Township of Ramsay Heritage Driving Tour– created by Almonte/Ramsay L.A.C.A.C —thanks to Julie Odin of the Old Mill Manor — I will be putting them all up one by one as the pamphlet is not available anymore.
Baird's Store 1830
Now known as “The Gatehouse” Baird’s Store was originally built by John Baird as home, store and accommodations for workers at Woodside Mills. Restored by R. Tait MacKenzie in the 1930s. The Verandah is regency style.
Bennie’s Corners was a small village less than two miles from Blakeney. It was at the junction of the eighth line of Ramsay and the road from Clayton north of the Indian River, on land where James Bennie located in the original settlement of the township in 1821. The buildings of the hamlet were destroyed in the summer of 1851 by fire. As rebuilt it had little more than a post office and general store, a few residences, a school and such tradesmen as blacksmiths and shoemakers, and claimed a population of about fifty persons.
To that wilderness of the Indian river came the Toshacks, the Bairds and others by batteaux and canoe. Baird’s Mill is one of the few remaining landmarks of colonial times, and today it is the Summer-studio residence of two distinguished Canadians—Dr. and Mrs. R. Tait McKenzie.
The Gatehouse and entrance to the Mill of Kintail in 1932. Photo by Ron Lamb.
Bairds Flour Mill Restored
Nearby were William and John Baird’s flour mill, Greville Toshack’s carding mill and Stephen Young’s barley mill, all on the Indian River ; and on the Mississippi the similar industries of Blakeney. The Baird mill, restored as a century old structure in 1930 by Dr. R. Tait McKenzie, sculptor, surgeon and native son of the manse, is now well known as the Mill of Kintail, repository of examples of his works and local historical exhibits. It was described by its owners in 1860 as:
“Woodside Mills, consisting of a Flour Mill with two runs of burr stones, a superior Smut Machine and an Oatmeal Mill with two runs of Stones, one of which is a Burr. The Mill is three and a half stories high and most substantially built. There are also on the premises a kiln capable of drying from 120 to 200 bushels of oats at a time, a frame House for a Miller, a Blacksmith Shop with tools complete, two Stone Buildings and outbuildings, with Stabling for eleven horses.”
Mill of Kintail Museum. Known originally as Woodside Mills, this imposing stone structure was built by John Baird in the 1830s as a grist mill powered by a series of dams on the Indian River. Abandoned by the Bairds in the 1860s, it was purchased by Robert Tait McKenzie in 1930 and transformed into a summer home and studio. In 1952 Major and Mrs Leys purchased the mill and founded the museum as a memorial to Robert Tait McKenzie. In 1972 the property was purchased by the Mississippi Valley Conservation Authority.
A cool old postcard from the early 1930’s drawn by R. Tait McKenzie to direct his family and friends to the Mill of Kintail. Tait and his wife Ethel traveled here from Philadelphia each summer to the old grist mill just outside of Almonte. In 1930 the McKenzie’s purchased the mill and had it restored as their summer home and studio and named it The Mill of Kintail. McKenzie named the mill this in honor of his ancestors that came from the mountain region in Scotland named the Five Sisters of Kintail.
photo from Almonte.com- photo from the top of Victoria Mills
In Almonte there was a 200 acre Crown reserve and south of it were the farms of Robert Baird and William Baird, Lanark society settlers of 1821. John Baird’s land, including Farm Street and Brea Street (now Brae), was surveyed in 1861. John Baird kept a general store, ran a flour mill ( Mill of Kintail) and sent supplies to the lumbermen. Mr. Baird was known as a very exact and honest man when he was in Bennie’s Mills. When he weighed goods they were weighed to the fraction of an ounce. He never gave more nor less. Mr. Baird later went to Almonte and ran a woolen mill there. The old Baird’s Mill site was on the river, adjacent to the former Victoria Woollen Mill. (the old Peterson’s Ice Cream Plant)
Messrs. Baird & Co. (who like the rest of the brother manufacturers were staunch adherents to protection principles) showed his black broadcloth to those who visited the mills in 1877. The texture and finish was equal to any of those manufactured in England. The Bairds gave the credit to their superintendent Joseph Boothroyd who had come to Almonte from Huddersfield, England.
