End of an era: Two-century-old Ontario flour mill hits the market for $4.5M
The 202-year-old Arva Flour Mill just north of London, Ont., which has been in the same family for over a century, is up for sale.
The Matthews family has decided to consider offers, even though there are countless memories on the property
For Mike Matthews it’s all he’s ever known.
“We’ve had a lot of good times, but a lot of hardship and tragedy on the property here. I’ve got a young three-year-old daughter now, and it’s just time for a fresh start.”
Matthews has been operating the mill since 1999. He’s the fourth generation in his family to do that -- dating back to 1917 -- but he knows there isn’t a fifth generation ready to take over.
“It’s an awful decision to make, but we waited too long to have kids so I don’t have anyone to pass it down to. There comes a time when you just have to bite the bullet and decide to move on.”
The price for the oldest continuously-operated water-powered flour mill? Just under $4.5 million.
“Inside and out it’s a spectacular example of 200-year-old industrial architecture. It’s a true gem,” says Kelly McKeating, the president of the London branch of the Architectural Conservancy of Ontario
“What’s really neat is, it’s not a museum piece, it’s not something that you pay admission, and go and one day a month you might be lucky enough to see the machines turned on and the flour actually ground. They’re running a business.”
Matthews says they’ve kept it off the market in the hopes of making a private sale with someone who shares the same vision as his family.
“Find the right person to come in here, that won’t, that aren’t going to turn it into a parking lot, that aren’t going to put a highrise up. We don’t want to see any of that, just like no one else does.”
There’s already been interest, but Mattews says he’s not in a rush to sell, hoping someone with vision comes along -- and best-case scenario, someone who wants to keep the mill running for another century.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
'It could be catastrophic': Woman says natural supplement contained hidden painkiller drug
A Manitoba woman thought she found a miracle natural supplement, but said a hidden ingredient wreaked havoc on her health.
After hearing thousands of last words, this hospital chaplain has advice for the living
Hospital chaplain J.S. Park opens up about death, grief and hearing thousands of last words, and shares his advice for the living.
WHO likely to issue wider alert on contaminated cough syrup
The World Health Organization is likely to issue a wider warning about contaminated Johnson and Johnson-made children's cough syrup found in Nigeria last week, it said in an email.
WATCH Video shows dramatic police takedown of carjacking suspects chased through parking lot north of Toronto
Police have released video footage of a dramatic takedown of a group of teens wanted in connection with an attempted carjacking in Markham earlier this month.
Canada, G7 urge 'all parties' to de-escalate in growing Mideast conflict
Canada called for 'all parties' to de-escalate rising tensions in the Mideast following an apparent Israeli drone attack against Iran overnight.
'It was all my savings': Ontario woman loses $15K to fake Walmart job scam
A woman who recently moved to Canada from India was searching for a job when she got caught in an online job scam and lost $15,000.
Families to receive Canada Child Benefit payment on Friday
More money will land in the pockets of some Canadian families on Friday for the latest Canada Child Benefit installment.
After COVID, WHO defines disease spread 'through air'
The World Health Organization and around 500 experts have agreed for the first time on what it means for a disease to spread through the air, in a bid to avoid the confusion early in the COVID-19 pandemic that some scientists have said cost lives.
American millionaire Jonathan Lehrer denied bail after being charged with killing Canadian couple
American millionaire Jonathan Lehrer, one of two men charged in the killings of a Canadian couple in Dominica, has been denied bail.