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First Halton creamery situated at 17 Sideroad, Fifth Line corner No completely accurate sketch of The Little Falls Creamery exists; however in 1885, an artist from the "Farmer's Advocate Magazine" visited the factory at Mr. Moyer's request and incorporated its features in the depiction above. A boiler supplied the power for this 30 by 40 foot building. The waterfalls it was named after was situated to the rear and supplied the cool temperatures needed to make the cream rise. Moses Moyer claimed this factory could accommodate the cream of 2000 cows. (The Farmer's Advocate, " October, 1885). This is the second of a series of articles written by members of The Esquesing Historical Society for publication in The Independent on the history of this area. It is an excerpt from a forthcoming local history edited by Rob Burnett. LITTLE FALLS CREAMERY Little Falls Creamery was a handsomely constructed building of cut freestone situated in McColl's Bush. It was two stories in height, and almost square in configuration. It was built by Joe Bessey sometime in the early 1880's, making it the first creamery in Halton County. An unloading platform was constructed along the front and just inside and to the right was a door marked "Office. " The buttermaking room was on the ground floor and the boilers and power plant were located in the cellar. The creamery's stock rooms and refrigerator were commodious and well equipped. Surmounting the keystone on the front of the structure was carved "Little Falls Creamery. " This name was certainly appropriate as a small waterfall tumbled down the side of the west wall. This was made possible by a dam, which created a small pond on the other side of the roadway, along the loading platform. A culvert of stone carried the overflow beside the west wall, where it tumbled in foaming cascades over broken rocks. The creamery was quite successful in the late 1880's and early 1890's. I understand that farmers came a considerable distance to have their cream churned by the busy staff of butter makers. However, poor management and the economic depression of the early 1890's made the creamery's decline rapid and undignified. Joe Bessey reneged on his payments and the once thriving business fell into a state of disrepute and disrepair. Occasionally an enterprising soul attempted to operate the creamery, but no one was able to make any money out of it and eventually the equipment was dismantled and sold The business of buttermaking in this vicinity is apparently discontinued for all time to come. For over 20 years the creamery stood vacant. Someone stole the doors and windows, allowing the elements to reclaim the interior. The drifts of winter piled deeply within, the summer rains dripped through the dilapidated roof in bucketfulls. In all seasons the wind shrieked through its empty rooms without pause. Creatures of the woods and fields quickly established residence within its walls, sharing uneasy quarters with curious neighbourhood boys. The upstairs was populated by half-wild cats who prowled incessantly for the old creamery's numerous rats and mice. In later years, my interest in the old creamery changed, but I was no less impressed. When driving the cutter down the Fifth Line with the moon hanging over the bush, the ruin had a something all its own. Its shiny, white stones would stand out clear and bright and the black gaps, which once held doors and windows, created such a contrast that a person could not fail to be moved. One day, John O'Neill eyed the remains speculatively, for he was building a row of new houses in Georgetown and needed building material. He concluded a deal with whoever then was owner, and the old creamery was dismantled and drawn over to town by the waggon load. It today, no doubt, forms part of the best homes in Georgetown. The fruit of Joe Bessey's folly was at last put to some useful purpose. I wonder what became of the great stone bearing the once proud title, "Little Falls Creamery. " Halton County's first creamery, Little Falls Creamery, was situated on the southeast corner of the 17 Sideroad and 5th Line intersection in Esquesing Township. It was built by Joseph B. Bessey in the early 1880's, but was not run in the modern factory sense until Moses Moyer became manager in 1885. Mr. Moyer was one of the fathers of the Ontario creamery industry. He was part owner of Ontario's first butter factory, erected in Teeswater in 1876, and he eventually managed several creameries across the province. The innovative Walkerton native, published his own dairy newspaper, designed and marketed separating cans, and helped organize the Ontario Creamery Association. Little Falls Creamery was a source of heated and acrimonious debate in 1885 and 1886. Many dairymen scoffed at butter production and continued to sell their milk to local cheese factories. Early subscribers to the Little Falls Creamery included: John Warren, John Elliot, Paul Kennedy, A. Waldie, and D. Cross. Information for this article was drawn from the microfilm of The Acton Free Press in the Acton Library, the microfilm of The Canadian Champion in the Milton Library, and the Farmers' Advocate Magazine, available at the McDonald-Stewart Archives, The University of Guelph Our gang found it interesting to poke among the rubbish-strewn rooms filled with all sorts of bits and pieces, but nothing of value. The damp, dark basement, still containing the rusty boiler works was a favourite hangout, for it was cool there even on the hottest summer day. But it was also a trifle spooky and we were often frightened by phantasmagoria peering out among the shadows.