MILLS SMELT CREEK CARDING MILL

Attached to a lease for farm number 2 of Bonshaw Estate was a map showing the existence of a carding mill on Smelt Creek just above the St Catherine's Road bridge. The lease was dated 1845 (18). The same map was also attached to a lease dated 1855, however when W.W. Irving offered Bonshaw farm for sale in 1856 no mention of the mill was made (19,20). Since the mill site was on part of Bonshaw farm its presence would have been mentioned if it was still standing.

The only other reference found was a notice for tenders for the new bridge in 1840. The call for tenders noted that the new bridge would be built on the line from Mabey's (near the site of the present-day Bonshaw 500 entertainment complex) to Tod's mill. Was Tod the owner/miller or was it Duncan McPhail who had held the lease for the parcel prior to Irving in 1855? (44,45)

Map from Lot 30 lease #37 dated Jan 1855

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