Hope Mill Conservation Area in Keene, Ontario

Hope Mill, nestled along the Indian River just north of Lang, Ontario, is a rare heritage site where history comes alive. When the water-powered turbines fire up and the 55-inch circular saw bites into a log, visitors can feel the floor vibrate beneath them as 65 horsepower of 19th-century engineering performs exactly as it did nearly two centuries ago. Built in 1835 by William and Jane Lang, the mill originally carded and fulled wool, saving settlers from the labor of preparing sheep fleece. After a fire destroyed the local sawmill in 1873, William and his son-in-law Richard Hope added saw equipment and shifted to lumber, which continued until 1966. Starting in 2000, the Friends of Hope Mill spent years restoring the machinery, reviving turbines, belts, gears, and saws that hadn’t run for decades. Today, the mill’s 1910 three-sided planer and eight-foot lathe operate again, powered by the original water turbines and wooden gear system. Visitors can watch guided demonstrations, tour museum rooms with 19th-century woodworking tools, see the Wool Room, and explore a recreated 1830s bedroom. During live saw floor demonstrations, the full power of the mill is on display. Lumber cut on-site can be purchased, and woodworking courses are offered.