Policy Regarding Letters to the Editor
We welcome the opinions of our readers in the form of letters to the editor. These must be no longer than 200 words and address a local issue, and include the writer’s name and address which must be local. Street addresses are not published. We do not publish 3rd party letters. Letters must be clear, polite and not include any personal attacks on individuals. We reserve the sole discretion on the decision to publish letters on the opinion page which express the views of their authors and do not necessarily reflect the view of the editor.
Upcoming Events
May10Fri20246:30 pm Game Night – May 2024 @ Bethany United ChurchGame Night – May 2024 @ Bethany United ChurchMay 10 @ 6:30 pm – 8:30 pmBethany Community Hub invites you to enjoy board games, card games and memory games at the lower level of Bethany United Church, 3 George Street, Bethany. Fun for the whole family.May11Sat202412:30 pm Millbrook Library Ice Cream Fund...Millbrook Library Ice Cream Fund...May 11 @ 12:30 pm – 2:00 pmWe are having an Ice Cream Social Fundraiser this month! Join us at either branch on Saturday, May 11th from 12:30-2:00pm to enjoy a delicious treat for Mother’s Day. We will have ice cream, cones, and a variety of toppings to choose from. The cost for each person will be... Continue reading →May12Sun20249:00 am Springville Market Mother’s Day ... @ Springville Tap ‘N GrillSpringville Market Mother’s Day ... @ Springville Tap ‘N GrillMay 12 @ 9:00 am – 3:00 pmFeaturing Mother’s day Brunch until noon, face painting, B12 injections, Reiki treatments, readings, ice cream, live music, and crafts.May15Wed2024May16Thu20247:00 pm Alderville First Nation Historia...Alderville First Nation Historia...May 16 @ 7:00 pmAnnual General Meeting of your Millbrook Cavan Historical Society, at Millbrook Legion Hall. Come and learn about Alderville’s unique history. All welcome. Info: millbrookcavanhs.orgMay22Wed20242:00 pm Tea at Two – May 2024 @ Bethany United ChurchTea at Two – May 2024 @ Bethany United ChurchMay 22 @ 2:00 pmThe speaker will be Tammy Brydon, Elder Abuse Prevention Coordinator.
Author Archives: Karen Graham
Netflix Series, Titans
Comment – July 2022
In these pages are stories of looking to the future with hope, several of them by and or about children. Even as she describes the months-long journey from Ukraine to Millbrook, Elizabeth’s story focuses on the help her family received along the way rather than the fears that were their… Continue reading
Millbrook’s Classic Car Show- July 16th
A House Tells a Story
From the outside it would seem that the Millbrook & Cavan Historical Society has been pretty quiet, if not dormant, over the past two years, but on the inside, the commitment to our mandate has meant we’ve been busy. The wealth of genealogy records and expertise, along with the family histories that we preserve in our archives, have enabled us to respond to numerous inquiries that come in from all over the country and beyond. The second printing of our Heritage Millbrook Self-Guided Walking Tour booklet has sparked interest in both our rich architecture and in the stories that go with the properties. We are often asked about the history of some of the houses as new owners move in, and these are hard to chase down because most of the information being sought is oral history. So, if you are a longtime resident of the area, what we would love to have from you are your stories!
One such story relates to a house on Prince Street in Millbrook, built in 1885 by David Chambers and designated as being of architectural significance in accordance with the Heritage Act. As part of the research to create an educational display panel next to Needler’s Mill, describing the workings of the mill, the name of Henry Attwooll comes into focus. Mr. Attwooll came to Canada from England early in the 1900s with his wife Mary Ann, daughters May and Ada, and his nephew Doug Sheppard. Both Henry Attwooll and Doug Sheppard were millers by trade, and came to the Millbrook area to work. Henry purchased Needler’s Mill in 1917, and Doug Sheppard became a full partner in the business in 1922. Henry and his family lived in the house on Prince Street, overlooking the millpond. Henry worked a full eight-hour day at the mill six days a week until about a year before he died at age 90, in 1959. In the nearly 50 years that Henry served as a miller here in Millbrook, Needler’s Mill flourished as a producer of fine quality flour and cracked wheat porridge, with the adjacent saw mill providing lumber for the area.
The story of the house on Prince Street doesn’t end with the illustrious career of Henry Attwooll and his family. In or about 1967, Jim and Elsie McMaster purchased the Attwooll house. Their son, Ashton McMaster, recalls that the municipal water system had not yet been installed, and the water for homeowners on Anne and Prince Streets was piped under the pond from an artesian well up on Medd’s Mountain. “It was fantastic water, “ Ashton adds, “summer and winter.”
Ashton also recalls the vitality of the downtown where his parents ran the Stedman’s store, next door to Lyle Nattress’ barbershop, from the early 1950s until 1979. “My Dad always had wonderful salespeople in his store,” Ashton recalls, “and some with a sense of humour that just wouldn’t quit.”
Memories sparked by one house on a quiet street. Appreciation for these stories and for opening a new chapter in the history of place gives hope to many of the heritage properties in this township as new owners pour time, energy and considerable resources into restoring them. Thankfully, they recognize the value of keeping the stories going. These memories also inspire the Historical Society to start planning an event for early fall, inviting the keepers of our local stories to come and tell a few tales of days gone by so that we can add new chapters to them. Stay tuned! We’ll see you in the fall.
By Celia Hunter
This Summer at Your Libraries
Now that the summer is fast approaching, the CMLibraries will be starting up our Summer Programming again! This year’s TD Summer Reading Program is “Fantasy”. Sign up at either branch for the summer reading program – add your name to our “Fantasy Boards”! Join us every Tuesday at 10:00am at the… Continue reading
Pickleball Comes to the CMCC
Recreation staff at the township are exploring different ways to maximize the use of the Cavan Monaghan Community Centre now that pandemic restrictions have been lifted. Last month, township recreation staff hosted two Open House events to introduce Pickleball to the community and test the level of interest in using… Continue reading
Letter to the Editor – July 2022
We all agree we need to invest in recreational facilities, but in these increasingly stressful times we also need to build community spirit and find common ground with each other. Open air spaces are critical to our physical/mental health and accessible, public spaces like commons, squares and parks bring… Continue reading
Marissa’s Herb Garden
Marissa is a farmer and herbalist who recently joined the ranks of vendors at the Millbrook Farmers’ Market. She grows high quality medicinal and culinary herbs on her quarter acre property outside Cobourg. All her products are crafted with care and with the highest standard of quality in mind. All… Continue reading