The Baird mill at that time employed 40 hands, men and women. The ground floor was occupied by the finishing room, dye house and scouring room complete with excellent machinery. The first floor was the carding room complete with one american carding machine and the other a Holroyd machine from England. On the floor above was a spinning jack, spooling room, and ten looms all busy and turning out fabric quickly.
The looms were all attended by women and girls and it was wonderful to watch their quick fingers in the operation of weaving. The women and girls were immaculate, almost similar to a Quakerness, and visitors always said the factory girls of Almonte were way more impressive than their sisterhood in Manchester. They also spoke proper English and that’s what they didn’t do in Lancashire and Yorkshire in the old country.
There was also another feature in Baird’s Mill and that was the precaution for fire. There was a large pump in the basement with a big hose leading to all parts of the factory. The mill although compact was something to behold. Long may they weave!
The East side of Mill Street from the Post office down (the old Post office) was another story. Along the riverbank many crowded to the river for water and waterpower. Properties constantly changed hands and not one is now in existence with the exception of the “Yorkshire” building which was, in 1867, but three stories high. Fortunes were won and lost there over power rights, but that is another story. No doubt a book could be written about that stubborn Scottish family, the Baird Brothers, the owners of one of these powers (above mentioned) who fought for their rights without compromise, not only against the Rosamond interest but also against the Elliotts – fought till their money was exhausted.
Trivia
Baird , William , Almonte , Ontario , Canada– had a patent on a spinning and twisting machine 1886 and on
Nearby were William and John Baird’s flour mill, Greville Toshack’s carding mill and Stephen Young’s barley mill, all on the Indian River ; and on the Mississippi the similar industries of Blakeney. The Baird mill, restored as a century old structure in 1930 by Dr. R. Tait McKenzie, sculptor, surgeon and native son of the manse, is now well known as the Mill of Kintail, repository of examples of his works and local historical exhibits. It was described by its owners in 1860 as:
Back in the 1870s Almonte’s woollen mills were: No. 1, on the island, conducted by B. and W. Rosamond; No. 2, on Mill street, by Elliott, Routh and Sheard; Gilbert Cannon’s mill, down on the bay, Just below the hill; John Baird and Company, on Mill street near McLean’s grist mill; the Anchor Knitting Mill, on the island, and William Thoburn’s mill, on Little Bridge street. In later years Judge Jamie-son’s son married Miss Annie Thoburn and became proprietor of the mill. Rosamond’s No. 1 mill was the largest manufacturing plant in the town; it employed about 300 hands.
John McIntosh and Allan McDonald and Samuel Reid operated the carding mill from 1847 – 1854 on Lot 19 Mill St Almonte. From 1854 – 1865 it was operated as a custom carding and woolen mill by Almonte woolen Manufactory under McIntosh and Reid, and after 1858, under McIntosh alone. John McIntosh built his second mill on Lot 7 Little Bridge St, Almonte in 1862 and operated the Almonte Woolen Manufactory in it until 1865. From 1865 – 1867 McIntosh was superintendent of the mill at Sly’s Rapids under the proprietorship of D McIntosh. McIntosh declared bankruptcy in 1867. In 1871 John McIntosh then became the superintendent of the woolen mill of John Baird and Company, Lots 20 and 21 Mill St Almonte.
In 1871 John Baird and Company leased another woolen mill on Lot 20 Mill St, Almonte which he subsequently purchased it in 1879. He then leased the mill to James Wylie in 1881 and sold it to him in 1897.
Gilbert Cannon (former employee of John McIntosh from 1854 – 1865 at the McIntosh mill on Lot 19, Mills St, Almonte) and Thomas Watchorn operated the custom carding and woolen mill on Lot 21 Mill St in Almonte from 1865 to 1867 under the proprietorship of John Baird, when Watchorn left for Lanark and Cannon continued the operation alone until 1870. In 1869 he purchased Lot F at the foot of Mill St Almonte where he built a new woolen mill in 1870. In 1871 he sold his equipment and leased the mill to William Wylie until 1877. Gilbert Cannon also operated a woolen mill in Arnprior (dates?)
