Beginning in 2001, in cooperation with the Otonabee Region Conservation Authority and the Otonabee Region Conservation Foundation, the Hope Mill Restoration Volunteers spent every Tuesday from May to October 2001 to 2006 bringing the building and machinery back to life. Of top priority was the completion of foundation repairs and the restoration of the two turbines.

Once the turbines and saw-house were operational, the volunteers worked on the wood-finishing machinery, which had been idle and untended since 1966. It was a memorable day when the circa 1910 “three-sided” planer produced a tongue-and-groove plank. Equally exciting was the start-up of the lathe on which the volunteers could turn wood up to eight feet in length.

Since 2001, the Hope Mill volunteers have contributed more than 2,000 hours per year to the restoration, maintenance and operation of the mill.