Wile Carding Mill facts for kids
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| Established | 1968 |
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| Location | Bridgewater, Nova Scotia, Canada. |
| Type | carding mill, museum |
The Wile Carding Mill is a special old building in Bridgewater, Nova Scotia, Canada. It used to be a factory that processed wool, but now it's a museum! Even though it doesn't make wool products anymore, its old machines can still work for visitors to see. The Province of Nova Scotia owns it, and the DesBrisay Museum helps run it so people can visit and learn.
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What is a Carding Mill?
A carding mill is a type of factory that prepares wool. Before wool can be spun into yarn, it needs to be "carded." This process uses special machines to straighten the wool fibers. Imagine untangling a big knot of hair; that's similar to what carding does for wool! Once the wool is carded, it's ready to be spun into thread or yarn. This yarn can then be used to make clothes, blankets, and other fabric items.
How the Mill Worked
The Wile Carding Mill was a "water-powered" mill. This means it used the power of moving water to make its machines run. A large wooden wheel, called an overshot waterwheel, turned when water from Shady Brook flowed over it. Shady Brook is a small stream that flows into the LaHave River. This waterwheel was very powerful, providing about 7 horsepower (5 kilowatts) of energy. This power was then used to operate all the machines inside the mill.
The Wile Family and Workers
The Wile family owned and operated this mill for a very long time. They ran it from 1860 all the way until 1968. While the Wile family managed the mill, they also hired people to work there. These workers, often unmarried women, were important for running the carding machines. They made sure the wool was processed correctly and efficiently.
A Special Heritage Site
In 2013, the Wile Carding Mill became a "Registered Heritage Property" in Bridgewater. This means it's recognized as an important historical building. It's a place that tells a story about the past and how people used to live and work. Protecting it helps future generations understand the history of industry and technology in Nova Scotia. Today, as a museum, it helps visitors learn about the history of wool processing and water-powered machinery.
