History of the Mill
1844
The Dickson Mill in Cambridge, Ontario is a limestone gristmill built in 1842, replacing an earlier wooden structure lost to fire. Powered by a dam built by Galt founder William Dickson, the site once operated as a flour mill, sawmill, and wool factory.
1974
On May 17, 1974, the Grand River rose 18 feet above normal, flooding parts of the community with water levels reaching up to six feet on some streets. In the aftermath, residents came together to support one another as the region faced an estimated $34 million in damages.
2008
The mill was restored in 2008 by the Ciancone family and transformed into Cambridge Mill, a riverside restaurant and event venue. Made from locally quarried stone, the building is marked by heart-shaped fossils from ancient mollusks.
1844 - William Dickson
1974 - Grand River Flood
Original Grindstone
2008 - Mill Reconstruction
The Story of Cambridge Mill
Dickson Mill, one of the oldest surviving industrial buildings in Cambridge, tells the story of the city’s manufacturing history and progress.
The Mill is built of beautiful, locally quarried rock, special for its abundance of heart-shaped fossils, left behind by ancient mollusks. The original wooden building was constructed in 1842 by Robert Dickson, the eldest son of Galt’s founder, William Dickson. Requiring power for his mills, William erected a dam that created more energy than any other waterpower plant in Waterloo County. The dam provided enough power for a flour mill, sawmill and a wool factory. Sadly, soon after the wooden buildings were constructed, they were destroyed by fire, and in 1844, these buildings were replaced by the existing building, a limestone gristmill.
Following a major flood in 1974, many riverside buildings were demolished and replaced by flood walls and berms. Thankfully, Dickson Mill survived the flood and remains an impressive reminder of what was once an unbroken row of stone mills and factories lining the Grand River. Presently, Dickson Mill is a well-known architectural landmark. The Ciancone family, owners of the Ancaster Mill in Ancaster, Ontario, purchased the Dickson Mill in 2008 and immediately began the extensive building and restoration process. In 2011, the mill was given new life as Cambridge Mill.++