Published in Caledon Living, Autumn 2006
     The sign at the edge of Alton village reads “settled 1834” but carved onto the wall of The Alton Mill is the year 1818, so at least some villagers were there then. The attraction was Shaw’s Creek, with a mile of rapids descending roughly 108 feet, enough to provide power for a variety of industrial mills. In Alton, as many as eight dams were built to control the flow of water, and several mills were built, including a saw mill, grist mill, woollen mill and flour mill.
     John S. Meek has been credited with naming the village Alton when it was incorporated about 1850. He was appointed postmaster in 1855. His son Thomas managed a flour mill, and later, a descendant named Robert Meek became a merchant and grist mill owner. Son J. L. Meek managed it competently for years.
     A report on the history of Alton in The Orangeville Banner of Feb. 8, 1968, provides some details of later times. In 1885 John Dods bought the Beaver Knitting Mill that had been established by William Algie in 1881, and made Beaver underwear famous across Canada.
Flood
     In 1889, the McClellan dam burst, releasing seven acres of water in a 16-foot-high wall that pounded downstream, destroying the weir at the Alton Mill and adding five more acres of water to the flood. Next, at Algie’s Mill, a three-ton boulder and an iron kettle weighing 1½ tons were swept away. The Dominion Foundry was then damaged, and the dam at Meek’s flour mill. The 3^rd Line bridge is also said to have been destroyed by the torrent.
     The flood ripped apart three frame houses, taking with it, local residents Mr. and Mrs. Harris, who were drowned. Mrs. Harris was said to be found with a waist pouch containing $50, which she apparently and perhaps prophetically wore to pay for her burial should she unexpectedly die.
Fire
     The wooden mills and structures were rebuilt, but only a few years later, it was fire that began devastating the village. In 1891 the West End Roller Mill burnt down, although a new and better-equipped facility was built.
     Fires destroyed two mills in 1895. The McKinnon Mill burnt to the extent that it was never rebuilt. On a rainy night in October, the McCutcheon Mill caught fire, likely from grindstones that had overheated and caused the surrounding woodwork to burn.
     Local residents rushed to save the flour and grain, but the immense flames were said to be visible in Streetsville, and the structure could not be saved. The loss was estimated at $4,000.
     Fire also completely destroyed Alex Dick’s Foundry in 1901. Thought to be caused by an overheated stove in the woodworking department, the fire did damage estimated at $8,000. The business had been one of the largest in the area dealing in threshing and farm machinery, but it had not been insured. Its many workers never returned for employment as it was never rebuilt.
     The mill that had housed the Beaver Knitting business was ruined by fire in 1908, which left the building with only two storeys, still standing today.
     Yet Alton thrived as an economic centre for many years. Main St. had a grocery and butcher shop, a furniture shop and harness shop. Bogg and Rowcliffe formed the Carriage and Wagon Manufacturing Co. to produce fine carriages and wagons, becoming one of the oldest industries in Alton. A.C. Francis, butter maker at the Village Creamery, made daily shipments of 1,400 lbs. of butter. In 1904, 10,000 lbs. of butter were delivered to a customer in Owen Sound.
     1904 was the year of village improvements. Five-foot cement sidewalks were formed on Main and Queen Streets. Bell Telephone installed a phone service with the exchange located in Switzer’s store. At an unknown date, J. M. Deagle erected poles on Queen St., and the coal oil lamp system was exchanged for electricity.
     In 1935, F.N. Stubbs bought The Beaver Knitting Mill and established the Western Rubber Co. In addition to producing balloons, they manufactured condoms, finding a wide market in the military, which equipped its soldiers with a plentiful supply. The longest-running water-driven mill on the upper Credit River, the company ceased operations in 1982, before the AIDS crisis began to renew demand for the product.
     Today the rubber factory is known as The Alton Mill, and houses studio and gallery space for artists.
     There has been a bakery on Queen St. since 1937, when Vern Woods’ parents began what is now known as Ray’s Bakery. This year, Ray’s is celebrating their 40^th anniversary.

By Gloria Hildebrandt