ERIN – The town’s new $12.8-million library branch is slated to open to the public shortly after Labour Day.
The library, known as the historic grist mill, has been in restoration mode for quite some time.
The mill and surrounding property (51 Main Street) were purchased by the county in 2022, with the intent of moving the Erin Library out of its current location at Centre 2000.
The library currently shares space with Erin District High School.
During an April 24 county council meeting, information, heritage and seniors committee chair Doug Breen announced the existing Erin Library will close on Aug. 1.
“That will give us time to move everything into the new facility,” he said.
“We’re going to be about a month without a library … but a lot of the programs have already been rescheduled and reworked and will be existing in Hillsburgh,” Breen told council.
“We obviously have to be a little short-term paying for a long-term gain,” he said. “This library is going to be fantastic.”
According chief librarian Rebecca Hine, the library will have programming for all ages, meeting spaces, study space and public art display space – and of course books.
Work to date on the building includes:
- masons nearing completion of all repairs and openings in existing stone walls;
- mechanical and electrical installations have continued;
- a fourth floor concrete slab was poured;
- installation of spray foam insulation is finished;
- interior steel fireproofing has continued;
- steel stud wall installation has begun;
- installation of plywood roof sheathing is complete;
- installation of roof membrane is complete; and
- foundation waterproofing has begun.
Work to be completed in the next month includes:
- masons will complete their work;
- mechanical and electrical installations will continue;
- window backing will be complete;
- installation of windows will begin;
- framing interior walls will continue;
- interior steel fireproofing will be finished;
- drywalling to begin;
- installation of steel roof sheathing will begin;
- exterior foundation waterproofing will be completed; and
- exterior hydro duct bank and light pole installation will begin.
History
The building was one of five mills built by Daniel McMillan, one of the founding fathers of Erin.
At 18, McMillan bought the first sawmill in the area before constructing the first home in the village, stated officials.
The mill passed through several hands before Ben Mundell bought the property in 1896.
It remained in the family until 2017.
