The Milgrove Walk
The Village of Millgrove lies just west of Highway #6 North, along the Fifth Concession Road at the junction with the Millgrove Side Road. It was founded by David Cummings (1806-1887), one of the three sons of an early Upper Canada pioneer, Daniel Cummings. He and his wife Margaret Rymal arrived in 1826 and began to clear the land, and with other early pioneers such as Albert Palmer, Adam Begg, and the Carey and Ryckman families established a small settlement. It was not until 1835 that David Cummings legally owned the property, Lot 18, Concession 5 which cost him ,66 5s. Rich soil, fish-filled streams and woodlands filled with oaks and pines provided an ideal home for these settlers. Several mills were established along the Grindstone Creek which meanders its way through the village – hence the name “Mill Grove.”
Many of the old buildings dating back to pioneer days still remain in Millgrove. Careful restoration and additions to several old buildings may be seen, along with several excellent gardens filled with varieties of old Canadian perennials.
To view the entire page of the Walk information, please go to http://flamboroughhistory.com/the-milgrove-walk-short-walk-50-minutes-walking-tours/
5. The Flatt Home, 335 5th Concession Road West
This well-preserved frame house was built by Samuel Flatt (1839-1912) the local tax collector in the district. His grandson, Stanley C. Burnes, a sports enthusiast, who participated in many Millgrove activities, also spent his childhood growing up in this home. Behind stands a unique frame barn and stable built c. 1864. The peak slope and small doorway at the top that was used for hay is unusual, and is probably taken from the New England style of saltbox construction, and adapted in Millgrove.
Samuel Flatt and his wife Lavina Bradt Flatt were my father E. Fraser Rempel's maternal Great-Grandparents, the parents of his grandfather Charles Edmond Flatt. Samuel was deeded the land that he farmed (and probably the land where he lived in Millgrove?) by a single uncle when he passed. This is likely the home that my Great-grandfather, Dr. C.E. Flatt, grew up in before he left for Toronto to attend Medical School.
I didn't know before that Samuel Flatt was the "local tax collector" for Millgrove. In a Biblical sense that would probably mean that like Zachias, he was not much loved by the people from whom he collected taxes.
Samuel's mother, Mary Baker Flatt, was a United Empire Loyalist who came to the area from Pennsylvania as a baby, in the early 1800s. His father, Robert Flatt was a Hudson Bay trader from the Orkneys. Samuel was one of many children (13).
Lavina Bradt was from a United Empire Loyalist family as well.
10. The Old Parsonage, 353 5th Concession Road West
This historic frame house was constructed during the early 1850s as a parsonage for the Tabor Chapel of the New Connexion Methodist Church. The property to the left of this home was purchased in 1850 by the church from Albert Palmer for ,10, and used as the site for the Tabor Chapel. The first settlers travelled to Rock Chapel for Sunday services. Tradition has it that the children walked barefoot through the 4th, 3rd and 2nd Concessions with their Sunday boots slung over their shoulders until the Chapel came into view.
A Meeting House was erected in 1848 and by the 1860s boasted over 50 members. Among the Class Leaders was Shipman Cummins, the local J.P. He is remembered as a “stern, puritannical and fiery pillar of the Methodist Church.” With his long, flowing beard, he appeared to the young of the time to have stepped from the pages of the Old Testament. The building was moved to another location and shortly after all services were held at the new brick Methodist Church built in 1882 (the present day United Church.) The parsonage was extensively improved in the 1940s, with added dormers to make a second storey, and a stucco coat applied over the original clapboard.
11. The Old General Store, 358 5th Concession Road West
This corner lot was not only the site of the Old General Store but also the location of several businesses and mills. Before it was used as a corner store it was purchased by David Cummins from Solomon Washburn in 1842 and operated as a small woodworking shop. It was later replaced by a blacksmith shop which operated until the lot was sold in the 1870s and a frame building erected to be used as the general store. On the neighbouring lot James E. Foster ran a small grocery store and post office c. 1880. The bustling corner store was also a social centre and meeting place for the men of the village. Memories of many evenings spent sitting around the large stove exchanging anecdotes and discussing community gossip filled the walls of the old general store for hours.
Map of the walking tour: #5 is the Flatt home
Produced by:
The Waterdown-East Flamborough Heritage Society
Research and design by Lori Dodman
Photographs by Maurice Green
Layout by Robert Wray
Research and design by Lori Dodman
Photographs by Maurice Green
Layout by Robert Wray
