The Mural
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VOL. 26 NO. 6 WEDNESDAY, JUNE 30, 2021 • 75¢ incl. HST
Honouring National Indigenous Peoples Day See Pages 1 & 18
Focus on
Local Business
See Pages 7-12
Focus on
Canada
See Page 13
Athens celebrates National Indigenous Peoples Day National Indigenous Peoples Day participants, including Elmer St. Pierre, National Chief of the Congress of Aboriginal People, gather around a canoe that Master Birch Bark Canoe Builder, Chuck Commanda helped to craft. The canoe was on its way to be displayed at the Upper Canada District School Board. For full story turn to page 18. Sally Smid Caption/Submitted Photo Some of the dedicated volunteers who worked to help move the Cheese Box Veneer Lathe (L-R) Ken Watson, Moel Benoit, Al Robertson, John Cain and Art Shaw (project lead) on top of the heavy machine. Missing from the photo are Lisa and Barry Martin, Jared Hayes, James Lolley, Gordon French and PJ Livingston who also assisted in the move.
Massive machine moved from Delta Mill Driveshed By Tanya Hammond Under the skillful leadership of Art Shaw, a group of strong-willed volunteers from Delta Mill Society took on the massive task of moving a monstrous machine from the Mill Driveshed recently. The giant Cheese Box Veneer Lathe, weighing approximately 6000 lbs, has taken up space for the past twenty-five years since arriving from the Haskin’s Mill and Cheese Box Factory in
Philipsville. The lathe, reportedly last used in 1965, was how Haskin’s Mill created the veneer needed to manufacture the cheese boxes purchased by local cheese factories for shipping cheese, back in the day. With plans to turn the Driveshed into a “proper” Blacksmith Shop in the future, the Delta Mill Society went looking for a home for the mammoth machine, and a means of transportation too. Fortunately, The
Ingersoll Cheese and Agricultural Museum stepped up to accept the fitting donation and cover the cost of getting it to their location 450 kilometres away. The dedicated group at Delta Mill now faces the even greater challenge of restoration work to bring new life to the Mill Driveshed. Cathy Livingston, President of the Delta Mill Society, says they are thankful for a $20,000 private funding grant to help them get started.
According to Mrs. Livingston, the group’s vision is to add a second forge to a portion of the shed for the purpose of training, and to add a seating and display area. The future Blacksmith Shop will provide a place where “the importance of the blacksmith trade back in the days when the first settlers arrived and the Mill was built” can be shared with visitors and community members alike, says Mrs. Livingston.
Class of 2021 ADHS graduate Nicky Whitehorn appears in front of the school’s decorated graduation backdrop for a special photo. For full story turn to page 19. Sally Smid Photo.