Thomas Watchorn was a cloth finisher and dyer in Almonte employed by the Rosamonds at their mill on Lot 21 Mill St Almonte. The he and Gilbert Cannon operated the custom carding and woolen mill on Lot 21 Mill St in Almonte from 1865 to 1867 under the proprietorship of John Baird, when Watchorn left for Lanark . Thomas Watchorn and Boyd Caldwell established the Clyde Woolen Mill at Lot 2 George St in Lanark 1867. In 1875 Watchorn leased the woolen mill in Merrickville in partnership with his brother Robert.–https://mvtm.ca/biographies/
Clayton had its origin little more than a year later than Almonte when Edward Bellamy, who recently had come to Grenville County from Vermont, obtained the water privilege of the falls on the Indian River there and opened a sawmill and grist mill to serve a section of the new townships. Among the other communities of Ramsay township, Blakeney, once the location of several manufacturing concerns, came next in time of origin as Snedden’s Mills. Not far from Snedden’s the small hamlet of Bennie’s Corners appeared on the scene of the eighteen thirties, adjoined on the Indian River by Toshack’s carding mill and Baird’s grist mill. The Baird mill, now known as the Mill of Kintail, has been preserved by a private owner for public historical uses and as a residence.
“Woodside Mills, consisting of a Flour Mill with two runs of burr stones, a superior Smut Machine and an Oatmeal Mill with two runs of Stones, one of which is a Burr. The Mill is three and a half stories high and most substantially built. There are also on the premises a kiln capable of drying from 120 to 200 bushels of oats at a time, a frame House for a Miller, a Blacksmith Shop with tools complete, two Stone Buildings and outbuildings, with Stabling for eleven horses.”
6622-94 Robert BAIRD, 38, merchant, Ramsay, Pilot Mound Manitoba, s/o John BAIRD & Christena BRYSON, married Mary Ann WILSON, 28, Ottawa, Appleton, d/o George WILSON & Mary Ann McKEE, witn: George T. WILSON of Appleton & Maggie R. BAIRD of al, 16 Aug 1894 at Ramsay
006522-94 (Lanark Co) John S. BAIRD, 25, farmer, Fitzroy, Fitzroy s/o John & June BAIRD married Ida E. GROVES, 19, Fitzroy, Fitzroy d/o William & Eliza GROVES wtn: Spurgeon BAIRD of Montreal & Minnie GROVES of Fitzroy, 25 July 1894 at Pakenham
6626-94 Alexander CAVERS, 29, farmer, Canada, Beckwith, s/o Thomas & Margaret C., married Catherine Elizabeth HISLOP, 24, Canada, Carleton Place, d/o Neil & Isabella, witn: Robert BAIRD of Ramsay & Maggie HISLOP of Smith Falls, 31 Jan 1894 at Beckwith
006573-94 Allan MORRIS, 22, lumber business, Middleville, same, s/o Peter & Agnes, married Minnie McFARLANE, 21, Lanark, same, d/o Robert & Bella, witn: Charles BAIRD of Lanark & Katie MORRIS of Middleville on Oct. 24, 1894 at Dalhousie
6534-94 Neil MUNRO, 35, farmer, Appleton, Ramsay, s/o John & Sarah, married Sarah BROWN, 32, widow, Griffith, Carleton Place, d/o William & Lizzie ADAMS, witn: Robert BAIRD of Appleton & Sarah HATTON of Ottawa, 28 Feb 1894 at Carleton Place
6582-94 James REID, 19, laborer, Middleville, Clyde Forks, s/o Matthew REID & Mary BAIRD, married Susannah CAMERON, 19, Folger Station, same, d/o Hugh CAMERON & Susannah McQUILTY, witn: David REID of Clyde Forks & Victor Ann CAMERON of Folger Station, 7 May 1894 at Clyde Fork
They say that the old Mill of Kintail next to the Indian River is haunted. Dr. Robert Tait McKenzie, one of Canada’s best known doctors and artists, purchased the Baird property and converted the old mill into a summer home for himself and his wife Ethel in 1932. The mill had been abandoned for 100 years when Dr. McKenzie came back in 1930 to visit friends and family where he was born in Ramsay Township.
If you think you are alone in the mill when you visit the art exhibits and the Naismith Museum you would be wrong. It is said that the ghost of his wife Ethel McKenzie has been spotted several times within the mill. Her spirit became disturbed when her old bedroom closet and washroom were renovated and turned into a studio for local area artists. Paranormal activity will suddenly appear when someone starts renovations on anything. Home renovations could awaken a ghost that has been dormant for years; in many cases the ghost will be that of a former owner who doesn’t want changes made to what they perceive to be their home. In other cases, the ghost will become very excited because the home is being taken care of.
