Stormont Mill, Cornwall, Ontario

Stormont Cotton Mill

Situated on the south shore of the Cornwall Canal, west of the swing bridge, the large building on the right is the Stormont Mill of the Canada Cotton complex. The factory, owned by Canada Cottons Ltd., was shut down in 1953. By Halloween night 1961, the building was used for storage and held 16 parade floats destined for the Santa Clause parade. They were lost in the fire. It was later suggested that a crew had been inside the mill that day using cutting torches to dismantle the sprinkler system. Investigators believed tiny sparks could have landed in foot-deep debris and smoldered until they ignited in the tinder-dry building.

~ Stuart Manson Collection

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