Honouring Our Heritage

In the mid 1850’s the Maitland River was recognized as a powerful resource to compliment the agriculture communities on its watershed.

“Early in the winter of 1855, James and Nathaniel Leech left their parent’s home in Lanark County in eastern Ontario on a tour of southwestern Ontario looking for a river site to build and operate mills. They were very impressed with the Maitland River in the Gorrie area. On their return home, they convinced eight of their ten brothers to form a company and locate it in Gorrie.
Rosemary Rognvaldson and Linda Henhoeffer, Howick Township, Huron County Historical Society

MMA attempted to purchase the Gorrie Mill to preserve its equipment and fixtures but was not able to complete a transaction before MVCA decided to sell the building to other interests. However, most of its mill equipment and machinery were removed by MMA with permission and kept for storage and re-use elsewhere in Huron County.

Grant Have Media reported of the Gorrie Mill; “The dismantled mill was sold to a heritage site in the U.S. where it has been reconstructed. It is ironic that an important piece of Canadian history lives on display in America.”
Goderich Sun, September 18, 2025

Unfortunately, efforts to preserve these mills has often proved difficult, so much so that of the original sixty five or more mills in the Maitland watershed only three are left standing. Logan’s Mill in Brussels is one of them.