Doon mill ruins to undergo revitalization work

The City of Kitchener has set aside a significant chunk of money to finance the stabilization and preservation work on the ruins of a former grain mill in the lower Doon neighbourhood.

The mill was built in 1839 by Doon founder Adam Ferrie, but the site, which is located at the end of Old Mill Road in Kitchener, has been worked by settlers since the late 1700s and millennia before that by Indigenous communities.

At its peak, the mill was processing flour, oatmeal, and barley and it led to the construction of a complex around it that featured a blacksmith shop, a sawmill, a tavern, a distillery, at least one general store, and worker accommodations.

Various floods and fires over the years took a toll on the buildings. All that remains are a few crumbling sections of the south wall and southwest corner wall, a metal pipe, a stone-lined culvert, and the remains of a few outbuildings.

The revitalization work will help stabilize the structures so the public can again access the area. The city closed it in 2022 over safety concerns from the crumbling wall sections.

The municipality also wants to have the site designated under the Ontario Heritage Act with plans to add commemorative and information plaques to the area.

The work is expected to cost $250,000. The money was allocated for the project in Kitchener’s 2025 capital budget.

It’s unclear exactly when the work will begin.

The Heritage Kitchener committee is meeting on Tuesday, Jan. 7, and included on the agenda is a discussion over a report detailing the work ahead.