The wheel will keep on turning at the Grist Mill and Gardens in more ways than one.
Chris Mathieson, operator of the historic site outside Keremeos, said just in the past week he has signed a nine-year contract to operate the beloved facility and sent that contract back to the province for final approval.
Mathieson will operate the Grist Mill until at least 2026 under the new contract.
He will continue to receive funding for the next two years to help offset operations.
“This is what we’ve been working towards,” Mathieson said last week.
In addition to that news Mathieson said there is work underway to rebuild the iconic grist mill waterwheel.
The wheel has not been in operation for at least one year and was overdue for replacement, Mathieson said.
“The waterwheel failed last spring. Wood and water, man, they are not happy friends,” he said.
The wheel had started to rot in a place that was not seen, Mathieson explained, and when it was started up after the winter it started to “clunk.”
“We couldn’t have it turning at all or it would have ripped to shreds,” he said.
Although the mill was open last year for people to go through tourists and locals were not able to see it in operation.
“We’re excited to have it up and running again, to be able to be grounding flour again.”
The wheel’s condition deteriorated to a point that a complete rebuild is necessary.
Mathieson said the wheel needs to be replaced about every 20 years and was coming up to that point if it had not surpassed that time frame.
The Grist Mill’s Cuyler Page will head up the project.
Page, who operated the site at one time, built the previous wheel.
“We’re very lucky to have the person that built the last one working on site,” he said.
The project is expected to take about eight weeks and the goal is to have the mill operational by opening day.
The Grist Mill is looking for volunteers to help with the projects. Mathieson said some experience with woodworking and power tools was required.
The cost of rebuilding the mill is anticipated to be in the $20,000 range and will be paid for by the province.