megram - Index

megram - 55Ottawa - Index

Day Tripper
By Madeline Kallio
Testament to the
Methodists and Quakers
Bloomfield has as much beauty as history
The Honourable Richard Cartwright, a businessman,
judge and member of the Legislative Council, was
given a land grant in 1799. John Bull established a
mill in the early 1800s and the settlement became known
as Bull’s Mills. By the 1830s there were 12 mills operating
on Bull’s Creek, which became the centre of the village.
The post office was opened in 1832 and the village was
named Bloomfield after Captain A. Bloomfield, a British
officer in the War of 1812 and the skipper of several boats
plying the waters of the Bay of Quinte. By 1850, only six
mills remained, but the settlement was thriving with two
hotels, four blacksmiths, a match-making factory, three
carpenters, three shoemakers and two carriage makers.
The settlers were greatly influenced by their strong faith,
which was primarily shaped by the Methodists and the
Quakers.
The beautiful old buildings and beautiful gardens are
a testament to the name of the village, which might easily
have been named Bloomfield for that reason.The old
mill on the Mill Pond was built in 1834. Developers are
now planning to restore the original structure and turn it
into the Mill Pond Marketplace (1 866 650-1616;
inquire@millpondmarketplace.com), 15 Mill Street, a
unique year-round destination for food and shopping.
In the tradition of Prince Edward County,the well-preserved
old houses in Bloomfield make fitting accommodations
and several have become bed-and-breakfast establishments.The
Island Forge Gallery, artist-blacksmith Bruce
Milan’s studio, exhibits hand-forged items for home and
garden and is a feature of Hillsdale House B&B (613 393-
2952; dianemilan@sympatico.ca), 332 Main Street, a spacious
century home with “splendid breakfasts.” The
Chocolate Suite (613 393-5664, 1 877 877-9187;
j.c.lawlon@hotmail.com), 254 Main Street, is a self-con-
Inside Lamps 4U.
May 2008 • 48 • Fifty-Five Plus Magazine
PHOTO: KEVIN BAZKUR