535-03 Page 29Neilson's Milk Plant, Beaehville, Ont.
THE SENTINEL -REVIEW, THURSDAY, JUNE 30, 1
sow
Built in 1891 by Jas. Ireland and later acquired by Wm. Neilson, this plant is now
equipped to handle 200,000 pounds of milk daily. Ij„N.+N w& ,
M
4
lbo
By H. G. WEBSTER
been with the Company for a number
of years has recently been appointed
The Beaehville Plant is another one
manager.
of our dairy enterprises with consider-
Over the years from 200 to 250 pro -
able historical background. In 1891
ducers have been shippers to the plant.
the original plant was built on the
This plant is situated in one of the
North side of the river by Jas: Ireland.
most productive dairy areas in Ontario.
The plant was established primarily as
The producers at this plant deliver
a cheese factory but also manufactured
over 100,000 pounds of milk per farm
butter and casein. Not a great deal is
per year. The plant is equipt to handle
known concerning the early years of
200,000 pounds of milk per day and
the business. One point of note is
when extra milk is required it is
that Jas. Ireland made the Mammoth
purchased from cheese factories in
cheese at the. West Oxford cheese chhe se
'n"µ'''^"'7�." ({°"",.° 6y
the area. North Oxford cheese factory
factory. !"" , w.lv-law.C,
has served as a receiving station for
On November 21, 1911, Wm. eflson
Beaehville since 1938.
Co. purchased the business which they
The Beaehville plant never operated
operated from Jan. 1st, 1912. Mr. A. C.
on Sunday until shortly before Mr.
Hunsley was manager from 1912 until
Neilson's death in 1947. It was Mr.
1939. In 1914 a new plant was built
Neilson's firm belief that Sunday
on the South side of the river and
should as far as possible be a day of
modern equipment installed for the
rest with an opportunity to go to your
manufacture of spray skim powder and
own church for worship. The plant
cream for Neilson's Toronto business
remained open Saturday evening to
of ice cream and chocolates. In 1917
process Saturday night's milk while
equipment was completed for the
all milk for Sunday was brought in
manufacture of condensed milk. In
Monday morning. This plan was satis-
1918 and 1919 considerable expansion
factory for many years but increased
to the business was made with two new
volume and changed markets even -
boilers, a second condensing unit and
tually saw the starting of Sunday
two new rooms being added.
operations during the summer months.
Following world war two, in keeping
The plant has never at any time
with the general progress of Ontario's
ceased operating but from Nov. 1920
milk manufacturing industry the plant
until Feb. 1921 when many other
was modernized. New water tube
operations were foundering the plant
boilers with oil have been installed
found it necessary to return all skim -
along with new modern spray drying
med milk to the farms. For a number
equipment.
of years the plant operated a creamery
Following the death of Morden Neil-
department and sold butter.
son in 1947 the Goo. Weston Company
purchased the Wm. Neilson Company.
In 1951 an ice cream distributing centre
was established at Beaehville. Mr.
Alfred Hillary was appointed manager
in 1939 (following the death of Mr.
Hunsley) and continued on with his
entire staff when the plant changed
hands in 1948 Mr. Hillary died Feb.
20, 11953. Mr. Wm. Moggach, who has
`li.etk�, °*' e,u..+.et.F � � ��� � t�XvyrrZed�•'
tU �Jeraei� (itt'ww�FhY awL•
OPENING SERVICES HELD AT NEW CHURCH
Shown in above picture is a [ lowing a special service in the complimented on its achieve-
_, cup of persons leaving the IEnglish language last night. ment of building a handsome
I
Christian Reformed Church, fol The congregation was highly new edifice. (Staff Photo)
Special Services Held
At New Church Opening
.The s p e c f a 1 services, whichlmade the church possible was a In which they had acquitted them -
narked the opening and dedication distinct achievement of the work -[selves in the erection of the new
Caesday night of the Christian ers of the congregaton and inledifice.
Reformed Church, Hamilton Road, every respect a tribute to their A deep spirituel fervor marked
n the Dutch language were con-'Ifaith and their sincerity. Ithe service which was highly in.
:inued Wednesday night. The The congregation had reason to teresting to all present. At the
service in the English language [ rejoice as they did and their l close of the service a social hour
was of a very impressive nature l happiness was intensified by greet -.was spent in the basement.
and there was a large con- ings and commendation from other) The Tuesday night's service, was
gregation, including members of churches and -organizations. also well attended and was in
other denominations. The service was opened with charge of the student minister, A.
