The Morningstar Mill is a fully restored gristmill from 1872 created of stone from Beaverdams Creek. Latitude: 43° 6' 36.6804'' N. Longitude: 79° 15' 52.1676'' W with an elevation of 155m. The mill is located near the Bruce Trail, at 2710 Decew Road. The mill is situated west of Lake Moodie. According to Hans and Allyson Tammemagi in their book Exploring Niagara, if you are "Hiking westward from Morningstar Mill, you will gradually descend the Niagara Escarpment and enter into Short Hills Provincial Park." The mill is beside the 75 foot waterfall known as Decew Falls. It faces the Decew Water Treatment Plant. The mill features the Morningstars home which was built in 1895 and now has been restored to 1932. The mill also features a cottage garden and The Blacksmith Shop. The mill is the only operational water powered mill in the Niagara Peninsula, and still uses its original water source. The mill is ecologically significant as throughout its history it provided animal feed for local farmers as well as wheat for baking. It is recognized as a rural industrial historical site, owned by the city of St. Catharines. The mill has become functional again after about 60 years of inactivity from around 1932 to 1992 thanks to the efforts of the Friends of Morningstar Mill. According to the City of St.Catharines website "The Friends of Morningstar Mill is a volunteer group committed to preserving the historic Morningstar Mill grist mill site and interpreting its rich history." It is possible to purchase a variety of different types of flour at the mill. The site has also become a starting point for hikers, a picnic area and a popular wedding photo destination. According to the Greenbelt site "tours are conducted for schools and particularly grade 3 classes who are studying Pioneer Living and grade 5 classes who study simple machines." (Brown 1).
Municipality: (St. Catharines)
Local area name: Decew Falls
Latitude and longitude: Latitude: 43° 6' 36.6804'' N, Longitude: 79° 15' 52.1676'' W
Physical Dimensions
Surface Area: 2.98 acres
Elevation: 155m
The Morningstar Mill is the only operational water powered mill in the Niagara peninsula. The mill is located north of Lake Gibson, next to the Bruce Trail. It features Decew Falls, a 75 foot waterfall. The gristmill operates with most of its original equipment. The Mornigstar Mill is recognized as rural industrial historical site. Specifically the gristmill and the Miller House, which both have been restored. Today the site is owned by the City of St. Catharines. The Miller House, which has been restored to 1932, contains most of the original furniture of the Morningstars. Today there is a free parking lot were the old blacksmith shop once stood. There is a new Blacksmith Shop which was built in the 1990s and is operated by the city of St. Catharines in partnership with the Friends of Morningstar Mill. The Friends of Morningstar Mill are a volunteer organization who are vital in the operation and maintenance of the site. They will be explored further in this report.
The Morningstar Mill is open to the public. Free guided tours are available as well as booked tours for groups or classrooms. The site is a popular destination for wedding photographs. It is also a popular starting point for the Bruce Trail. The shop offers various kinds of flour for sale. There are many plaques which provide historical information for visitors to interact with. The Mill has risen in popularity in correspondence with the popularity of Decew Falls and the general trend of hiking. Milling dates are found at the Morningstar Mill's website, and visitors are welcome to watch and follow the process free of charge.
Map 1: Map of the Morningstar Mill. 2714 Decew Rd, St. Catharines, ON.
By inspecting these three images you can see the changes that have occured to what is now the Carpentry Shop. In Figures A and B the shop was standing at its old height. In Figure C it is at the height of today.
The Morningstar Mill is situated in an interesting location. It is directly connected to the Bruce Trail, which is a part of the Niagara Escarpment. The Mill is also adjacent to Lake Gibson. As stated before, the mill uses its original water source, which is the Twelve Mile Creek."The Bruce Trail is the oldest and longest marked hiking trail in Canada. It is 840 km long, with over 440 km of side trails. Every year more than 400,000 visits are made to the Trail as people walk, snowshoe, watch wildlife, take photographs and admire the glorious scenery of the Escarpment." (Bruce Trail). Due to its unique location the area around the Morningstar Mill is home to many different faune and flora. According to the Bruce Trail website, the Niagara Escarpment is home to: 36 species of reptiles and amphibians, 53 species of mammals, 90 species of fish, 350 species of birds, 1,500 species of plants. In Lake Moodie "fishermen will find a variety of fish including sucker, bullhead, largemouth bass, pumpkinseed, drum, smallmouth bass and carphere" (Hook and Bullet). Gibson Lake is the neighbour lake, however it is manmade. Here common fish are "large and smallmouth bass, pike, walleye" (Fish at Nearby Lake Gibson).
