| CAMBRIDGE MILL -- Preston, Waterloo Co., Ontario - about 1880 | |||
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In this early photo, workers in the second story window seem to be ready to upload material to be milled from the horse-drawn wagons below.
JOHN ERB (1764-1832), the founder of Preston, built a water-powered grist mill on the banks of the Speed River in 1807 shortly after emigrating from Lancaster County, PA. to what is now Waterloo County, Ontario with several other Erb families. Named the Cambridge Mill, it did custom milling and chopping for local farmers. (This area is now part of the city of Cambridge, which was named after the mill.) JOSEPH ERB (1800-1885) took over the business in 1832 after the death of his father. He rebuilt and enlarged the mill in 1834 and operated a successful business until his retirement in 1867. Later his sons, Abram, Cyrus, Jacob and Joseph Jr. expanded operations, building a large dam in 1864 for more constant water power to turn the five mill stones, which were themselves replaced in 1878. The mill is still in operation today, but no longer under Erb ownership. |
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Go here [an off-site link] to read about the Cambridge Mill's current operations as the Dover Flour Mills. Go here [an off-site link] to read more about John Erb and the early days of Preston Go here for the family tree of John Erb. Go here for the family tree of Joseph Erb. |
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jhlarkins@msn.com (John Larkins)