A historic mill from the 18th century in Norfolk County is racing against time, and locals are hoping that winning a national heritage contest will jumpstart funding for essential repairs needed to reopen it for visitors.
The Backhouse Grist Mill is one of 12 heritage sites across Canada competing for the $50,000 grand prize in the Next Great Save competition organized by the National Trust for Canada.
This yearly competition recognizes projects that protect, adapt, renew, or enhance heritage locations for future generations. Second and third place winners will receive $10,000 and $5,000 respectively. Voting closes on April 24.
“We’re looking to secure funds to initiate repairs,” said Chloe Anna, curator of the Long Point Region Conservation Authority (LPRCA), which manages the mill along with several other historic sites as part of the Backus Heritage Conservation Area in Port Rowan.
“We aim to obtain a detailed engineering report, start stabilizing the building’s structure, and improve drainage around it,” she explained.
According to officials at the conservation authority, members of the public won’t be able to access the mill’s interior this summer after two recent structural evaluations revealed multiple problems including cracks in walls and foundation damage, leaning s inside, warped floorboards, and water seepage issues.
A report from last fall presented to LPRCA by PK Construction from Tillsonburg highlighted that the feed mill assembly near the main entrance is “sagging through the floor” because its supporting timber beam isn’t strong enough anymore and “shows clear signs of failure.”
The report suggested conducting an extensive engineering assessment to decide on next steps; something officials hope could be funded through winnings from this competition.
As of Monday afternoon, the mill was sitting in third place behind projects aimed at replacing The Spire’s heating system in Kingston and restoring Église Sainte-Marie’s bells in Church Point, N. S.
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Images included in one of two structural assessment reports submitted to conservation authorities last fall show some of the identified issues with Backhouse Grist Mill. (Balan Engineering Corp.)
Built back in 1798, this timber-framed Backhouse Grist Mill stands as a key feature within Backus conservation area and has held National Historic Site status since 1998.
“(It) is among Canada’s oldest well-preserved examples of small-scale water-powered mills that were common throughout much of our country during the 19th and early 20th centuries,” states Parks Canada’s website.
“These mills signified what grew into one of Canada’s major industries.”
LPRCA notes that this mill survived during the War of 1812 when many structures around were destroyed and continued operations under its founding family until it was sold to LPRCA in 1956. The original water-powered machinery still remains intact inside.
<p“Floorboards inside are made up of planks measuring between 18-20 inches wide but they're now over 230 years old along with much of its interior structure,” said Wanda Backus-Kelly, a retired teacher who volunteers at site and descends from John Backhouse who founded it.
Backhouse emigrated from Yorkshire England back in 1791 being part “of one of England’s oldest distinguished Quaker families,” according to a report from Port Dover Maple Leaf in1938.
After settling down in Norfolk he established mills while serving as magistrate plus militia officer until he passed away in1827 as per reports.
LPRCA has been diligent maintaining repairs onthis mill overthe past70 years but “as any homeowner knows especially those dealingwith aging wooden structures constant upkeepis necessary,” added Backus-Kelly.![]()
Backhouse Grist Mill photographed sometime duringthe1890s.(Long Point Region Conservation Authority)
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Sincethe LPRC Aandotherconservation authorities face limitations on howthey canuse municipal levies creative fundraising efforts become vital.(Thisprojectwould requirewrittenagreementsor MOUsfromallofthe eight municipalitiesinwatershed.)
“We’rereallyhopingthatpublicsupportwillcome forwardtohelp connect peoplewiththemillasanimportantpartoftheir livesandcommunity,”said Backus-Kelly. “It’sanexcellentsourceofpride, andculturalidentity, and I enjoy sharingthestorieswithanyoneinterested. It’s importanttoremember thoughthat althoughthereisonlyone nameonthemill, it’s notjustonfamily’shistory.” While toursinside themillareoff-limits, t herestofhistoric sitewill open upforpublicvisitation starting May27.Source link
