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  History of Rockwood

Three sons of pioneer John Harris – John Richard, Thomas and Joseph – and their brother-in-law Thomas Wetherald started the Rockwood Woolen Mills in 1867. The firm advertised blankets, tweeds, knitted underwear, flannelettes, bleached cottons, yarns, shirtings, and sheetings. Over the decades the mill was powered by water (the Eramosa River), steam and hydro. Small frame houses on Valley Road were originally constructed for workers, and immortalized in a painting by A.J. Casson of the Group of Seven entitled Mill Cottages. In its heyday the plant employed over 75 people, but it shut the doors in the depression year of 1933.

 

Cutting ice on Richardson's Creek,
with Richardson's sawmill in
background, circa 1925

 

William and Edgar Harris decided to use the mill’s surrounding landscape for Hi-Pot-Lo Park. Numerous people visited the area for its quaint and rugged scenery, including author L.M. Montgomery. The GRCA purchased the property about 1961, but the mill was lost to fire a few years later and was semi-restored to its remaining ruins.

Lime kiln on Valley Road, Rockwood, circa 1920

 

The only Rockwood business to survive the ups and downs of depressions, recessions, wars, and growth has been Saunders Bakery, started by Simon Grieves. George “Pete” Saunders bought the bakery from the Grieves in 1914 and renamed it, which has continued to date even through new owners. Canadian author Pierre Berton once wrote about Saunders’ donuts, and consequently the shop had to dramatically increase their production due to their popularity.

Today Rockwood is spreading rapidly through subdivision growth, although tries to retain its quaint, small town atmosphere with parks, unique events such as Pioneer Day and the Farmers’ Parade of Lights, and heritage buildings.