Our History
By 1812 Peleg Spencer had built a wooden dam on the South Nation River and constructed a sawmill on the south bank to serve the settlers in the backwoods of Edwardsburgh Township.
 | When Peleg’s son David acquired the business in 1822 it included a saw and gristmill. In 1850 David built a carding and fulling mill on the north side of the river. Nine years later a disastrous fire completely destroyed the mill. In 1862, he sold the property to his daughter Mercy and her husband Robert Fairbairn.
By 1864 Robert Fairbairn had built a stone gristmill on the north side of the river and installed a steam engine to allow the mill to operate year-round. |
Robert and Mercy’s son, David Fairbairn, only had possession of the mill for two years before fire again gutted the building in 1884. After the interior was reconstructed, it was sold to Thomas Bennett who had several partners before becoming sole owner. In 1903 Hatch and Barnard rented the property from the Bennett family.
One year later J.F. Barnard became sole proprietor. In 1912 J.F. Barnard purchased the mill and adjacent stone house for $4,600. Under the trademark, Grow-or-Bust, he produced a line of balanced poultry and livestock feed.
One year later J.F. Barnard became sole proprietor. In 1912 J.F. Barnard purchased the mill and adjacent stone house for $4,600. Under the trademark, Grow-or-Bust, he produced a line of balanced poultry and livestock feed.
In 1927, J.F. Barnard’s sons Percy and Walter became involved. They increased hydraulic power with the installation of a refitted Barber turbine and continued to expand the business as wholesalers and distributors of feed supplies and farm merchandise. A hardware store was added in 1955 shortly after Percy’s sons Morgan and Ted became involved. Ted Barnard continued to run the family milling business until it closed in 1972.
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The South Nation Conservation purchased the mill in 1985 and transferred ownership to the newly created Eastern Valley Heritage Foundation. In 1999, this Foundation was renamed The Spencerville Mill Foundation.
