A pretty sweet grab today a hand written note from Bennett Rosamond House of Commons 1894. The Rosamonds were one of the first industrial developers in Carleton place starting a woolen business in 1830. By 1846 they built a woolen mill on the Mississippi (credited with being the first known textile mill to be ran by water power in eastern Ontario). Then moving on to Almonte in 1857, they build another woolen Mill that still stands there today.
In 1862 Bennett Rosamond and his brother William leased the Victoria Woolen Mills from their father under the partnership of B & W Rosamond and embarked upon a programme of rapid expansion. In 1866, they brought into the firm, now renamed B & W Rosamond & Co-MVTM
Adultery & desertion… One of Almonte’s Textile Industry mill owners, Bennett Rosamond, eldest son of James Rosamond, founder, wasn’t as lucky in love & life as you might imagine…
From the Dictionary of Canadian Biography: “His early marriage caused him great unhappiness and led to separation within a decade. The son whom he had groomed to take over his business, John M., predeceased him, as did his other children. These events may help explain the harsh, practical image of Bennett Rosamond.”
Adultery & desertion… One of Almonte’s Textile Industry mill owners, Bennett Rosamond, eldest son of James Rosamond, founder, wasn’t as lucky in love & life as you might imagine…
From the Dictionary of Canadian Biography: “His early marriage caused him great unhappiness and led to separation within a decade. The son whom he had groomed to take over his business, John M., predeceased him, as did his other children. These events may help explain the harsh, practical image of Bennett Rosamond.”
No 1 Mill– the dam that would have been taken out would be at the top of the falls.
Jan 1871 Almonte Gazette
The Dam Case — Some time during last summer four of the employees of B. & W. Rosamond & Co. were charged before a Justice of the Peace with the crime of tearing away and destroying 60 feet of the dam at the long wooden bridge leading to No. 1 mill. The case was tried a t the Perth assizes in October, and a true bill against the four men was found by the Grand Jury.
The judge, however, had no time to try the case and it was left over to the Quarter sessions — the result of the trial being that the four men were found guilty and sentenced to three months imprisonment in the common Jail.
It is rather hard for the men to be thus incarcerated, for the facts are that the men were ordered by their employers to go out and destroy the dam, and that they (the employers) would stand between them and all harm, ensuring the men at the same time that they had the highest legal authority for doing so.
Under the circumstances we think it is a pity that the majesty of the law could not have been vindicated quite as well by a much shorter period of imprisonment. Since the trial we have heard but one universal opinion expressed In the affair, and that is, a strong feeling of sympathy for the four employees.
In 1862 Bennett Rosamond and his brother William leased the Victoria Woolen Mills from their father under the partnership of B & W Rosamond and embarked upon a programme of rapid expansion. In 1866, they brought into the firm, now renamed B & W Rosamond & Co-MVTM
Bridge on Pinehurst
photo almonte.com
Built by Bennett Rosamond, president and managing director of the Rosamond Woollen Company, one of the largest woollen mills in Canada at the time. In 1884, he started to clear his land on the “Point” in a quiet and secluded area known as Brookdale Park, and by March 1890, had announced contracts for construction of Pinehurst, “the handsomest house” at the “prettiest location in town.” This was followed by a lodge (1892), a grapery (1894), and two outbuildings (1895). Later, an iron bridge was built on the road leading to Pinehurst from No. 1 Mill and a stone wall was built along the driveway.
The mill stood on river bank near James St. The Rosamond House (1838) which is still standing is at 37 Bell St.
James Rosamond operated a carding mill from 1838-1846 and then a custom carding and woolen mill from 1846 – 1857.
In 1825, in the village of Fenagh in county Leitrim in Ireland, a gang of Catholic youths attacked the Rosamond home. The Rosamonds were staunch Protestants. James, aged 20 (born 1805) and his brother Edward, aged 15, attempted to protect their mother. A shot was fired by Edward and a youth was dead. The boys fled to Canada. James went to Merrickville where he worked for James Merrick as a weaver. Edward, still fearing arrest, worked his way eventually to Memphis, Tennessee.