Mill of Kintail– Linda Seccaspina
A renovation ghost that is unhappy with the work being done may hide and/or move tools and building supplies, knock over ladders, try to scare the workmen to prevent them from doing the work, etc. A ghost that is happy the work is being done may also move tools and supplies, and mistakenly scare the workers. Or, alternatively, they may try to help in some way with the renovations.
In some cases the renovation ghost may not bother the work site at all, but show its pleasure or displeasure in other ways by causing paranormal activity in another part of the house or building. They could be doing this to try to get your attention in order to express their feelings about the renovations.
It seems that there is double trouble at the Mill of Kintail as the surgeon sculptor Tait McKenzie is said to also return at night to guard his old domain. Many times previous owners will come back to the home after death. Normally when this happens a lot of paranormal activity will occur in a building. The ghost could be confused and, in some cases, frustrated because strangers are living in “their” home. This type of ghost may have come back to the house because that’s where they were the happiest– like the Tait McKenzies.
Pack a lunch and explore the mill and the area and fall in love with it all like they did–you will not regret it.
I have been writing about downtown Carleton Place Bridge Street for months and this is something I really want to do. Come join me in the Domino’s Parking lot- corner Lake Ave and Bridge, Carleton Place at 11 am Saturday September 16 (rain date September 17) for a free walkabout of Bridge Street. It’s history is way more than just stores. This walkabout is FREE BUT I will be carrying a pouch for donations to the Carleton Place Hospital as they have been so good to me. I don’t know if I will ever do another walking tour so come join me on something that has been on my bucket list since I began writing about Bridge Street. It’s always a good time–trust me.
Five-Span Stone Bridge – Pakenham: Built in 1903, this one-of-a-kind bridge was constructed by Scottish stonemasons who used locally quarried stone. Five stone arches with piers stretch 82 metres across the Mississippi River and make a spectacular view from the riverbank. The bridge is believed to be unique to North America and around the world – with the exception of Russia.-From: OntarioHighlands.com OntarioHighlands.com
This Roman Catholic Church is the only known church in Lanark County to be built in the French Classic style. St. Peter Celestine’s preserved Classic Italianate interior of elaborate paintings, faux marble finishes, and statuary collection is remarkable to see in person – and only two other churches within Canada have also retained these original decorations. Climb the church’s bell tower for a far-reaching view of the Mississippi Valley.-From: OntarioHighlands.com OntarioHighlands.com
Visit the Mill of Kintail, the restored studio and home of the great Canadian artist, philosopher, and physician Robert Tait. Located in the town of Mississippi Mills, this 152-acre conservation site along the Indian River acts as a museum showcasing Tait’s work in sculpture, his teachings in physical education, and other memorabilia from his life.-From: OntarioHighlands.com OntarioHighlands.com
Blueberry Mountain – Lanark County Trek to the summit of Blueberry Mountain for a stunning view of the natural forests and wetlands that stretch for more than 500 hectares below. Located within the Alba Wilderness of the Lanark Highlands, Blueberry Mountain is a wildlife sanctuary to numerous plant and animal species and a natural gem within the community.-From: OntarioHighlands.com OntarioHighlands.com
Showy Lady’s Slippers Orchids – Purdon Conservation Area The lady slippers in Lanark Highlands spread far and wide across the grounds of the Purdon Conservation Area. This cluster of more than 10,000 flower plants is the largest orchid colony in all of Canada. The flowers make quite a stunning site in mid-June and July when they are in full bloom. The Conservation Area features boardwalks, viewing areas, and educational signage to further enrich your experience.-From: OntarioHighlands.com OntarioHighlands.com
Silver Queen Mica Mine – Murphys Point Provincial Park The Silver Queen Mica Mine operated between 1903 and 1920 and produced an abundance of mica, feldspar, and apatite. The tunnel mines burrow 60 feet deep into the earth and were hand-dug by local farmers looking to make extra income. Located in Murphys Point Provincial Park, you can visit the mine during summer months on a guided, interpretive tour.-From: OntarioHighlands.com OntarioHighlands.com
Stewart Park – Perth This five-acre, luscious park area in Perth, Ontario, was once home to a Scotch distillery. Today, tourists and locals can enjoy a day in Stewart Park surrounded by maple trees, lavish gardens, and the sound of the Tay River. We’ve saved this spot as the final destination on the Seven Wonders of Lanark County tour so you can relax and contemplate the many remarkable sights you’ve just seen.-From: OntarioHighlands.com OntarioHighlands.com
Someone mentioned on Facebook yesterday that most kids today had no idea that the Trillium was Ontario’s flower and no idea about it’s history and a light bulb went off.
