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Goldie's Mill - The
History
The site between
Cardigan Street and the Speed River, where the ruins of the Goldie Mill
presently stand, was first occupied early in 1829.
A
sawmill built by D. Gilikson & CO, who purchased the land from the
Canada Company, first occupied the site. The mill was never successful, and
the site was sold in 1933 to Capt. Henry Strange, thus beginning a series
of rapid ownership and operational changes. Before James Goldie purchased
the mill in 1866, the mill was owned or operated, and variously improved
upon by Wm. Clarke and Henry Orton together (1845-1847), Henry Orton as
sole proprietor (1847-1852), the Guelph Wheat and Flour Company, Smith,
Lynch & Company, Mr. Fred George in association with Walter King and
Edward Murton (1852-1860), and Charles Whitelaw leased it from mortgage
holders W.P. McLaren and Adam Brown of Hamilton (1860-1864). The
name of the mill also changed during this time. The original flour mill
was called the Wellington Mill by Wm. Clarke. In 1847 the Mill's name was
changed to the People's Mill, which stuck right up through the Goldie
period. Today it is generally referred to as the Goldie Mill or
Goldie's Mill.
James
Goldie purchased the burned out mill in 1866, and rebuilt the structure.
The Mill was again operating in 1867, and included six run of stone, four
turbine water wheels for power, and a large cooperage. The Mills initial
output was 300 barrels a day. As water levels changed Goldie was
forced to use a steam engine to power the milling process, and by 1910,
electricity had become the chief power source. The Mill’s fortunes
were also tied to the railway, which facilitated the transfer of grains to
the mill and of flour and oatmeal to markets. The Great Western Railway,
in 1881, supplied the Mill with a feeder line, as did the Guelph Junction
Railway in 1888.
The Mill remained a
family concern until 1918. James Goldie's sons were all involved in
the management of the Mill, even after it was reorganized as a Limited
Company in 1898. The Mill was sold in 1918, to F.
K. Morrow of Toronto who later sold the mill to Standard Milling Co. of
Canada in 1926. In 1930 the Mill was again sold, this time to the Pratt
Food Company.
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