Jennifer E. Ferris– our Lanark historian and apple gal–Lost Lanark Legacy Fruit Trees– Need Help! sent this to me after Leah Roberts, B.A., B.Ed responded to her query.

Foley Mountain Conservation Area

History Information

Declan Finbar Foley

– Born in Youghal, County Cork, Ireland, 1819

– Came to Westport before Confederation

– He and his wife raised 16 children here.

– Considered one of the first families to own most of the land that is

today a part of Westport.

– It is said that he wanted to own everything that could be seen from his

general store on Main Street (the store still exists as a private

residence at 45 Main Street) including today’s Foley Mountain.

Jake Barnhart

– Jake Barnhart, a Native man, had a cabin close to the current site of

the Foley Mountain Interpretive Centre. Mr. Barnhart had a small farm

with crops and livestock the grazed the now regenerating forest

surrounding the Interpretive Centre. He and his daughter eventually

moved into town and the cabin began to deteriorate.

– Current members of the Friends of Foley Mountain Board of Directors

remember playing in “Jake’s House” when they were children. By this

time, the building was in a quite state of disrepair but made for an

exciting adventure for local children. People recall that the walls were

lined with old newspaper for insulation. They also remember climbing

the rickety stairs to the second floor and exploring what was left of the

living space. Horseshoes and nails can still be found around the site of

the cabin.

Formation of Foley Mountain Conservation Area

– Harold Foley, a descendant of Declan, left the mountain property to the

government when he died with instructions that it be preserved as a

natural area.

– The land was purchased in 1970 by the Rideau Valley Conservation

Authority with other parcels of land being acquired later on to create

the conservation area as it is known today.

Come and visit the Lanark County Genealogical Society Facebook page– what’s there? Cool old photos–and lots of things interesting to read. Also check out The Tales of Carleton Place.