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Letter to the Editor - Old mill worth saving

Dear Editor: This letter is written in response to the article "Old Mill Gets Short Reprieve" that was published in the November 16, 2011 edition of Yorkton This Week.


Dear Editor:

This letter is written in response to the article "Old Mill Gets Short Reprieve" that was published in the November 16, 2011 edition of Yorkton This Week.

It has been a roller coaster ride for the "Old Mill" in Yorkton the past ten years or so. It was sold, it was abandoned, it was being demolished, it was being saved etc.

There are several groups in Yorkton that have certain goals in mind. One group is working toward a new hospital, another envisions a crop interpretive center, while another foresees a trades and technology learning center. The Royal Canadian Legion members have their own goals in mind for upgrades to their building and then there is the group of people with the goal of serving and restoring the "Old Mill."

We have to remember that everyone has hopes and dreams and goals and that no one's are any less great or important than another's.

In this day and age it is politically incorrect to think otherwise. We teach children today that we are all born equal and that everyone has the power and potential to achieve their dreams and to accomplish anything in life they can ever imagine.

In addition to the examples given in the article, there was another significant historical project that was successful, not too far away, and that was the saving and restoring of the Bell Barn at Indian Head. It was one of the few round barns that was built in Canada.

It's stone wall and wooden beams had crumbled and collapsed in places and the land owner wanted it off his property. A group saved the Bell Barn through hard-headed determination, perseverance, and a lot of hard work.

The entire barn was taken apart stone by stone and beam by beam, then reassembled and repaired at a new location. It stands today strong and proud and looking as good as new. This project did not happen overnight.

The saga of the "Old Mill" in Yorkton is a long one. The group that formed to save it is relatively new. Let us give them all the time it takes to achieve THEIR goals. Let us encourage and support them as we do all the other groups. Their physical group may be small but to them I say, "Please take heart. There are many on the sidelines that are cheering for you and wish you well. Good luck!"

Mitchell T. Wlock
Yorkton