General Information

Thanks to the Friends of Morningstar Mill, there is now a fully restored 1872 grist mill beside beautiful DeCew Falls, a 22 metre (75 foot), waterfall. It is the only operating water powered  mill in the Niagara Peninsula, and was one of the first milling operations to be powered by a water-powered turbine instead of a traditional waterwheel.  

If you are out for a country ramble you can stop by the Morningstar Mill Living Museum Park anytime. There is a 1920s cottage garden, the Miller's House, the Blacksmith Shop, and the Mill itself, which has been designated as a provincial building of significant heritage value.  Bring a camera, wander around, meet the volunteers if they are working on the property, and then enjoy a picnic in this lovely period setting.

In their book Exploring Niagara, Hans and Allyson Tammemagi write, "DeCew Falls cascades into a bowl-shaped amphitheatre just behind the mill. In days gone by, this was a popular spot to visit. There was a large spiral staircase leading into the gorge from 1890 to 1910."  They suggest that this is "a good starting point for hikes. It is also a good staging area for bicycle tours south-ward into the Short Hills Provincial Park, St. Johns and Effingham."  

The Friends of Morningstar Mill sell t-shirts, flour of many types, and bran and corn meal that they have ground and bagged at the mill. The stone-ground flour is made from the entire kernel of the wheat including the wheat germ, which is totally lost in most modern processing.  That is why people add wheat germ to their cereal. The Friends flour is complete. What a treat to tell your friends that the fresh hot bread you just served them is made from wheat milled just as it was in 1872! 

Volunteer Blacksmith John Bott said, "The kinds of grain we have at any moment are dependant on sales. We grind grains during open houses and when we are in need. We almost always have whole wheat which is the most popular flour. But people should give us a call on Tuesdays or Thursdays from 9:00 pm to 2:00 pm so they can make sure we have what they want before they drive out to the mill.  The mill pond needs to be lowered during the winter so we cannot run that time of year".

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. There are several Open House weekends shown on the Friends of Morningstar Mill website under the Events - Dates - Hours tab, when visitors can actually see the mill running and watch the blacksmiths at their work.

PHOTO GALLERY

Turbine shed at Morningstar Mill

Turbine shed at Morningstar Mill

  

 

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TripClip Audio File (more about TripClips...)

 

 

 

 

  

 

 

Click to play or download Morningstar Mill TripClip (mp3 format)

This destination is also part of the TripClip tour 'Touring the Twelve.'

 

 

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Other tripclips submitted by community partners

 

 

Click to play or download Eat Healthy - Get Active: Morningstar Mill TripClip (mp3 format).
This destination is also part of the Community TripClip tourcalled  Eat Healthy and Get Active Winter Greenbelt Tour, submitted by Amber Bordun and Julie King.
 

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Hours of Operation

 

Hours of this volunteer-managed facility are somewhat irregular.

 

Generally open from May 1 - Thanksgiving Weekend, on:

 

   Most Tuesdays and Thursdays    9:00 am - 2:00 pm or 3:00 pm

   Saturday, Sunday and holiday Mondays    10:00 am - 3:00 pm

   Closed July 1 weekend (volunteers participate in Sherkston Antique Steam Show).

Depending on the weather, volunteers may be present onsite before and after the above dates, so please feel free to visit.

  

A Spring Open House takes place each year, usually in late May. Check the Friends of Morningstar Mill website under the Events - Dates - Hours tab for dates and details.

 

Buildings are closed during the off-season. However, the site is open for self-guided tours year round.

Directions

From Toronto:

QEW exit 49 to Hwy 406 and drive about 11 km

Right on St. Davids Road West

Left on Merrittville Hwy at the second stop light and drive about 1 km

Right on DeCew Road at lights, just before Lake Gibson and drive about 2 km

Right into the Mill's little parking lot beside the Beaverdams Creek mill pond

If you come to the three way stop at Cataract Road you have gone too far

Further Information

Mountain Mills Museum pamphlet available at the museum and from the City of St. Catharines, Recreation & Community Services Department, 320 Geneva Street, St. Catharines L2R 7C2    Phone (905) 937-7210

 

Ministry of Natural Resources Natural Heritage Information Centre:

DeCew Falls Escarpment

 

DeCew Falls Flood Plain

 

DeCew Falls Flood Plain - Wetland

 

DeCew Gorge