Balmoral Grist Mill and Sutherland Steam Mill

Nova Scotia-along Hwy #2 Masstown to Five Islands

Balmoral Grist and Sutherland Steam Mills

Balmoral Grist Mill Museum, Balmoral Mills and Sutherland Steam Mill, Denmark

Nova Scotia-along Hwy #2 Masstown to Five Islands

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Balmoral Grist Mill Museum in Balmoral Nova Scotia We had a great week along Hwy #2 in Nova Scotia camping in the Masstown area and traveling daily visiting many beautiful areas along the coastline. However, one day we traveled inland and found Balmoral Grist Mill in a wooded gorge including a kilometer walking trail along the ravine of Balmoral Brook and they told us to also visit Sutherland Steam Mill a few miles down the road. In their day both these sites were busy working mills owned and operated by Nova Scotia entrepreneurs with a vision for the economic future of Nova Scotia. Now that the technology is a thing of the past, they are operated by Nova Scotia Museums and are open for us to learn about our history. Both are working museums with friendly guides who will take you through the mills and provide information about what you are seeing and history of the people who owned them.

this is a barrier along Jacquet river as part of the salmon restorationin NB Balmoral Grist Mill Museum is a 3-storey mill located in Balmoral Mills and first operated by Alexander McKay in 1874. At the time it was a modern grist mill powered by one or two hydraulic turbines using the power of the water to turn millstones which ground the grains the farmers brought to the busy mill into flour. You can visit all 3 floors and see the large wooden gearing, shafts and pulleys, the millstones and bucket elevator which moved the grains into the bins. The turbine was washed away with the dam. The mill ran commercially until 1954 and became part of the Nova Scotia museums in 1966. A quiet peaceful place now with the sound of the creek running, it is an ideal place to have a picnic and think about life in the past.

After visiting this museum, we headed to the next, down the road along Hwy #326 to Denmark, Nova Scotia, Sutherland Steam Mill. After the original mill burned down, this building replaced it in 1894. Another example of entrepreneur spirit begun by Alexander Sutherland who built his mill to use the close railway line to transport his goods. When the mill was to be demolished, with the help of Northumberland Development Association, the mill was acquired by the Province of Nova Scotia becoming a museum in 1975. Unique to this site is the huge steam boiler which ran the mill which was listed as a sash and door factory. It also specialized in the manufacture of carriages, sleighs and sleds along with house construction. There is a lot of history in this museum and things to see.

Give yourself time to visit both of these museums with very informative friendly guides who will tour you around providing lots of information and answering questions

Click an images below to view photos of Balmoral Grist and Sutherland Steam Mills

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  • inside-Sutherland-Steam-Mill-Nova-Scotiainside-Sutherland-Steam-Mill-Nova-Scotia
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  • the-peaceful-millpond-at-Balmoral-Grist-Mill-NSthe-peaceful-millpond-at-Balmoral-Grist-Mill-NS

About Karen

Karen - Traveller & Founder of Explore Atlantic Canada

Karen

Karen loves to travel (in comfort) with her husband Gary and "girls" Chessey and Sadie (canines). Karen loves photography and writing so she will be sharing her experiences with you and fellow travelers and giving you a "glimpse" of what it is like to....

"Explore Atlantic Canada" and "Discover all it has to offer".

Photo Credits: Karen