Project to Protect Museum from Winter Ice

While watching the waterwheel turn at scenic Balmoral Grist Mill Museum in Balmoral Mills, Colchester Co., and taking in the glassy mill pond on a bright day, one would never envision the fury of a raging Matheson's Brook during the March thaw.

Every winter, however, the museum faces the threat of flooding, erosion and damage caused by the powerful force exerted by the build-up and break-up of ice in the mill stream.

Work began last week to protect the mill from the punishing effects of ice throughout winter and the spring thaw. The mill and the gift shop will remain open to the public for the duration of the project, although visitor access to the grounds may be rerouted or partly restricted. Interpreters will be stationed to direct visitors and their vehicles to temporary parking areas, and around any construction zones.

"Without this work, we could lose an important part of Nova Scotia's heritage," said Rodney MacDonald, Minister of Tourism and Culture. "Balmoral Grist Mill Museum is a rare, surviving example of a working grist mill from the late 1800s."

In addition, the minister noted the museum contributes significantly to the local economy by attracting thousands of visitors each year, and employing residents of this rural area of northern Nova Scotia.

John Taylor, site manager, said the project includes repairing abutments, enclosing vulnerable areas under the mill, and raising the footbridge out of the way of rushing water and cascading ice. A diversion for spring run-off water in the park to prevent erosion on the side of the gorge will also be created, and an ice-breaking pyramid will be created upstream to help prevent ice from building up and becoming hazardous to the mill.

The Nova Scotia Museum History Section, the Department of Transportation and Public Works and design consultant Acres International of Halifax, designed the project to protect the integrity of this important historic site while offering a practical engineering solution to the annual ice problem. The work will be carried out by J & T Van Zutphen Construction Inc., of Port Hood, Inverness Co.

"Since Balmoral Grist Mill is a museum, many modern engineering solutions to our ice problems cannot be used here," said Mr. Taylor.

Mr. Taylor said that in order to give visitors an authentic experience of a working mill from the late 1800s, the museum site must look much like it did in 1874, when the mill was constructed. At the completion of the project, the mill and grounds will look as they do currently.

Balmoral Grist Mill Museum is part of the Nova Scotia Museum family. People from around the world visit Balmoral Grist Mill each year to see the miller process oats, barley, rye, buckwheat and wheat into flour. The mill is located off Route 311 at Balmoral Mills, near Tatamagouche.

The museum is open from Monday to Saturday, between 9:30 a.m. and 5:30 p.m., and on Sundays from 1 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. Milling demonstrations take place daily, from 10 a.m. to noon, and from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. There is an admission fee.