Darnley Mill- Crooks Hollow

Darnley Mill- Crooks Hollow

A collection of old mills and other buildings in the general area of Christi lake and the town of Dundas in the City of Hamilton, specifically along Crooks Hollow road. Remains of a couple of mills (Darnley's Paper Mill) as well as remains of old dams and housing foundations at the ghost town of Crook's Hollow.

Grist mills, built in 1811, were one of the earlier mills and business ventures of its time, it was a collection of mills, including a sawmill, a cooperage, a general store, a blacksmith shop, a linseed oil mill, a carding mill, and a distillery.

 In 1826 the grist mill was converted and became Upper Canada's first paper mill. due to a decrease inefficient use of hydropower, it was sold to Thomas Helliwell and it was sold to various people throughout history, included a sawmill, a cooperage, a general store, a blacksmith shop, a linseed oil mill, a carding mill, and a distillery.

Unfortunate events at the mill.

After 1878, James Stutt took over the business, later in 1885, an explosion took place in the mill, the roof was damaged due to the accident, however, that wasn’t the worst thing that happened that day, the explosion killed James Stutt’s children in this accident. 

Final days before the fire

The mills were a great community pillar, providing livelihood to several houses, and leading development of the whole area, however in 1943, a fire engulfed the building and caused it tremendous damages, thus causing huge repair costs, and leaving owners with no choice but to abandon it.

Once, a very prominent landmark, and a community pillar, not only abandoned by owners but also the community near it, as time passed, people moved to different places for new opportunities. 

Lost wife of Darnley mills ghost

Numerous ghost stories around the area of the mill and it has been reported that a man has been seen wandering the path to the mill from the new dam in search of his wife.