Mill Hours and Price List

There is no charge to visit the site. All donations are gratefully received and go to the preservation of the site, all buildings and displays. Donations of old tools, steel for the Blacksmith's shop, Canadian Tire money or money of any kind are appreciated.

HOURS

The Mill is officially open May 1 until Thanksgiving weekend. Depending on the weather you will probably find us there before and after these dates so please feel free to come and visit.
Most Tuesdays and Thursday 9:00 a.m. to 2:00 or 3:00 p.m the mill only is open for self directed tours. If a Friend is available they will be glad to give you a tour but these two days are work days for us.
Most Saturdays, Sundays and holiday Mondays, between 9 a.m. and 3:00 p.m. the mill is open and most of these afternoons the house will have a docent for tours from 1 to 3. Some times you may see the blacksmiths working in the blacksmith shop

School tours are available from September to November and April to June each year at no charge. Tuesday and Thursday from 9 till 3. An hours per group of 10 to 15 is the minimum to cover everything properly.

APRIL 10 and 11th, 2010 Spring Grind Open House Weekend . . This year there will be a special Open House to replenish our stock of whole wheat flour for sale to the public. The grist mill will run both days at 11:00 The innovative grist mill is powered by one of the very first turbine water wheels. The Blacksmith shop is recreated to circa 1905. There will be demonstrations of the old arts all day both days. The miller's house has now been refurnished and the gardens around the house are being restored in a five year plan to what would have been around an upper middle class home such as this was in the era or 1900 to 1930..

June 12th Saturday and 13th Sunday 2010 - Summer Gardens Open House. -Plan now to attend, this is the photographers delight weekend most of the gardens are just coming to their best. Butterflies are usually around the butterfly bush and of course all the other buildings and scenery is rewarding all year. Open House is from from 9 to 3 each day - The grist mill will run both days at 11:00 Blacksmiths will be demonstrating the old time arts.

August 14th Saturday and 15th Sunday 2010 - Industrial Rural Roots Open House. - Plan now to attend, - Morningstar Mill (Mountain Mills Museum) will celebrate our Industrial Rural Roots. The grist mill will run both days at 11:00 The innovative grist mill is powered by one of the very first turbine water wheels.
We are now featuring a rare set of quern hand, stone grinding system for making flour. These are very rare and were used by the original armies and early settlers to the area. The quern is a very old system used for centuries in the old world.
In the upper display area of the mill you will find a hand operated sheep shearing machine that would have been used by self relaint farmers to harvest wool from the sheep they kept. The wool would then be processed on their spinning wheel which you will see in the upstairs of the house.
The Blacksmith shop is recreated to circa 1905. There will be demonstrations of the old arts all day both days. The Blacksmith shop is now home to a power hammer that is being rebuilt. This hammer was originally in the blacksmith shop of Hayes Steel in St Catharines. We also have a very unusual milling machine that was at onetime used by the REO car company in the building of cars here in St Catharines. This machine is both a horizontal and a vertical milling machine combined in one unit. These functions are normally done by two different machines.
The miller's house has now been refurnished and the gardens around the house have been restored to what would have been around an upper middle class home such as this was in the era or 1900 to 1930. On the back porch you will find a cream separater like one used by Mrs Morningstar who had Jersey cows, made butter and sold the excess to make extra money for the household.

Saturday, October 16 and Sunday, October 17 2010 Doors Open Niagara Open House- Morningstar Mill will once again take part in the Doors open Niagara celebration The grist mill will run both days at 11:00 Blacksmiths will be demonstrating the old arts and our saw mill should be running. The millers house will also be open.

Please come and join us on any of the above days but particularly on the Open House days when we often have the Mill running and the Blacksmith's shop will be in operation. With a little luck we may even have the house open and the saw mill running. This last two facilities are in the process of being readied for your viewing pleasure. We look forward to seeing you.

PRICE LIST

Admission Free. Donations are very much appreciated and below are some suggested donations
Bags of Flour $4.00 per 3 lb bag
Bags of Bran .50 cents per pound
Corn Meal $1.00 per pound
T Shirts $15.00

To book school or group tours of the mill, Blacksmith's shop, saw mill and Morningstar house please phone Gary Konkle 905-384-2530

The Friends Of Morning Star Mill