The Harrington Grist Mill
The Harrington Grist Mill was constructed in 1846 by David L. Demorest, son of United Empire Loyalist parents from Prince Edward County, Ontario. Demorest, seeing that the land formed a valley that was fed by Trout Creek, dammed the creek, creating a millpond to drive the waterwheel that provided power to French burr millstones that ground locally grown grains into flour.
In 1882, the water wheel was replaced with a more efficient Little Giant water turbine and in 1899, the French burr grinding system was replaced with a grain grinder and oat roller, and the mill began grinding and rolling for animal feed.
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1923
Rebuilding
In 1923, the mill was destroyed by fire. The structure standing today was rebuilt in the same year and continued to process locally grown grains until 1966. Since the start-up, there have been 9 owners and 5 operators.
1966 - 1998
The Mill Closes
The mill pond and the mill were purchased by the Upper Thames River Conservation Authority. UTRCA removed the water sluiceway that delivered water from the pond to the turbine pit, rendering the mill inoperable by water power.
In 1998, the Harrington and Area Community Association (HACA) entered into a lease agreement with UTRCA and has completed extensive repairs and renovations.
Whitelaw Machinery from Woodstock removed the oat roller (originally manufactured by them), the grinder and the water turbine for restoration. These machines have been replaced, except for the water turbine, which sits on display on the main floor.
A New Millennium
Community Renovations
Whitelaw Machinery from Woodstock removed the oat roller (originally manufactured by them), the grinder and the water turbine for restoration. These machines have been replaced, except for the water turbine, which sits on display on the main floor.
The entire turbine pit structure at the rear of the mill was torn off and rebuilt. The cedar shake roof shingles were replaced with sheet steel. The galvanized corrugated cladding on the exterior walls was covered with vertical pine boards with batons.
2025
Preservation
The mill is in exceptional condition for its era. The configuration of water flowing into the water turbine, line shafts, pulleys, belts, elevator legs and making use of gravity for grain to flow, is a fine example of early engineering that enabled grain to be ground from start to finish with very little manual effort.
