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The above picture shows a section of Port Perry's lakefront lined with lumber, saw and grist mills, and other industrial enterprises during the 1880s. Industrial mills lined Port Perry’s lakefront during the late 1800s The first saw mill in Reach Township was built by Abner Hurd just west of Borelia, in 1831. It provided a much needed service to the early pioneer settlers until 1850 when it was blown down by a tornado which passed through the are: It wasn’t until 1846 that the first Port Perry saw mill was built along the lakefront by Samuel Hill of Whitby. The mill contained only one saw, but did a good business cutting the immense logs available in the area. The very next year, 1847, another saw mill was commenced in the village. Way & Paxton established the mill and operated for a few years until it was taken over by Thomas and George Paxton and became known as the Paxton Saw Mill. William Sexton purchased the Paxton Saw Mill in the early 1850s and operated it until 1877 when he sold it to Joshua Wright who outfitted it for a tannery. In 1858, another saw mill was built at the west end of the Scugog Bridge, by Stephen Doty, which afterwards became the property of Joseph Bigelow. By the early 1870s the mill was known as the Bigelow & Trounce saw mill with W.J. Trounce as partner in the firm. The mill operated until 1881 when the partnership was dissolved with Mr. Bigelow continuing business in the south mill and Mr. Trounce in the north mills. Trounce bought out the Bigelow saw mill in 1887 and a year later the business failed as the pine forests around Scugog Lake became exhausted. 22 FOCUS - MARCH 2012 | MARCH.FOCUS.32.indd 22 One of the largest and most important industries in Port Perry was the foundry and machine shop of A.M. Gibson on Perry Street. Built in 1866 it occupied one acre of land. The foundry comprised of two buildings 36’x60’ each, in the form of an L, and an Engine House 18’ x 36’, and Blacksmith Shop 20’ x 40’. Mr. Gibson operated the foundry for only a few years before selling it to Charles Paxton and William Tate. It then became known as Paxton, Tate and Company. While in the control of Paxton & Tate, they expanded the yard and buildings until it occupied about six acres. The company became one of the largest producers of turbine and water wheels in Canada, and their products were shipped world wide. In addition to their wheel trade, they also built circular saw mills and three different styles of shingle machines, bark mills, lathe machines, water wheel governors and lumber trimmers. In 1897 Madison Williams purchased the floundering business and under his ownership, and through his prod- ucts the name of Port Perry became known from one end of the country to the other for his fine machine Mr. Williams operated the business for about 10 years. The buildings were torn down in 1909 in prepa- ration for a new large factory, the Weber Gas Engine Co., which was never built. 42-02-20. 10:50 AM