In 1766, while Prince Edward Island was governed as a part of Nova Scotia, the Governor of Nova Scotia directed his Chief Surveyor, Charles Morris, to visit the Island and lay out the capital city and other towns. Morris visited Lot 113 and reported to John Butler, Agent for John Pownall, Proprietor of Lot 13. In his report he stated that he had found the remains of a small grist mill at the Head of Good Wood River. However, his map showed it to be at the Head of Trout River. He had found another mill where the Port Hill road crossed the head of Mill Creek.

Under the heading REMINISCENCEs OF THE OLDEN DAYS IN P.E.I., a column appeared in THE PIONEER newspaper during March of 1926 telling of a saw mill owned by an early pioneer settler, Allan McLean. From that mill, the whole countryside was supplied with boards for building. Prior to the erection of this mill, log houses were the rule, and it was the building and equipping of such mills that marks the passing of the old log house, and the bringing in of the frame house. Allan McLean’s house stood on the site later occupied by D.N. Forbes.

It is told that at one time there was a flour mill on the side of the hill beside the mill pond. It was destroyed by fire, the heat from Which left its

mark on nearby trees.

About the year 1868, James Yeo, M.P. acquired the mill stream rights, built a mill dam, a saw mill and a grist mill. As mentioned previously, Peter Millar ran the Yeo saw mill at THE LANDING in 1873-74. The location of those mills is shown in the Meacham’s 1880 Atlas where the present dam is situated. A carding mill, grist mill and saw mill were located farther up the stream. A cloth mill and a grist mill were located where the road to Port Hill crossed the Creek, which at that time was called Brown’s Creek. James Yeo is shown as the owner of the. land around the mills. His son, Herbert Yeo, became owner of the mill property in Birch Hill in January 1886.

More recently, mill operators in Tyne Valley have included William Sheen and his son Nelson. The mill farther upstream was operated for several years by the Boates family: firstly Joseph, then Burton and Jack Boates, followed by Webster Marchbank and his son Keir.

About 1873 people living at or near the place called THE LANDING or TROUT RIVER began to think it should have a more suitable name. A pub— lic meeting was called and several names were suggested. The name TYNE VALLEY was chosen at the suggestion of James Rogers, a wheelwright who

34 Roors & BRANCHES

r: . .,,.»¢)x-mu;¢a