History
Once run by a mill race, the mill is now powered by an antique tractor. In 1986 the
mill race was filled to prevent the mill's foundation from collapsing. The rattling and
rolling of the wheels is a true experience.
At normal working pressure, the turbine could develop about 125 horsepower and about 2
tons of grain could be processed every hour. Mr. Nicol built this grist mill and dam in a
period of which much of the farm land in Southern Ontario was planted in wheat. Census of
1861 reported that there were 13 flour and grist mills operating in Simcoe County. With
the opening of the Prairie lands to settlement, Southern Ontario became far less important
as the wheat growing region. Many mills were forced to close down. The Nicol Mill was able
to stay in business, due mainly to the dam, which provided a profitable income for the
Nicols. In 1890, the dam was washed out but rebuilt. In 1954, the dam was breached around the
north end, due to floods caused by Hurricane Hazel and the repair was fill.
The dam was owned by the Nicol family since construction. The builder, was John Nicol and
the ownership fell to his son John William Nicol, then his son Franklin Christopher Nicol.
Franklin Christopher operated the Grist Mill until 1967 until illness forced him to close
the doors. The present owner Franklin Daniel Nicol is the 5th Great Grandson of the
founder and has opened the doors to the public to view this historic landmark. His four
sons Michael, Paul, Franklin Mark, and Peter are glad to see it cleaned out.
Click on a Thumbnail photo to enlarge it.
