St. Catharines in Niagara Region, Ontario — Central Canada (North America)

Morningstar Mill - The Sawmill

Photographed by Kevin Westell, July 12, 2026

1. Morningstar Mill - The Sawmill - Marker

Inscription. When Wilson and Emma Morningstar originally purchased Mountain Mills, the saw mill building was used as a community hall where dances were held. Wilson closed the hall after a serious fight occurred, and converted the building into a saw mill which he operated for over 45 years.

Lorna, Wilson's granddaughter, recalls that logs would be positioned above the bank and held in place by stakes. "When he wanted a log, he'd change the stakes and roll the log down right onto the saw carriage. Then he would hammer the dogs [pegs] into the log to hold it securely and then it would go through the saw."

The saw was powered by its own turbine located in the shed beside the grist mill. The concrete piers that are still visible in the creek supported the power shaft. The saw blade was 4 feet in diameter, and "the carriage was about 4 feet wide and 10 or 12 feet long and rode on tracks."

After Wilson Morningstar died, his saw mill fell into disrepair and was eventually dismantled. The current saw mill was built by the Friends of Morningstar Mill in the 1990s.

Quotes from Memories of Morningstar Mill by Lorna

Paid Advertisement

Click or scan to see
this page online

Robson with Paul Hutchinson, Slabtown Press, St. Catharines, 1994

Erected by City of St. Catharines.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Industry & Commerce. A significant historical year for this entry is 1994.

Location. 43° 6.602′ N, 79° 15.868′ W. Marker is in St. Catharines, Ontario, in Niagara Region. It can be reached from Decew Road, on the right when traveling west. The panel is mounted on the bridge between the Morningstar Mill parking lot and the wheat mill. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 2714 Decew Road, St Catharines ON L0S 1E6, Canada. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is on Ontario’s Golden Horseshoe

and in Niagara Canada.

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: Morningstar Mill - The Blacksmith and Carpentry Shop

Morningstar Mill Museum image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Kevin Westell, July 12, 2026

2. Morningstar Mill Museum

Photo faces north and north-west from the road. This marker (centre right) is one of 4 panels on the bridge from the parking lot to Morningstar Mill's flour mill. The dark red building on the left is the sawmill. In between, Beaverdams Creek has its waterfall into a gorge.

(here, next to this marker); Morningstar Mill - The Barn (here, next to this marker); Morningstar Mill - The Mills and Property (here, next to this marker); Morningstar Mill - Welcome (a few steps from this marker); Morningstar Mill - Robert Chappell and Mountain Mills (a few steps from this marker); Morningstar Mill - John DeCou's Falls and Mills (a few steps from this marker); Morningstar Mill - Harvesting Ice (a few steps from this marker); Morningstar Mill - Later History (within shouting distance of this marker). Touch for a list and map of all markers in St. Catharines.

More about this marker. Captions:
Left: Wilson Morningstar (back row, 2nd from right) enjoying ice cream with friends at the saw mill, circa 1900.
Right: View from the saw mill looking toward the Miller's house, c. 1900

Credits. This page was last revised on July 13, 2026. It was originally submitted on July 30, 2025, by Kevin Westell of St. Catharines, Ontario. This page has been viewed 98 times since then and 27 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on July 12, 2026, by Kevin Westell of St. Catharines, Ontario. • Andrew Ruppenstein was the editor who published this page.