This large representation of birds noticeable to hikers and even visitors of the Mill. During our field excursion we were pleasantly surprised with the presence of a hawk atop the Miller House.
The area surrounding the Morningstar Mill is covered by large mature carolinian trees. The fauna and flora have been able to strive in this area despite the growing negative impacts of humans. This is partly because the Niagara Escarpment is a UNESCO World Biosphere Reserve. The ecosystems are respected in this area. Lake Erie is the main water source for Lake Moodie and Gibson, as well as the Twelve Mile Creek. Currently it is polluted. If this situation persists it is possible that the subsequent water streams are affected.
The general area of southern Ontario is of course the most densely populated area in Canada. The general surrounding area of the Mill however is not very populated due to the surrounding lakes, as well as the Water Treatment Plant. There are few surrounding private properties. The urban area is not found until you continue along Decew Road through Short Hills Provincial Park.
As stated before, The Morningstar Mill is a part of the Niagara Escarpment. The Escarpments formation dates back to approximately 450 million years ago. A large portion of North America was covered by shallow waters. Over time sediments accumulated at the bottom of the water. This includes dirt , mud and wildlife which had died. The next step in the process was when the sediments turned into rocks known as "sedimentary rocks". The water became increasingly shallow. Erosion occurred and "this left behind a ridge, a vertical face of exposed rock, creating the Escarpment cliffs." (Formation Of The Escarpment). Being such a large cliff, any stream that falls over the side is essentially a waterfall. The Morningstar Mill is an interesting part of the Escarpment because it features one of these many waterfalls.
Decew Falls is a 75 foot waterfall. We can date its formation back to approximately 443 to 417 million years ago. Decew Falls features a gorge like many of the other waterfalls belonging to the Escarpments. This amphitheatre shaped bowl is a distinctive feature of the site. These gorges were formed by glacial melt. "Massive rivers flowed across the land carrying glacial meltwaters. Those rivers which crossed the Escarpment carved out massive gorges and ravines…"(Shaping The Escarpment). The water flow is constantly eroding the shale beneath. The Escarpments landscape of today would be interesting to witness in another 450 million years.
The Morningstar Mill is a historic site and by exploring it we can learn about human interactions with their natural landscapes. The base of the gristmill is made from rocks taken from the nearby Beaverdams Creek. The Miller house was made from wood from the areas carolinian forest.
The Morningstar Mill uses its original water source, the Twelve Mile Creek. The Twelve Mile Creek's headwaters are located in Fonthill. Its name comes from the fact that it is approximately 12 miles (19km) from the Niagara River to it's outlet, Lake Ontario. It drains a watershed of approximately 178 square kilometres (Wikipedia.com). Part of this goes to Lake Gibson.
Lake Gibson is a man-made lake. It was created by flooding the valley of Beaverdams Creek.
According to Mackie " in 1875, the City of St. Catharines began work on their new waterworks and Beaverdams Creek was dammed just above Decew Falls. To prevent damage claims for loss of water supply, Mountain Mills was purchased by the St. Catharines Waterworks Commission." We will be speaking more of the land tenure of Mornigstar Mill, and its rich history. For now it is important to note that before becoming Morningstar Mill the gristmill was known as Mountain Mills. It is interesting to see how the ownership of the mill changed overtime due to the changing hydrogeology of the area. The mill is only operation with adequate water supply. The creations of the First, Second and Third Welland Canals have all affected this in various period of the mills history.
We see that the City's ambition to create a reservoir (Lake Gibson) has had effects on all surrounding water streams. Lake Gibson is a part of St. Catharines drinking water supply. The water is treated at the Decew Water Treatment Plant. The Plant "was constructed in 1925 to safeguard municipal water quality, and has been expanded several times over the years. Since 1970, it has been operated by the Regional Municipality of Niagara, and is the largest water treatment plant in the Region, serving St. Catharines, Thorold, Niagara-on-the-Lake, and Jordan with up to 227 million litres of water per day." (Brown 1).
