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Charles Eplett had a major impact on Coldwater, Orillia in early 1900s

Eplett owned the mill in Coldwater, operated a farm, was a politician and owned Orillia's only enclosed ice rink, Eplett's Arena

Postcard Memories is a weekly series of historic postcard views and photos submitted by Marcel Rousseau.

Some were previously published by the Orillia Museum of Art and History and in the book Postcard Memories Orillia.

Dating back to the 1830s, this dam on the Coldwater River was used to divert water down a sluiceway to the Coldwater Grist Mill. The dam underwent many repairs over its 125-year history, but was destroyed in 1954 by Hurricane Hazel. 

At that time, the mill was owned by C.H. Eplett. The next year the grist mill was taken over by his son, Argyle, and with the loss of a steady flow of water the mill was converted to electric motors.

Charles Eplett was a native of Coldwater and operated a farm as well as the mill and butcher shop. He was Reeve of Coldwater and elected Warden of the County in 1923. 

He was also very active in Orillia and was part owner of the “Brown and Epplett” Ford Dealership at 17 West St. S.in the 1920s. In the 1940s, he owned Orillia’s only enclosed ice rink. 

Known as “Eplett’s Arena” it was on the south-west corner of West Street and Coldwater Road until closing when the new Community Centre was built at the Oval in the early 1950s.


 

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