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Saturday 2 March 2013

The Morningstar Mill - A Visit Back in Time

With the worst of the winter weather behind us it's time to start thinking about spring and everything the Niagara region has to offer during this season. One of my favourite places to visit during the nice weather is the Morningstar Mill in St. Catharines.

The Morninstar Mill, St. Catharines
The Morningstar Mill Park, Interpretive Centre and Museum is located at 2714 Decew Rd. beside Decew Falls, a popular hiking trail in Niagara. The site is made up of a number of buildings: the gristmill (more commonly known as the Morningstar Mill) the turbine shed, the millers house, the icehouse, sawmill and the barn.

Visiting the Morningstar Mill and homstead is like stepping back in time to the ninteenth century. Originally named Mountain Mills, the mill was built of local stone in 1872 on the site of a former blacksmith and carpentry shop. Water was diverted from Beaverdams Creek to power the mill. In 1883 the mill was purchased by Wilson Morningstar and in 1895 it was destroyed by a fire however, it was rebuilt and operated until 1993.

Seeing a piece of history so well preserved in Niagara is truly something special. History and nature lovers alike will love the Morningstar Mill as it promised to fill your day with adventure and excitement.

The Morningstar Mill is something that Niagara natives, like myself, can easily take for granted. Until recently I didn't appreciate or realize how unique it is for a region to have so many preserved historical sites like this. So take a trip through time at the Morningstar Mill and finish off your day with a hike through Decew Falls or the famouse Bruce Trail!



7 comments:

  1. This place is lovely! As are the people who gives the tours! The first time my friend and I hiked here together, we happened to go while there were actually people working. We got to take a tour of the mill, try some bread made from the STONE GROUND FLOUR (mmm!), AND tour the house. It was interesting; I hope sites like this keep being preserved. I think it's worth the money.

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  2. Niagara natives may take this for granted, but for those who aren't from the area, this place sure looks like a historical gem! I definitely want to check the Morning Star Mill out!

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  3. I love historical places and don't know much about Niagara. Thank you for a great suggestion of somewhere to visit.

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  4. By far the best thing about Morningstar Mill is the waterfall experience. It's a dodgy hike that involves repelling down a cliff with a modest piece of rope... but once down, majesty awaits.

    Walk past the top of Decew Falls towards the river feeding it, hang a larry about 100 yards down the path, find said rope, scale down, hike a bit towards the river bed, and voila, a tropical paradise (on a warm summer's day that is) right in our backyard.

    If you think this bread and stone ground flour stuff is interesting, just wait until you experience Decew by actually swimming underneath, and walking behind, the falls... there is also a wiley little tunnel you can blindly venture into if you dare. Class trip this summer anyone?

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    1. sounds good to me! I nominate you to be our tour guide :)

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    2. I agree - the waterfall is sick times for sure. There is a rope swing and even a little place that we call the "hot tub" (that sounds gross but it's actually pretty sweet) We will all have to go this summer!

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  5. Great point Deanna! I have lived in Niagara all my life and have never been here.

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