The Twelve Mile Creek has been greatly impacted by humans. Throughout the past 200 years, we have negatively impacted the Creek. We have partaken in the practice of straightening the creek for our own needs. First it was the early settlers who used the waterway as a mode of transportation. They wanted to get to their destination (Lake Ontario) quickly and efficiently. According to an article from the Niagara Falls Review, during the Second World War it was announced in the Standard that the city would be "increasing the depth of the Creek to an average of ten feet and straightening it out in several places." This was due to the wartime need of expanding the power generation facilities at Decew Falls.
Currently the Twelve Mile Creek has become too shallow and too warm due to centuries of negative practices. "...Scientists have also noted that water levels on Lake Erie and other Great Lakes have been on a declining trend since 1986."(Penny 8). It is encouraging that more awareness has been raised,as well as research. Efforts to remedy the damage will hopefully ensue.
The climate of the Niagara region is unique. Due to variables such as its location between the Great Lakes, elevation, the Escarpment and others it is a prime location for agriculture. The Niagara Region has mild winters and temperate summers. The summers are typically humid due to its situation between Lake Erie and Lake Ontario.
Historically, agricultural needs have been one of the main influences for humans to change their surrounding landscape. As an area becomes urbanized, these changes become increasingly impactful. According to Hough(p.190) "It is predicted that the energy and resource requirements of cities will, in the foreseeable future, affect not only local, but regional and macro-climates. Global warming, air pollution and related problems are much discussed issues and all originate in cities". This is evident in the climate of the Niagara region
. Some glaring changes that are predicted to occur in the Niagara Region are:
• An increase in average annual temperatures of 3-4˚C in the Niagara region by the 2050's
• A 20% decrease in summer rainfall by the 2050's
• Growth in the conditions that give rise to thunderstorms with a likely increase in heavy rains, lightning strikes, high winds, hailstorms and tornadoes. (Penny 8).
These changes in the microclimate could prove to be detrimental to the Morningstar Mill. Due to human activity we are already witnessing a longer growing season, with May and September being warmer (Penny 8). The mill has drilling dates in the season and early fall seasons. If temperatures continue to increase as predicted, evaporation will affect water levels. Without adequate water flow, the mill will cease to operate.
Archaeological influences: The Niagara Peninsula was home to the Neutral Nation prior to the invasion of European colonizers. "If they had a name for their own confederation, it was never recorded; they generally referred to themselves by their individual band names, of which the most important are the Chonnonton and the Niagara" (Native Languages). Like most Native communities, the Neutral Nation used their landscape to survive. These communities generally lived along waterways and lakes, so it is safe to assume they inhabited near the present day Morningstar Mill. This is especially true when noting the fact that "the Neutrals were excellent fisherman and their diet consisted of many types of fish, as the waterways in Niagara were an abundant source of trout, sturgeon, and salmon." (Aboriginals In Niagara). The present day Lake Gibson would not have existed at this time, however it is possible that some of this fishing occurred at the nearby Lake Moodie.
Land Use History: The Morningstar Mill traces its origins back to a single man, John Decou. John Decou was an early settler and the namesake for Decew Falls. Here he built one of many gristmills. Today it is known as, The MorningstarMill, the only operation gristmill in the Niagara Region that uses its original water source. The area was soon known as Decew Town following the prosperity of the mill. "The construction of the First Welland Canal, however, left the mill without an adequate water supply and this prompted DeCou to sell his home and property in 1834." (Mackie 1). It is evident that the mill had significant commercial impact. The fact Decou was forced to sell his home and property following its closure means the mill was a major, if not his only means of income. Gristmills were essential in early societies. They provided flour for baking bread, as well for cereals and porridge. The leftover middlings are used to feed livestock. They allowed for economic growth, and thus expansion in the area. Decerw Town didn't last very long, however it ended up as an area with great historical significance. Decew House is a stone's throw away from Morningstar Mill. During the war of 1812 it was used as a military headquarters. "DeCews mills ground grain for the army, and the house was constantly a center of military activity." (Brown 1). This headquarters was the destination of Laura Secord's famous journey to warn of the impending American Invasion.
