- History
- Lore and Stories
- Areas of Concern / Special Places
- Ecology
- Arts and Entertainment
- Recreation
- Food and local products
- Events
- Photo Album
History
The main landmark in Baldwin is now, as it always was, the grist mill (a.k.a. the feed mill) on the Black River. The first mill was built in the early 1800s and both it and the next burned down. The current structure, the third mill on the site, was brought from Keswick piece by piece and began operation in 1883.
Lore and Stories
The day at Pringle’s General Store near the bridge began with polishing and filling the oil lamps. When the store opened you could buy everything there … from local apiary honey, to fine china from Germany, to baskets made by aboriginal woman (who had to walk so far that Mrs. Pringle would serve them lunch and a cup of tea). As the Pringles had the only telephone in the area, they would also don a headset to help customers place calls. The easy pace of early Baldwin continues, except when transport trucks speed through. The place remains, quite simply, delightful to live in and visit.
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Areas of Concern / Special Places
The Black River has long been a special place to relax. Residents of all ages still watch birds and pick “Balwinberries” and fiddleheads along the shore. People also fish in the river --- there are mostly carp and catfish now, and some pike. Children, for more than a hundred years, have made Devil’s Elbow, pictures above, their swimming hole.
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Ecology
Most every spring the Black River used to flood and stories of some daring horse and buggy rescues from some of the richest community lore. Hurricane Hazel in 1954 caused the most dramatic flood. The water was nearly three metres over the bank and at some points the river was 100 metres wide. Thirty peolple hefted sand bags to save the dam.
Arts and Entertainment
Long time residents talk about how far they had to walk or ride horseback. Schools were never nearby even though three one-room elementary schools served the community. There was one in Elm Grove (1881), one in Cedarbrae (1890), and another in Egypt in 1900. All were heated by wood fires and had no hydro or running water. A more chore for boys was to draw well water for their classmates.
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Recreation
A number of buildings made from local wood and stone still exist. Field stone and cobblestone were available and inexpensive (farmers cleared the boulders and cobbles that the glaciers had deposited). Rumour has it that there were once more cobblestone buildings in the Baldwin area that anywhere in Ontario except for Paris. To step inside one, visit the giftshop on the east side of Highway 48 in the hamlet. This building got its cobblestone facade after 1919 when Ross O'Brien opened the Baldwin Garage. At that time there were only three automobiles in the are and no paved roads.
Food and local products
The still operational Baldwin General Store has been a hub of the halmet ever since horse and cart travelers began peddling wares to local stores in the 1910s. At least 15 families have been proprietors, and the store has seen many changes from the old days. Folks used to say “If the Baldwin General Store doesn’t have it you don’t need it.” There are many charming stories about this store, but perhaps the one that best illustrates its relationship with the community involves a young boy, nickel in hand, who wanted a 10-cent chocolate bar. Ever ready to please, the proprietor sold him half the bar.
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Events
Four important buildings from the past are now at the Georgina Village Museum (west of Sutton). They are The Free Methodist Church, the 1875 log home from the Smallwood farm, the harness shop from the hamlet of Baldwin and the school from Cedarbrae. Sadly, most other buildings in the once bustling Baldwin are gone including the hotel, Pringle's General Store built in 1887, the Baldwin Christian Church, the post office and the sawmill. Amongst the few that remain are the General Store, what was the Balwin Garage (now a gift shop) and the Grist Mill.
Photo Album
