By the turn of the 19th century it was common knowledge that owning a water powered mill to manufacture plentiful resources such as logs and grain was a needed and lucrative operation.

With this goal in mind Peleg Spencer built a wooden dam on the South Nation River and by 1811 had constructed a sawmill on the south bank to serve the settlers in the backwoods of Edwardsburgh Township.

When Peleg’s son David acquired the business in 1822, it included a saw and gristmill. In 1850 David built a carding and fulling mill on the north side of the river. Nine years later a disastrous fire struck. It was said that David had neither the health nor the will to build again. In 1862 he sold the property to his daughter Mercy and her husband Robert Fairbairn.

By 1864 Fairbairn built a stone gristmill on the north side of the river and installed a steam engine to allow the mill to operate year round. By this time Spencerville had railway service, an agricultural fair and businesses to serve every need of the local farm community.

Robert and Mercy’s son, David Fairbairn, only had possession of the mill for two years before fire again gutted the building in 1884. After the interior was reconstructed, it was sold to Thomas Bennett who had several partners before becoming sole owner. With his death in 1903 Hatch and Barnard rented the property.

One year later J.F. Barnard became sole proprietor. In 1912 J.F. Barnard purchased the mill and adjacent stone house for $4.600. He became the first registered manufacturer of calf feed in Canada producing poultry and livestock feed under their trade name “Grow or Bust.”

In 1927, J.F. Barnard’s sons Percy, Walter and silent partner Morley became involved, increasing hydraulic power with the installation of a new turbine and replacing the steam engine with a gasoline power plant. They also became wholesalers and distributors of farm merchandise. A hardware store was added in 1955 shortly after Percy’s son Morgan and Ted became involved. Ted Barnard continued to run the family milling business until it closed in 1972.

Restoration

How The Mill Works