”:9

Ives’ Grist Mill standing still in 1989. Hazel Robinson collection.

Charles and Frames Roberts were residents of Ottawa in 1951. Chuck had retired from the RCAF and was manager of a Dominion Food Store. It was then that they decided life away from the maddening crowds of the city was for them, so they packed up and moved to Frances’ childhood home, North Tryon. Chuck went into partnership with his father-in-law, Everett Ives.

The grist mill became associated with Canada Packers in the manufacture of Shur Gain Feeds in 1951. Here grain was ground, feed was mixed, custom orders filled, and for several years, flour was ground. Chuck continued the operation following Everett’s death.

Many people worked in the grist mill with Chuck. To name a few: Percy Delaney, True Gillis, Les MacDonald, Brent Carr, Hillus Cairns, Parker Delaney, Norman Wood, Marshall Thomas, jimmy Cairns, Alfred Cairns, Tommy Dawson, Earle Mayhew, and Wyman Waddell.

Chuck and Frances have one daughter, Diane, who lives in Ottawa with her husband, Ernie, and two children, Kelly and Khristine. When Chuck closed his mill in October, 1985, and retired as miller, he and Frances went to Ottawa to visit with Diane and her family for several months, then they vacationed in Spain before returning home in the spring

You will note I said Chuck retired as miller. Frances still operates the Tryon Hatchery and Chuck says: “Frankie has at least fifteen jobs for me to do each morning, I might have to reopen the mill so I won ’t have to work so hard. ”But Frances says she allows Chuck plenty of time to read his two daily papers, she is glad he doesn ’t receive three. Chuck and Frances plan to spend their winters in Ottawa in an apartment adjoining Diane ’5 home and return to North Tryon each spring. 34

45