There has been a mill on Soper Creek since 1805 when Leonard Soper emigrated to Canada built his first sawmill, followed by a grist mill in 1806. This mill changed hands and names over the years, eventually becoming the Caledonia Mill in 1882. This is where our story begins. John Mckay, a Scottish immigrant, purchased the mill in 1884 and equipped it with new machinery to mill barley. Mackay developed award-winning equipment to mill barely more efficiently and cost-effectively and demand was so great, his mill ran 24 hours a day, 6 days a week.