Description of Historic Place

The Phoenix Mill is located at 358 Waterloo Avenue, south of Howitt Park, west of Edinburgh Road and on the north side of Wellington Street West and the Speed River, in the City of Guelph. The three-storey limestone mill was constructed in circa 1870.

The property was designated, by the City of Guelph, in 1989, for its historical or architectural value or interest, under Part IV of the Ontario Heritage Act, By-law (1989) - 13198.

Heritage Value

The Phoenix Mill is situated in close proximity to the Speed River, a designated Canadian Heritage River, and two of Guelph's scenic parks, Silvercreek and Howitt, providing it with historical continuity and meaning as the City develops around it.

The Phoenix Mill is the only remaining intact stone grist mill, within the City of Guelph. It was established in 1870, by M. J. Patterson and A. J. Butt, and it began operating with flour and grist, in 1871. In 1912, the mill became part of the Sterling Rubber factory and continued serving this company and its successors, until 1979.

The Phoenix Mill is built of local limestone with cut limestone trim and has a very clean, uncomplicated profile. It has a rectangular floor plan and a side-gable roof. Each vertical rectangular window on the first-storey is six over six double hung, with sills and lintels made of cut limestone. Also of note are the cut limestone blocks that are built into the corners of the building and along the sides of the windows and doors.

Source: City of Guelph By-law (1989) – 13198.

Character-Defining Elements

Character defining elements that contribute to the heritage value of the Phoenix Mill include its:
- local limestone construction
- first-storey double hung 6 over 6 windows
- stone sills, lintels and door surrounds
- cut limestone blocks in the mill corners and the sides of windows and doors
- rectangular floor plan
- side-gabled roof
- proximity to Silvercreek and Howitt Park
- proximity to the Speed River