Matthew Jason Dever–
How do kids get to be 17 years old in this city and this province and not know what a trillium is? And what it means to this province? #argh#kidsthesedays
So thank you Matthew for your comment and idea– and here is your 101 and then some…. For all of you adults and the kids:)
The trillium is my absolute favourite wildflower. Every Spring my mother would excitedly tell my sister and me that they were once again in bloom. Out the back door and away we would go, exploring the woods until we came upon the hollow where the trilliums covered the place like a fairyland.
My favourite thing to do in the Spring is to visit the Mill of Kintail just outside of Almonte when the trillium are in bloom. Almost magical–the trillium, a three-petalled white flower exquisitely tinged with purple as are scattered among the trails just past the little bridge. They can be seen all through Lanark County and I have also put a photo of the Beckwith Nature Trail below. The adoption of an official flower for Ontario in 1937 grew out of a movement during the First World War to choose a national floral emblem appropriate for planting on the graves of Canadian servicemen overseas. Although it was well received, no national flower was ever chosen, but the white trillium was chosen as Ontario’s floral emblem.
Mill of Kintail Trillium Loop There is a still a common belief that it is illegal in Ontario to pick white-trillium flowers because of its status as the province’s emblem. Actually common gossip was that if you accidentally stepped on a trillium the Mounties would swarm out of the woods and arrest you! While there is no such law, it is not advisable to pick the flowers because it takes so many years to produce one and the plant may take years to recover from the damage. Anyone who has visited a forested area in the spring in our region is familiar with Ontario’s floral emblem, the white trillium. Many gardeners have failed to grow trilliums in the past because thirty or so years ago the only supply came from wild-collected roots that had dried out in transit. It was impossible to grow these plants then: they simply never got going. Twenty years ago nurserymen began to grow pot-grown specimens raised from seeds and it became possible to buy a healthy trillium that would do well in the garden.
According to “ginsengers”, this group of flowers, as well as Jack in the Pulpit; are good indicators of soil favourable for growing wild ginseng. Maybe the *Watt Brothers in Lanark knew something about this when they had their *Ginseng Company near the village. Did you know that trilliums are edible and medicinal? The flower has a long history of use by Native Americans and the young edible unfolding leaves are an excellent addition to salad tasting somewhat like sunflower seeds. The root is used as an alternative medicine and is antiseptic, antispasmodic, diuretic, and ophthalmic. The roots, fresh or dry, may be boiled in milk and used for diarrhea and dysentery. Yes, we still get dysentery- and it’s just not for the history books.
Sometimes the raw root is grated and applied as a poultice to the eye in order to reduce swelling, or on aching rheumatic joints. The leaves were once boiled in lard and applied to ulcers as a poultice, and to prevent gangrene. An infusion of the root is used in the treatment of cramps and a common name for the plant, birthroot’, originated from its use to promote menstruation. Some of the root bark can be used as drops in treating earache. Constituents found in the volatile and fixed oils are, tannic acid, saponin, a glucoside resembling convallamarin, sulphuric acid and potassium dichromate, gum, resin, and starch.
Folklore: Used to facilitate childbirth, and to treat other female problems by the women of many Native American tribes. Trillium root was considered to be a sacred female herb and they only spoke of it to their medicine women.
Medicinal drink: Add 1 tsp. herb decoction to 1 cup warm milk, take at bedtime for diarrhea.
Mark Piper has added— To the tune of the Flowers that Bloom in the Spring (from the Mikado):
Arrest from the Red-Coated men, tra la If you step on that poor Trillium. Arrest from the Mounties in red, tra la For assault on Ontario’s emblem.
So that’s what we mean when we say when we sing Except for the Trilliums, step on anything.
Tra la la la la, Tra la la la la, Tra la la la la la.
