Grand Old Mill Stones Virtual Virtual Cache
Grand Old Mill Stones Virtual
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Grand Old Mill Stones in Mill Stone Park.
Not a big park but the mill stones represent an early start of the history of the Alberni Valley and paper making in British Columbia.
These four grinding stones, now stacked in the middle of the Park, came from Aberdeen, Scotland to be used in the first paper mill in British Columbia. The mill was actually located a little south of this location on the Somass River that flows past this spot. The B.C. Paper Manufacturing Co started production July 24 1894. Unfortunately the manager's limited knowledge of the equipment and lack of experience to produce wood pulp - they mostly used rags shipped from England - caused the closure of the mill in 1896.
In 1948 Blodell, Stewart & Welch, had the stones made into a monument to commemorate the early history of paper production in the province. They stood for many years on Stamp Avenue in front of their Pulp and Paper Mill - just to the south of where you now stand. They were moved to this current location in 2016 and the City of Port Alberni created this area into the beautiful little park that now showcases these historical grinding stones.
Interesting footnote about paper making -- 'Experts' believe the first paper mill was probably in Africa and the first paper mill in North America was in Mexico, built by the Spanish, in 1575.
TO CLAIM THIS FIND --
There is not much I can ask you about the grinding stones that you could not find on line or with the help of mapping sources.
To prove you have visited the site and actually seen the stones -
1 -- check the stones and tell me which stone has obvious cracks on opposite sides. Some cracks are not as obvious as these. You will know when you see them.
2 -- check the memorial plaques on the benches - Wesley Goke has a wonderful sense of humour. Tell me his dates and what else is stated on his memorial plaque.
3 -- the picnic tables have plaques as well. Check them and tell me how many siblings were in one family
4 -- what is currently painted on the river side of the metal garbage can.
Please post a picture of you or your GPS at the site - but do not provide the answers for any one with your photo.
Send these answers by clicking our name at the top of the page and select SEND EMAIL.
Any cacher who logs a find and does not email the answers will have their logs deleted.
Any cacher who logs a find and posts the answers or a picture with the answers WILL HAVE THEIR LOGS DELETED.
Thank you for visiting the area and seeing this part of BC's paper making history.
Please leave the following text at the bottom of the page, so cache finders understand the Virtual Reward project.
Virtual Reward - 2017/2018 This Virtual Cache is part of a limited release of Virtuals created between August 24, 2017 and August 24, 2018. Only 4,000 cache owners were given the opportunity to hide a Virtual Cache. Learn more about Virtual Rewards on the (visit link)
Additional Hints
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