"By 1872, Robert Chappell had built a new grist mill at Decew Falls called Mountain Mills, using some of the remaining stone foundation walls of John Decou's mill." (Mackie 1). This new mill operated with a turbine. Today when taking tours at the MorningstarMill it is possible to observe this turbine, which sits at the bottom of a 40 foot pit. A week before our visit to the mill the City of St.Catharines had to dispatch two engineers down the pit to fix the turbine because it had ceased. It is encouraging to see the City of St.Catharines efforts to keep the mill operational. The City of St. Catharines owned the mill in the past as well, when it was known as Mountain Mills.
Mountain Mills operated successfully until 1875 when Beaverdams Creek was dammed to create what is known today as Lake Gibson. "To prevent damage claims for loss of water supply, Mountain Mills was purchased by the St. Catharines Waterworks Commission." (Mackie 1). Thus the landscape use shifted from its previous residential and commercial uses to a more industrial focus. Specifically the need to change the hydrology of the area to suit our needs for water treatment and supply. The effects of this shift in focus are very tangible. Today the area holds the Regional Water Works and Ontario Power Generation facilities and the artificial Lake Gibson. I don't imagine the immediate area ever becoming a residential in the near future due to these facilities, as well as the recognized historic sites of Morningstar Mill and the Decew House.
However, there was a period when the mill returned to a private residential area. After the construction of the Third Welland Canal, an adequate water supply was returned to the mill. Mountain Mills was sold to Wilson Morningstar, the current namesake of the mill. Wilson Morningstar owned and operated the mill from 1883 to 1933. In 1892 the interior of the gristmill caught on fire and this gave Wilson Morningstar to use the opportunity to use the latest milling equipment. He learned of the health benefits of whole wheat flour versus white flour and continued to sell it as it grew in popularity. He hired two local carpenters from Thorold to build the Morningstars home, as his wife was displeased with the property's current home. They used Morningstar's sawmill. Wilson Morningstar was innovative and used the latest technologies.
"From about 1904 to 1914, he produced his own electricity for lighting the mill and house, and in about 1918, he renovated one of the rooms in the house and installed a three-piece bathroom with indoor plumbing!" (Mackie 1). Wilson Morningstar operated the mill primarily alone, and after his passing in 1933 the mill fell into disuse. His older daughter and her family moved back into the house and lived there until 1991.
In 1991 the mill, its contents and the home as well as its contents were bequeathed to the City of St. Catharines by Wilson's granddaughter. In 1996 the mill was restored and once again became operational thanks to the efforts of the Friends of Morningstar Mill.
The Friends of Morningstar Mill are an ad hoc volunteer organisation created in 1992 when a Mr. Gary Konkly requested permission from the St. Catharines City Council. "At the start of the restoration project, much of the machinery and stones were as Wilson Morningstar, the namesake miller, had left them in 1933. The buildings were collapsing or had disappeared altogether." (Friends of Morningstar Mill). It is safe to assume that the current state of the Morningstar Mill would not be possible without the Friends of Morningstar Mill. At the very least it would not be possible to run the mill completely free of charge as it currently is, because employees would have to be hired. The Friends of Morningstar Mill have ran thousands of tours to date, and continue to manage the site.
Education / Interpretation: When visiting the Morningstar Mill you will immediately notice the numerous plaques standing throughout the site. They provide mostly historical information. When entering the mill there are also plaques which provide information on the entire milling process, as well as the various types of grains used and flours created. The image below of the chaff cutter with information attached to it is an example of the many pieces of information found throughout the site.
The primary education feature of the site however would be the Friends of Morningstar Mill. These volunteers are vastly knowledgeable. They are available to answer questions in informal settings as well as more formal and dedicated tours. "During the school year tours are conducted for schools and particularly grade 3 classes who are studying Pioneer Living and grade 5 classes who study simple machines. The mill runs for these classes and there is sometimes a blacksmith on hand to demonstrate the making of square nails." (Brown 1).
Architectural Heritage: Today the Morningstar Mill features the gristmill, sawmill, the Miller House, and the Blacksmith Shop. The Blacksmith shop was built in the 1990s. The original blacksmith shop is now a parking lot which is free to the public.
The Miller House and the Mill were designated under the Ontario Heritage Act by By-law 97-233.
The mill is one of the only operational mills in Ontario to still use its original equipment and stone mills. The Miller House has been restored to how it was in 1932, with most of its furniture still in place.
