Baxter Creek
It is widely known that without Baxter Creek, Millbrook would not exist. In the early 1820’s when this area was settled, a man named John Deyell chose to build his grist and sawmill on “E ½ 12th in 4th Concession”. Originally called Deyell’s Mill, this is what we now know as Millbrook’s Needlers Mill. He chose that location because of its proximity to Baxter Creek, which provided the power he needed to run his mills and distillery. More mills would follow, including the Adam Scott Mill, also known as the Cedar Valley Mill, located on Baxter Creek to the east of present-day Millbrook. In fact, by the 1890’s there were at least twenty mills in the township, many of them on Baxter Creek. The town’s growth was tied to these mills and the products they produced including grain, feed and lumber. For example, prior to the establishment of the grain mills, local farmers walked blazed trails carrying grain on their backs to Port Hope and then walked the milled product back home. Local sawmills allowed houses and barns to be built from lumber instead of logs. While the mills are no longer in operation and have largely disappeared, the creek they used remains for us to enjoy.
Baxter Creek is a cold-water creek that originates in the Oak Ridges Moraine. Cold-water creeks are excellent habitat for Brook Trout and Brown Trout. The creek has been stocked with both species from time-to-time, first by one of Millbrook’s first teachers, Mr. Patrick Geegan, who is said to have arranged to have Brook Trout spawn bought in from his hometown of Rochester, New York. Indeed, both Brook and Brown Trout exist in the creek to this day, although not at the numbers or size believed to have existed in the past. MNRF continues to stock thousands of Brook Trout annually into the trout ponds connected to Baxter Creek. The Millbrook chapter of Trout Unlimited is working to improve awareness of the creek and its potential to be a renowned trout stream once again.
If you are looking for a place to be outside and socially distant at the same time, consider spending time appreciating Baxter Creek, and reflecting on the role this peaceful, powerful, stream played in creating our town. The Millbrook Valley Trails run from south of the 4th (Zion) Line through Millbrook. There is a 5-kilometer loop that takes you past the site of the Deyell’s Mill (when the original mill burned in 1857, Deyell sold the location to the Needler family, hence the Neddler’s Mill name you see today near the newly-reconstructed dam). The trail goes through deciduous and conifer forests, and generally follows Baxter’s Creek into Millbrook. Do not forget to bring your fishing license and your rod! Perhaps you will catch a descendant of Mr. Geegan’s fish!
If you would like more information, or have ideas about how we can support Baxter Creek, please contact Trout Unlimited Millbrook at troutunlimitedmillbrook@gmail.com.
By Karin Torgerson, Trout Unlimited, Millbrook
