History
The settlement was founded as a lumber mill in 1847 by Thomas Easterbrook. The mill was purchased in 1877 by Henry Cargill. At that time, the property contained five buildings, a pond, and the mill. The property was later sold to Peter Sayers, namesake of the settlement, who operated the mill and built a family home there. In 1895, Sayers installed steam power at the mill. [3]
The mill was the largest in Nassagaweya Township, with two saws capable of turning out 25,000 to 30,000 board feet per day. [4] During its busy season, the mill employed between 10 and 12 workers, who lived in a bunkhouse on site. The milled lumber was taken to Guelph by horse-drawn wagons and sleighs until 1890, when a railway was built through nearby Moffat. The wood was purchased by manufacturer Massey-Harris, and was used on farm machinery. The mill also produced shingles. [3]
In 1902, the mill burned down, and was rebuilt the following year. [3]
The mill closed in 1922, and a dam located there broke during the 1940s. [3]
The Sayers Mill property is recognized as a "significant heritage resource" by the Town of Milton. [5]
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