The Humber River and valley have long been part of Canadian heritage. First a major thoroughfare and meeting place of Native Canadians, it was later discovered by Etienne Brule on a mission for Champlain in 1615. In 1793, the King's Mill was built on the banks of the Humber River to process lumber for the proposed town of York. Hence, the mill became Toronto's first industrial building. A series of fires forced the mill to be rebuilt three times.
In 1914, on the first day of World War One, an entrepreneur R. Home Smith, opened The Old Mill Tea Garden. It quickly became a favourite Toronto haven of leisure and recreation.
In 1921, dancing to live music began in the Print Room, with violinist Cec Ryder and pianist Nelson Hatch. When a new dance floor was added in 1929, the duo expanded to a nine piece orchestra.
Under new ownership of William Hodgson in 1973, The Old Mill Restaurant was closed for extensive renovations and reopened in October of the same year. Great attention to detail was made to maintain the theme of the original rooms; the Dining Room, Garret and Humber Rooms.
January 1974 saw the expansion of The Old Mill to include additional meeting and banquet facilities; the Royal Oak, Portage, Mill and Brulé Rooms. The Print Room was reopened in October of the same year as a lounge adjoining the main Dining Room followed by the addition of of the Tea Room, an extension to the main Dining Room. Towards the end of that year, a new meeting room, the York Room was also created.
The Old Mill Flower Shoppe was opened on the first floor just prior to Christmas 1980.
In May 1983, the main floor of the cottage was converted into two additional banquet rooms; the Garden Room and the Drawing Room. The upper level of the cottage was converted to offices.
May 13,1986, marked the opening of the new wing with four additional banquet rooms; the Guild Hall, Balmoral, Westminster Rooms and Kingsbrook Suite.
In June 1991, George and Michael Kalmar entered the limelight as the latest proprietors of The Old Mill. So began a new chapter in shaping the history of The Old Mill.
The William Gambles Mill once again had gone through another reconstruction in its long history, but nothing its builder could have ever imagined. A boutique inn that would stand proud within its walls.
After many years in the planning, the Inn opened on October 1, 2001 featuring 60 beautiful appointed rooms and suites. The familiar name “The Old Mill” had now evolved to reflect this lastest addition – “THE OLD MILL INN”
As our motto says "VALLIS HUMBRIA ANGLIAE PARS ANGLIA PROCUL - in the valley of the Humber, a bit of England far from England", the beautiful setting, charming atmosphere and impeccable service of The Old Mill has warmed hearts far and wide. Truly over the centuries, The Old Mill has earned its reputation as a Toronto tradition.
The Old Mill Inn now stands to be part of the many memories and wonderful stories for generations to come.