The changing cultural face of Cargill – a place where history comes alive

When Kevin McKague decided to return to his roots, it meant coming home to Cargill, the little village that is steeped in history.

McKague bought an old building on the main street that had once included the Royal Bank branch and hardware store and set about making fundamental but major changes.

                                          The Mill Pond Gallery

Today, in what was a hardware store, is The Mill Pond art gallery featuring works by Bruce and Grey county artists.  The crisp white walls and ceiling are a perfect foil for the vibrant art works while the original maple hardwood floors harken back to the building’s history.

Wandering through the gallery, one is struck by the prolific art that is created throughout the region, including many artists from the Saugeen Artists Guild. While paintings line the

    Stained glass artist Rinka                  Smallwood of Port Elgin

walls, there are also the wrought iron sculptures of artist David Robertson, stained glass works by artists Rinka Smallwood and Vivien Walton and the beautiful hand-crafted Indigenous drums by Daniel Linkenheld.

 

 

 

Kevin McKague – for larger view Click on Image

“The talent of our Bruce County artists is tremendous and we wanted to showcase them to everyone,” says Kevin McKague.

On Saturday August 7th, the gallery held its first ‘meet the artist day’ with most of the artists listed on the gallery web site … The Mill Pond Gallery attending.

(C) Artist Cindy Matthews signs the guest book as artist Elizabeth Carter (R)                                                            looks on

For larger views, Click on Image

While the gallery footprint is a large part of the historic building, McKague didn’t stop there.  He has also launched the Bruce County Bookstore, the Dam Ice Cream Bar and the Cargill and Greenock Swamp Visitor Centre and Museum, all in the same location.

The Bookstore at the rear of the gallery features many books by local authors and publishers, including McKague’s own history of Henry Cargill: Bruce County’s Captain of Industry and other authors such as Robin Hillborn and books published by Brucedale Press.

Next door in the same location is the Cargill and Greenock Swamp Visitor Centre and Museum housed in what was once the Royal Bank branch.

Here, too, the historic flavour remains with its wooden floors, tin ceiling and the original bank vault.  What were whisky barrels now serve as tables where visitors can sit and read through the myriad of brochures that are available or wander and read the many interpretive signs lining the walls and that tell the history of Cargill or sit in the bank vault that is now a projection room and watch a short video on the community’s history.

Last but not least, is the Dam Ice Cream Bar outside overlooking the Teeswater River where visitors can sit, relax and enjoy an ice cream cone or delicious espresso.

                                      The Dam Ice Cream Bar

Work continues on the historic building with apartments being completed on the upstairs level.

“We also have more plans for the outside,” adds McKague.  “We are going to create a patio cafe overlooking the river and, eventually, we’ll have walking trails that visitors can explore to the dam.  It’s an exciting time for Cargill and we hope that more visitors will come out and enjoy what this historic community has to offer.”