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
CRA no longer requiring 'bare trust' reporting in 2023 tax return
The Canada Revenue Agency announced Thursday it will not require 'bare trust' reporting from Canadians that it introduced for the 2024 tax season, just four days before the April 2 deadline.
He didn't trust police but sought their help anyway. Two days later, he was dead
Jameek Lowery was among more than 330 Black people who died after police stopped them with tactics that aren’t supposed to be deadly, like physical restraint and use of stun guns, The Associated Press found.
Fluid in eye cells can 'boil' if you watch the eclipse without protection: expert
Millions of people in parts of Eastern and Atlantic Canada will be able to see the rare solar eclipse happening on April 8. But they should only look up if they have proper eye protection, experts say.
NEW More unauthorized products for skin, sexual enhancement, recalled: Here are the recalls of this week
Health Canada and the Canadian Food Inspection Agency recalled various items this week, including torches, beef biltong and unauthorized products related to skin care and sexual enhancement.
Where is the worst place for allergy sufferers in Canada?
The spring allergy season has started early in many parts of Canada, with high levels of pollen in some cities already. Experts weigh in on which areas have it worse so far this season.
Do these exercises for core strength if you can't stomach doing planks
Planks are one of the most effective exercises for strengthening your midsection, as they target all of your major core muscles: the transverse abdominis, rectus abdominis, external obliques and internal obliques. Yet despite the popularity of various 10-minute plank challenges, planking is actually one of the most dreaded core exercises, according to many fitness experts.
Grandparent scam: London, Ont., senior beats fraudsters not once, but twice
It was a typical Tuesday for Mabel Beharrell, 84, until she got the call that would turn her world upside down. Her teenaged grandson was in trouble and needed her help.
Angst and calls for resting places as Surrey, B.C., pet cemetery development continues
A single headstone is all that remains of dozens of markers for long-buried pets in a subdivision in Surrey’s Newton neighbourhood, where a half-acre parcel bears a large sign announcing the proposed construction of new homes.
Polar ice is melting and changing Earth's rotation. It's messing with time itself
One day in the next couple of years, everyone in the world will lose a second of their time. Exactly when that will happen is being influenced by humans, according to a new study, as melting polar ice alters the Earth’s rotation and changes time itself.