The new edifice for the worship congregational singing of a hymn,I Rumph, and the guest speaker wag
of Dutch families of the district is ,followed by prayer and welcome,Rev. H. Numan, of Wyoming
one of which they have every by Rev, J. Vandekieft, and istfan Reformed Church.
reason to be proud: They have a. story of small beginning" by
nice site, commanding an excellent i Faber. Selections by the choir
view of the countryside and their, were under the direction of C.. Our oldest residents remem-
interest and zeal in the establish •'I Veltman. ber when the flax mill burned,
ment of the new church is reflected Guest speaker for the occasion) about 1885. It straddled the
in many respects. - was Rev. - W. D. Buursman, 'af creek, and water from a small
Cooperation g the part of t Strathro whose message wash pool, formed by a dam, was
hers of the congregation in all the both' inspiring and complimentary ll pumped up to fill the boilers.
essential details of the bulldin9to the congregation for the manner Sawdust was used for fuel, and
from the time it was planned un .11 it was completed was a striking some of it sifted down through
factor with the workers placing no I';.;. the cracks and. covered the pool.
value at all upon the time that was 'r "' Small boys loved to fish through
an willingly given. '` the sawdust. They said it made
Both the exterior and interior of • the fish taste better.
the church have architectural lines Barn Is, Link Each year Mr. Brown rented
that are appealing, with much o4 fields from the local farmers,
the beautiful and in the interior • and planted flax. At the proper
a suggestion of comfort that can• With Oxford time, the village young people
oked. not be overlowere hired to pull flax by hand
tine work that Flax Indust
(,,u'0 SAC"a W By Marjorie E. CroPp
�.hA*ni C.u� t Ia.u.A. fwa
e6 "V f a p L-, 3 A barn on the farm of J.
14
6e,sl� " P Little, south-west quarter of r
4A1 , E , k — l $ S b' �D'"` .(.,t,,,eh C u^� `','`A," Lot 4, Concession 1, of West Zor
�tr- .,,t.,/ S-�, ,IJ.,,` /Os N, y w Grr�cle �:d� ,f/•k-or i
I Sc.%n ��✓+. f'i.w^'. /"1'- r17'ea,te l t S�m�rvws �""" l�ltwl'w {��"'9�'�^ii'""(•"u ra, is a link with the hey -day
'(,ry,tw�.fA {,a,ee+E ,cam �,e ,y'��� of Beaehville's industrial pros- `
_ _7 w / -cu- -, partly.
d�A�~/�Zev,n���J+� ^q �,u,*-71 '�(q( �'�,,y (�,,,i Ca.�-2, a.✓ ""a""1i�� In the 1870's a man known
t l- locally as "Flax Brown', awned
/zt..4w
a flax mill, which stood on the
S ✓ ti T. we /� a .0 <"-.- 7 au- ✓ i o t creek, just south of Highway
hV, ,fie.-E�o E+' , �9i"' a,�`-- ,�,,,,,-r;f i1_ No. 2, and a rope walk, located
behind the present John Nadal -
us✓ �w ✓ y -eiLG - _ 0 f�✓Jv,`� �j�., /'�•,� in home. The barn was once
da. ew Aw u+ 61.1
part of this latter building, and
<� L✓a.6-l...:� s�f. MY.`.w�,,,�� the beams still bear the marks
�-�p� of the machinery.
i'li��. /',L..ca-%✓xufi, la. y.Li',[:.c+C.,. a .5:.... �=,a, _ (� -. Z.. «e..�, w,+.t. .<w+-�..Zi-+X•
at five dollars an acre, and
bind it into small sheaves.
These would be brought into
the mill, and the seeds switched
out. The straw was then taken
to the field and spread by the
boys and girls.
s At intervals, the straw had
to be turned. The young men
lined up at the edge of the
field with fish poles, about 20
men to a 20 acre field and
raced to see who could finish
his swath first.
When the straw was rotted,
it was once more brought to
the mill, and the outside re-
moved, leaving the hemp, which
was taken down to the rope
walk and made into twine and
rope. Here, a considerable
number of people were am -
played. Its location was oblit-
erated when the river bed was
moved.