Grey Road 32, turn left and head out to Hwy 10, and north to Markdale, or find your way home from Flesherton. For those that enjoy visiting Artist's studios, the Autumn Leaves Studio Tour takes place annually in late September or early October throughout this southern part of the County.
TOUR MAP COMING SOON!
