Then and now: Crafting History, the Legacy of Babcock Mill

Odessa is a short drive from northwest of Kingston, where you find the Babcock Mill, on the edge of Millhaven Creek. The deep is part of the Loyalist history of the counties. The present-day structure was built in 1856, but mills on that site date back to 1803. 

A land grant to Joshua Booth, a Loyalist who arrived in 1784, allowed him to use the power of the river for Booth’s Wollen Mill. Babcock Mill, originally known as Odessa Mill, was built for his grandsons John K. and Philip D. Booth. In 1907, entrepreneur and inventor John Herbert Babcock purchased the sawmill and the stone building. John H. Babcock has big plans for his newly purchased mill, new equipment and electric lights.

The new equipment turns the mill into a basket-making factory. It is the only water-powered factory to make baskets. He receives two patents for his basket-making inventions. The baskets are called “Better Baskets by Babcock” and the mill became known as Babcock Mill. His entrepreneurial spirit has no bounds and in 1922 he came with up a scheme to bring electricity to the town of Odessa. He uses water power from the dam by the mill. In 1930, a stronger concrete dam was built to manage the electricity demand. 

During WW2, Dean Babcock, John’s brother,  purchased lumber back north and trucked it to the mill where it was sawed in the sawmill. It was then planned and re-sawed into boards to be used as pattern wood to build the Corvettes in the shipyard in Kingston.

Improvements are continually made to the business and the mill. John H. Babcock passed away in 1946. Roy and Oscar Babcock take over the operation and keep the name of J.H. Babcock & Sons. They also start manufacturing truck bodies. They operated that business until 1969. 

In 1977, the mill was sold to the Ernestown Township with an agreement that it would remain the property of the Township and be called “Babcock Mill”. In the following years, the Mill site was quiet, only open for summer tours between 1984 and 1986. Restoration began in 1987 with the help of  Donald Babcock, John’s grandson. He had worked as a basket maker in his youth. Tours ran again for summers between 1988-1992. The mill officially closed in 1993, due to financial constraints at the Township. In 2023, Babcock Mill re-opened again, fully restored and functional. The basket-making equipment is still there.

Babcock Mill is open in the summer for tours and workshops. There are no admission fees, but donations are gladly accepted. 

Our 'Now & Then' series, unveils the rich tapestry of South Eastern Ontario's historical landmarks and buildings, all waiting to be discovered on your travels. Delve into the intriguing stories behind these iconic structures and the vibrant communities they call home.

Written by Ginette-Guy Mayer; her interest as a writer revolves around history, genealogy and women’s stories within those contexts. Now retired, she lives in Cornwall, Ontario, where she volunteers with various heritage, history and genealogical groups. She is the author of the biography Unforgotten Mary Mack, the Elizabeth Grant Mysteries, set in 1930s Cornwall and the DS Henry Stafford Mysteries series, set in 1980s Winchester/Chesterville.