Printer-friendly version
--January 13, 2010
On January 11, 2010, a new stamp was issued by Canada Post as part of its “Flag over Historic Mills” series. The stamp, a permanent stamp with no fixed denomination, features a view of the historic Cornell Mill in Stanbridge East. Originally a grist mill, the Cornell Mill was built of brick and fieldstone by Zebulon Cornell in 1830 and is the oldest surviving mill in the Eastern Townships.
The Cornell Mill operated until 1963, but was acquired by the Missisquoi Historical Society the following year. The historical society wished to preserve the building, which was by then cracked and decaying, for posterity. The mill was soon transformed into the Missiquoi Museum, which today features exhibitions on the region’s Loyalist heritage and other aspects of regional history.
The new stamp is one in a series of five in the “Historic Mills” series. The other mills featured are the Keremeos Grist Mill, built in Keremeos, BC, in 1877; the Old Stone Mill in Delta, Ontario, built in 1810; the Riordan Grist Mill, built circa 1890 in Caraquet, NB; and Watson’s Mill, built in Manotick, Ontario, in 1860. All of these mills are considered exceptional heritage sites.
Heather Darch, curator of the Missisquoi Museum, told Townships Heritage in an interview following the unveiling of the new stamp that the process had taken about a year from the time the historical society was contacted by Canada Post until the day the stamp was released. She said that everyone in the community was very enthusiastic about the mill being on a stamp.
Darch explained that mills represent an important historical legacy for the Eastern Townships and Canada in general. “So many of our little villages began with a mill,” she said. “This really means a lot to this community – and everyone is so proud.”
The unveiling of the new stamp took place at the little post office in Stanbridge East. Darch said that the lobby of the building was “absolutely crammed” with about 50 or 60 people. “We're thrilled,” she added.
