Falls and History

Inglis Falls is rich in history – starting in 1843 when Peter Inglis immigrated to Canada and settled in this area. In 1845, Inglis purchased a small existing grist mill built two years previously by a Mr. Boyd, and 300 acres of deeded Crown land. It was in 1862 that Inglis replaced the old gristmill with a new four-storey mill that produced flour, bran, and shorts (feed for animals).

Other ventures of Inglis’ included building a sawmill a quarter of a mile downstream of the falls. Peter Inglis also built a woolen mill on the east side of the river on the brink of the falls. Here were manufactured tweeds, flannels, and “rainbow” blankets, so called because of the three coloured stripes at each end. The woollen mill was destroyed by fire around 1885 and rebuilt only to burn down again in 1901.

Management of the mill was passed on to Inglis’ oldest son, William A., in 1886. William’s son, Victor, managed the mill until 1932. Eighty-seven years of steady operation under the Inglis family name is an amazing record which very few industries in this area of the province can surpass or equal.

In 1932, the property was obtained by the City of Owen Sound for water rights. The mill was idle for two years, until purchased by Emil Henkel. He ran the mill until 1945 when a fire completely destroyed it. Today all that remains of that earlier industrial scene are the family home, a stone building, the silent millstones, and the enduring beauty of Inglis Falls.Read more