Ancaster in Hamilton, Ontario — Central Canada (North America)

Ancaster Old Mill

Photographed by Tim Boyd, August 20, 2024

1. Ancaster Old Mill Marker

Inscription. The Ancaster Mill is one of the few remaining operating grist mills in Ontario. The original mill, built south of Wilson Street in 1791 by James Wilson, was destroyed by fire and replaced 300 yards downstream in 1812. The second mill burned and was replaced in 1818 on the present site. In 1854 this mill burned and was replaced by the present structure in 1863. The mill was purchased in 1972 by Ron and David Ciancone and designated in 1990. The building is constructed of solid limestone walls with corner quoins. The gable roof has two gabled dormers on each side and the double-hung windows have flared stone lintels. The original settlement, then known as Wilson's Mills flourished and became the village of Ancaster.

Erected 1990 by Ontario Ministry of Culture and Communications, Town of Ancaster Historical Society, Ancaster Local Architectural Conservation Advisory Committee.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Industry & Commerce • Settlements & Settlers. A significant historical year for this entry is 1791.

Location. 43° 14.043′ N, 79° 58.42′ W. Marker is in Hamilton, Ontario.

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It is in Ancaster. It is at the intersection of Old Dundas Road and Wilson Street East, on the right when traveling east on Old Dundas Road. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 548 Old Dundas Road, Hamilton ON L9G 3J4, Canada. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is on Ontario’s Golden Horseshoe,

in the Hamilton-Halton-Brant Area,

and specifically in the Toronto Metropolitan Area.

It is also in Central Canada.

Globally, it is in North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once a British colony,

the Viceroyalty of New France,

the Haudenosaunee (Iroquois) Confederacy,

and Rupert’s Land.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Mills of Ancaster (within shouting distance of this marker); The Red Mill (approx. 0.6 kilometers away); Marr-Phillipo House (approx. 0.6 kilometers away); “The Bloody Assize” 1814 (approx. 0.8 kilometers away); Richardson-Farmer-Ashworth House (approx. 0.8 kilometers away); Ancaster Township Hall (approx. one kilometer away); The Founding of Ancaster

Photographed by Tim Boyd, August 20, 2024

2. Ancaster Old Mill Marker

(approx. one kilometer away); The Gore Gazette (approx. 1.1 kilometers away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Hamilton.

Also see . . . Hamilton Public Library - Historical Ancaster.

Located beside the natural break in the Niagara Escarpment, and beside a significant creek flowing over it, the police village of Ancaster became the location of a large number of mills that took advantage of the available waterpower. When the government of Upper Canada decided that its capital, Newark (now known as Niagara-on-the-Lake) was located too close to the American border, the choice for the new capital was between Ancaster and York (now Toronto)

(Submitted on August 20, 2024, by Tim Boyd of Hamilton, Ontario.)

The Ancaster Old Mill image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Tim Boyd, August 20, 2024

3. The Ancaster Old Mill

1902

4. Ancaster Old Mill, 1902

(Public domain)

Credits. This page was last revised on August 21, 2024. It was originally submitted on August 20, 2024, by Tim Boyd of Hamilton, Ontario. This page has been viewed 738 times since then and 74 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4. submitted on August 20, 2024, by Tim Boyd of Hamilton, Ontario. • Andrew Ruppenstein was the editor who published this page.