Old Mill Heritage Centre celebrates 100 years on Manitoulin Island

The Old Mill Heritage Centre on Manitoulin Island is celebrating 100 years. The curator talks about plans to commemorate the milestone.

The Old Mill Heritage Centre is marking a significant milestone this year as it celebrates its 100th anniversary. Plans are already underway to commemorate the occasion – including a gala, a table-top book and a History Day event in August.

Speaking with CTV News, curator Rick Nelson highlighted the rich history of the site, which began as a pulp mill in 1925.

“Back in 1925, it started as a pulp mill, and its purpose was to provide pulp for Sears Roebuck catalogue glossy covers, which was shipped down to Wisconsin. That went on for about five years, and then the plant closed down for a bit,” he said.

“It was later converted into a hydro generating station and used to run all the electricity for Manitoulin Island up until 1962. So, it has a lot of history.”

The Heritage Centre is reaching out to the community for stories, photos, or artifacts that could help further document its century-long legacy.

Nelson said it is important to have the public’s involvement as they prepare to celebrate this special chapter in Manitoulin Island’s history.

For more information on the upcoming events or to share historical contributions, contact the Old Mill Heritage Centre directly by email or via their Facebook page.