On a river in southwest Nova Scotia, an investigation led by a historical researcher is revealing long-forgotten remnants of North America’s history.
Allains River, previously known as Lequille River, meanders as a tributary of the Annapolis River, flowing from the province’s interior to present-day Annapolis Royal.
Four centuries ago, the river hosted one of the earliest industrial ventures post-colonization: a flour mill constructed in 1607 and later destroyed by fire in 1643.
For ages, the mill’s precise whereabouts remained elusive. However, an amateur historian from the U.S., along with a team of scholars and archaeologists, are now making headway in pinpointing its location. This endeavor not only sheds light on colonization history but also unveils centuries of Mi’kmaw presence in Nova Scotia.
Describing the pursuit of the Poutrincourt gristmill, Mark Borton, a Connecticut-based writer and initiator of the search, emphasized the site’s significance in history.
In 1605, a fortified fur-trading post named Port Royal by Samuel de Champlain was established on the Annapolis Basin. The settlers required a mill to produce flour, given that a quarter of the French diet at the time consisted of bread.
The Poutrincourt gristmill, a water-driven grain grinding mill, is depicted on period maps, including Champlain’s cartography.
Borton, intrigued by Champlain’s map during his visit to the Maritimes in 2018, realized the mill’s importance in North American history and industrial evolution.
Over the years, historians proposed various theories on the mill’s location, yet Borton believes it could be situated far from conventional assumptions.
By correlating Champlain’s map elements with modern geographical features, Borton narrowed down a potential site. Utilizing Google Maps, he identified a faint square near the marsh edge, possibly indicating a foundation.
Obtaining a permit from the Nova Scotia Museum, Borton proceeded with his investigation.
One significant clue was a Mi’kmaw fishing weir depicted on Champlain’s map opposite the mill location. Observing a rock pile on the riverbank at that spot via Google Maps, Borton inferred human intervention.
Presently, the marsh between the weir and the presumed mill site was once an island, possibly diked by the French. Although historical maps lacked evidence of dikes in that area, lidar mapping by the Nova Scotia Community College revealed traces of early 17th-century dikes.
During the summer, Borton and Nova Scotia Museum staff gathered samples for radiocarbon dating from the dikes’ wooden interiors, enhancing the credibility of their theories.
Collaborating with archeologists from Kwilmu’kw Maw‑klusuaqn and Saint Mary’s University, Borton’s project aligns with ongoing research on the French-Mi’kmaq interaction during that era.
Allains River plays a pivotal role in this historical narrative as a shared landscape, where European and Mi’kmaw histories intertwine.
Fowler’s team plans to employ ground-penetrating radar to delve deeper into the mill site, aiming to unveil more insights into this significant period of cultural exchange.
Borton’s endeavors have also brought to light several other mill sites in the region, emphasizing the need for preservation to honor the multicultural heritage of the area.