Last night after tossing and turning in my sleep I woke up once again in a sweat. Was it a hot flash that had caused me to wake up so suddenly? No, for the past year visions of bears have plagued my dreams on a weekly basis. They do not speak to me personally but these black bears somehow make their presence known and I have no clue why. Last night a bear gave me their dead cub and somehow it became mounted and stuffed and I then placed it in a long white floral gift box. I made a point of showing it to others like I was going to get the Nobel Peace Prize on Animal Planet.
Have I been watching way too much Stephen Colbert or was it something I ate? I have no idea if this all goes back to watching some of my friends being chased by a back bear as a child, only to have his father shoot it. Bears are symbols of calm, stoic strength and seeing that poor thing draped over a large chair with a beer in its mouth paraded around town has traumatized me for 50 years.
Last year some of you remember that I went to the Mill of Kintail in Lanark County, Ontario. When I got there, I was asked immediately by some high school students, working as Conservationists if I was there to take a hike. I shook my head no, and then they eyed my Twilight jacket I had on. They smirked, and asked me jokingly if I was there to train with the wolves to fight evil Vampires.
You see, there is a similar clearing here in the middle of these woods just like in the Stephenie Meyers movies. Yes, maybe in this very clearing I will encounter the glorious animated wolves designed by Tibbet Studios. I smiled and really wanted to say something snarky at this point, but then their next words stopped all my brain flow in about one second flat. They warned me twice to read the caution sign for Black Bears.
Black Bears? What Black Bears?
I had to pay five dollars to possibly get mauled to death?
Is there a refund for my heirs if I get mangled or eaten?
No one knows I am here and how will they know how to look for me if I do not come home- or even identify what is left of me.
I tried to memorize the bear sign, but there was way too much information on it. All I saw were the following words:
“If you do encounter one, it is important to remember that they are powerful and potentially dangerous animals.”
Really? Like I did not know this?
“Make noise as you move through the woods.”
So as I inched down the trail I made lots of noise. I am a walking, talking noise maker so believe me this was no stretch for me.
“Travel with others.” Nice time to tell me that once I am in and paid my five bucks.
“Carry a bear bell or whistle.”
Geez guys, I don’t think I saw that specific item in Walmart. Where does one buy a bear whistle and will it work against the criminals in the hoods of Oakland also?
“Be aware of your surroundings by keeping your eyes and ears open.”
I forgot my glasses so everything looks a tad blurry and sometimes people tell me I am not a good listener. What are my chances here?
Here lies the marker for my beloved Trillium path. In the spring, the trail is full of thousands of the delicate white flowers. Do I really want to walk into the Trillium Loop now and what if I come out from the trillium path with only one leg?
Who the heck is going to give me a tourniquet? Most certainly not the Museum curator in the mill. She did not even know much about what she had in her Museum, let alone have a first aid kit for a bear mauling.
Lanark Village bear “If the bear does see you, raise your arms and look as big as possible.” “Speak in a firm non threatening voice while slowly walking away.”
So what does that mean? Do I look at him and say,
”Bad Bear, please go away!”
Or will he speak to me like the bears do in my dreams sometimes.
“Most importantly, do not run or climb a tree.”
You have to be kidding right? I cannot run period and I cannot remember the last time I climbed a tree. I honestly need a stepladder to look in the kitchen cupboards.
I now realize that I need some sort of protection to get back to the parking lot. I look in my purse and realize that a ball point pen or keys are not the solution but I have found the next best thing.
Argyle street bear- Carleton Place many years ago There at the bottom of my purse lies an old pair of Crayola red scissors that belonged to one of my sons a zillion years ago. I had grabbed them in haste a few days ago to cut some flowers and now I suddenly felt like I might have a chance. I start to laugh and then get serious remembering the very last rule.
“Make sure the bear is not following you.”
Turning around I see a shadow peek out at me from some trees nearby. I immediately start running towards my car and wonder how long it will take for me to become lunch.I hear loud noises in the opposite direction and stop dead in my tracks. The bear or whatever it was is afraid and I silently wonder if he has heard the gossip about me throughout the years. I remember that if you dream of a bear chasing you it means you are avoiding a big issue in your life, and it is time to deal with it. I shake my head and laugh – bears, humans we are all the same and wonder if he had been dreaming about me. After all no matter who or what we are:
lindaseccaspina 