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

Morningstar Mill - Robert Chappell and Mountain Mills

Photographed by Kevin Westell, July 12, 2026

1. Morningstar Mill - Robert Chappell and Mountain Mills - Marker

Inscription. In 1872, Robert Chappell built a new grist mill at Decew Falls called Mountain Mills, using some of the remaining stone foundation walls of John DeCou's mill. Unlike DeCou's mill which had been powered by a waterwheel, Chappell's mill was powered by a turbine. The turbine is located at the bottom of a 40 foot pit that was blasted out of solid rock beside the falls. A stone dam constructed across Beaverdams Creek formed the mill pond, and an iron pipe directed a steady flow of water from the mill pond to the turbine. The spinning turbine set the machinery inside the mill into motion.

Robert Chappell's mill was successful from the start, however, 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. With the completion of the Third Welland Canal, which raised the water level of the reservoirs and provided an abundance of water for the mill, the mill was leased to various millers. In 1883, Mountain Mills was sold

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to Wilson Morningstar, which accounts for the mill's alternate name today, Morningstar Mill.

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 1872.

Location. 43° 6.597′ N, 79° 15.874′ W. Marker is in St. Catharines, Ontario, in Niagara Region. It can be reached from Decew Road, on the right when traveling west. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 2714 Decew Rd, 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 - John DeCou's Falls and Mills (here, next to this marker); Morningstar Mill - Harvesting Ice

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 left) is in a group of 3 panels at the north-west corner of the parking lot, and beside Beaverdams Creek (left). Over a bridge is 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 Blacksmith and Carpentry Shop (a few steps from this marker); Morningstar Mill - The Sawmill (a few steps from this marker); Morningstar Mill - Welcome (a few steps from this marker); Morningstar Mill - The Mills and Property (a few steps from this marker); Morningstar Mill - The Barn (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: Mountain Mills with its original turbine shed, circa 1890.
Right (sign "Mountainmills, Decew Falls, 1872"): The turbine-powered mill ground grain into flour.

Credits. This page was last revised on July 12, 2026. It was originally submitted on July 12, 2026, by Kevin Westell of St. Catharines, Ontario. This page has been viewed 7 times since then. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on July 12, 2026, by Kevin Westell of St. Catharines, Ontario.