Recreational Use: The Morningstar Mill is a popular starting point for hikers due to its access to the Bruce Trail and the sites free parking lot. The Mill is also a popular area for picnics and wedding photographs.
Decew Falls is a popular summer destination as it is easily accessible by even inexperienced hikers. This part of the trail is the jurisdiction of the Government of Ontario, the City of St. Catharines and the Bruce Trail Conservancy.
The Mornigstar mill is currently owned by the City Of St.Catharines. It is operated in partnership with the Friends of Morningstar Mill. The Friends of Morningstar Mill assist with
"
According to this excerpt from an official City Council Report: "The City's Official Plan (The Garden City Plan) designates the lands as Parkland and Open Space. The Parkland and Open Space designation is intended to provide opportunities for a variety of active and passive recreational opportunities, to provide relief from the built environment, and to support opportunities for conservation and enhancement of cultural and natural heritage." (Corporate Report). This report is a proposal thats dates to August 11 2016. It is interesting because the Council was proposing to transfer the property and program operations to the Niagara Peninsula Conservation Authority. I'm not sure on how this situation played out exactly but the City of St. Catharines are still the owners so obviously the transfer did not go through. During our visit one of the volunteers was speaking to this situation. I got the sense the City does not want the site. From a fiscal standpoint this makes sense as the Mill does not generate revenue.
The Morningstar Mill finds itself in what is now an industrial landscape. Ontario Water Works and the Reservoir are the main facilities in the area. Due to technological advances they have continued to expand and demand more area, as well as resources.
The First, Second and Third Welland Canals are another major human impact on the areas hydrological features and ecosystems. They have directly affected the mill by stopping and restarting its water flow.
To help explain the complexity of urban landscapes and how they are hybrid phenomena, Alberti provokes the example of an urban stream and a highway in an urban watershed. Stating that " Both the emerging urban stream morphology and highway corridor reflect complex interactions between land cover and land use processes, and ultimately affect the respective ecological, hydrological, and transportation functions that streams and road infrastructure perform in the urban landscape" (Alberti 2008). This example can be related to the Twelve Mile Creek and the Highway 406 which mirrors it. We have witnessed how humans have straightened the Twelve Mile Creek thus changing its natural orientation which was in itself created and warped through natural processes. The existence of Twelve Mile Creek forced humans to elevate the highway and adapt their infrastructure.
Contact(s)
St. Catharines Museum
1932 Welland Canals Pkwy.
PO Box 3012
St. Catharines, ON L2R 7C2
T.: 905.984.8880 or 1-800-305-5134
F.: 905.984.6910
TTY: 905.688.4TTY (4889)
http://www.tourniagara.com/history/aboriginals-in-niagara/
https://www.ontariotrails.on.ca/index.php?url=trai...
City of St.Catharines, 11 Aug. 2016, https://stcatharines.civicweb.net/document/39867/C... Morningstar Mill.pdf?handle=7B137D6309514667AE9CEC88A907D0B6.
David Brown - https://brocku.niagaragreenbelt.com/listings/59-in...
David Brown - https://brocku.niagaragreenbelt.com/listings/55-hi...
Thorold Tourism - http://www.thoroldtourism.com/30-things-to-do-in-t...
Palomino System Innovations Inc - https://escarpment.org/NiagaraEscarpment/Environment/Ecology/FloraFauna
http://www.giantsrib.ca/formation-of-the-escarpmen...
https://www.stcatharines.ca/en/livein/FriendsOfMor...
Kat Snukal - https://www.greenbelt.ca/growourgb_lakegibson_2016
http://www.native-languages.org/neutrals.htm
https://brucetrail.org/pages/resources/niagara-escarpment/flora-fauna
Carla Mackie - https://www.niagarathisweek.com/community-story/68...
http://www.giantsrib.ca/shaping-the-escarpment/
NiagaraFallsReview.ca - https://www.niagarafallsreview.ca/news-story/81959...
Alberti, M. (2008).
Advances in Urban Ecology: Integrating Humans and Ecological Processes in Urban Ecosystems.
This Local Landscape Report was prepared by [KHALID EBRAHIM] for the Brock University course TMGT 2P94: Human Dominated Ecosystems on November 07, 2019.
All copyrights for cited material rest with the original copyright owners.
Accessible
TripClips
Call before visiting