A Giant’s Kettle in the Middle of Lanark County

Somewhere along Sheridan Rapid’s Road is something known locally as Grinding Rock or Jacob’s Well.  Potholes (also called Rockmills or Giant’s Kettles) are round depressions in solid rock ranging from very small to many feet in diameter and depth. Jacob’s Well is actually a deep hollowed rock on the right hand side of the road between the 3rd and 2nd concessions of Dalhousie.

Legends has it that it the geological formation called a kettle was used by the  Algonquin First Nations for grinding corn. The native population was still present in this area when European settlers began to arrive, and the number of artifacts found in this area indicates that there was certainly a native presence here. Archaeological research has proven that potholes were indeed used by ancient peoples.

In the days when the Mississippi River was larger, a piece of hard granite traveling over softer stone would have caught the eddies and whirlpools grinding away the softer rock forming a kettle. Sheridan Rapids was also a camping place for the natives travelling along the Mississippi.

Sheridan Rapids used to be a bustling community with a Catholic Church, cheese factory lime kiln tinsmith and iron mine. Given the fact that the hole is hewn from solid bedrock, it is very unlikely that it was created by hand by the Algonquin First Nations. Similar holes have been found in riverbeds at the foot of cascades, and under some other circumstances.

PLEASE NOTE- New Lanark Highlands History caches were placed in rural areas using an iPhone; coordinates have been checked many times but if you encounter a problem, please let us know by personal message and we will attend to it right away. Useful hints have been provided if you need help!

Additional Hints (Decrypt)

Prqnef orfvqr gur cbgubyr, rlr yriry

Decryption Key

A|B|C|D|E|F|G|H|I|J|K|L|M
————————-
N|O|P|Q|R|S|T|U|V|W|X|Y|Z

(letter above equals below, and vice versa)

The Preaching Rock of Lanark County

In the northern Great Plains of North America, wetlands formed in glacial kettles are known as prairie potholes.

Photo credit-Mike Szabo

they have kettles upstream @ ragged chutes as well!