A couple of weeks ago, after a long day with the kids, I took myself to Harrison Park, bought a giant ice cream cone, and hiked 3 km to Inglis Falls. I did get lost on the way and had ice cream dripping down my arm and onto my jeans, but I did not regret leaving my phone behind and enjoying a long walk in the woods. And to crown my evening out of doors was the refreshing sight of Inglis Falls.

Now let’s take a look at the history surrounding Inglis Falls.

In 1842 Goderich millwright Mr. Elliot began building a grist mill at the top of the falls. Before completing construction he sold the land to W.C. Boyd. Around the same time Peter Inglis, a young millwright, immigrated to the area from Scotland.

In 1845 Inglis bought the mill and 300 acres of land. He completed the grist mill (with water wheel and wooden dam) and built a sawmill on the other side of the river. Customers for the grist mill came from as far away as Collingwood and Mount Forest. In 1862 Inglis replaced the grist mill with a four-storey one powered by a turbine.

In the 1870s the sawmill was torn down and a woolen mill was built on the east side of the river. Ads for the mill ran in the Owen Sound Advertiser between 1868 and 1870. The mill did carding, spinning, weaving, dyeing, and more, creating tweeds, blankets, and flannels. The mill was operated by Heverley and Chase, then Charles Woodhead, then John Benner.

Peter Inglis also purchased a sawmill a quarter mile away, which was run by Robert Stark.

In the summer of 1874 when the Governor General visited Inglis Falls the river was temporarily dammed to create an impressive wash of water over the falls. Reportedly His Excellency Earl Dufferin was quite taken with the “Niagara of the North.”

In 1885 the woolen mill burnt down and was rebuilt. In 1886 Peter Inglis’ son William took over operations of the business. When the elder Inglis was on his deathbed in 1901 the woolen mill burnt down again. That year Stark’s Sawmill also ceased operation.

During World War I flour from the Inglis Mill followed the troops overseas.

Victor Inglis ran the grist mill until 1932. Closing the business ended 87 years of steady operation under the Inglis name. The City of Owen Sound obtained the property for water rights. After two years standing idle the mill was purchased by Emil Henkel who ran it until 1945, when it was completely destroyed by fire.

In 1960 Grey Sauble Conservation Authority acquired the property, which is now Inglis Falls Conservation Area. You can still see the Inglis family home and the mill stones. And of course the falls, which are stunning. Highly recommended.

Sources

• “Advertising the Woollen Mill at Inglis Falls” by Kate Jackson via Grey Roots Museum & Archives
• “Inglis Falls Conservation Area” via Grey Sauble Conservation Authority
• “Inglis Falls” via Ontario Abandoned Places
• “Timeline of Inglis Falls History” via My World of Photos