James Rosamond worked for James Merrick for five years and he came to Carleton Place in 1825. We know that by 1830 he was operating a sawmill, an oat mill and a carding and a fulling mill in Carleton Place on one side of the Mississippi River and a lumber mill on the other side of the river.
In 1831 he married Margaret Wilson who was born in Scotland. James and Margaret were to have five children, all born in Carleton Place: Bennett, Mary Ann (known as Marion, who later married Andrew Bell, their son was James McIntosh Bell), Rosalind, William and James.
In the 1830’s, James built a very fine stone home on Bell Street in Carleton Place, close to St. James’ Church where he was a church warden for fifteen years. It was a time of great expansion. No one worried about pension funds, or the government looking after your, that was your responsibility. James burst upon the scene and started many businesses, all of which seem to have been successful.
James, in what was to prove to be a landmark decision, decided to turn his fulling and carding mill into a woolen factory. In 1864 he advertised that he had purchased spinning and weaving machinery which he had bought from firms in Toronto, Ogdensburgh and Watertown, New York. By 1846 he was in operation and was selling “Plain Cloth either grey or dyed, Cashmere, Satinett, Flannel, all wool or cotton and wool, Blankets, etc.” James had started with three narrow looms, one spindle jack of one hundred and twenty spindles and one bolting roll. He expanded as best as he could in Carleton Place but the limiting factor was the amount of water power to make everything run. He ran his operation in Carleton Place for another ten years, but by 1857 his water rights had lapsed and he erected a stone mill in Almonte on the site of the Ramsay Woolen Cloth Manufacturing Company which had been destroyed by fire. Alex Huighes
McDonald and Brown Carding and Fulling Mill and Woolen Factory
Vicinity of 71 Mill St (Mill St and Judson St).
This mill was located on Lot 65 Section D of the town survey. Allan McDonald operated a carding mill a at this location from 1846 – 1864, except for the interval 1861 – 1863 when he leased it to William Paisley.
Under the management of Paisley, it was known as the Wolverine Carding Mills. Then from 1864 it was again run as a custom carding mill under Allan McDonald and then in succession by a partnership of John McDonald and John Brown.
A new mill was built on 1868. On the retirement of John McDonald in 1901, it continued in operation by John Brown.
105 Mill St, W 1/2 Lot 15, Conc 12 Beckwith Township.
The Archibald McArthur and Company Woolen Mill was built in 1871 and was operated by the company until 1876. The woolen mill, equipped to operate by waterpower of the lower falls, was later leased and reopened by William H. Wylie in 1877 when the country’s business depression became less severe. Wylie operated the mill until 1881.
It was then sold to John Gillies in 1882 and operated until 1900 under the firm name of J Gillies, Son and Company ; John and James Gillies; The John Gillies Estate Company Ltd .
In 1900 it was sold to the Canada Woolen Mills Ltd who went bankrupt in 1904. The reason was stated to be loss of Canadian markets to British exporters of tweeds and worsteds.
It was later sold to Bates and Innes in 1907. Bates and Innes Co. Limited equipped the former woolen mill as a knitting mill. In 1909 , the Bates & Innes knitting mill, after making waterpower improvements, began running night and day with 150 employees.
It was and still operating in 1911 as a knitting mill.
115 Emily St, NE 1/2, Lot 13, Conc 13, Beckwith Township.
Abraham Code operated a woolen mill from 1875 – 1878.
It sat idle from 1878 – 1880.
It was bought in 1880 by James Gillies of Carleton Place from its original owner Abraham Code at a reported price of $16,400.
It was then sold to William Wylie and William Fraser Latimer (subsequent firm name Hawthorne Woolen Mills) in 1881.
In 1889 it was sold to Hawthorne Woolen Company Limited which ran until 1899 when it was sold to Canada Woollen Mills Limited in 1900. In 1903 the Hawthorne (and Gillies) woolen mills – recently working on overtime hours with 192 employees, after six years of improvements under the ownership of Canada Woolen Mills Limited – were closed. The reason was stated to be loss of Canadian markets to British exporters of tweeds and worsteds. The company went into bankruptcy in 1904.
It was finally sold in 1907 to the Waterloo Knitting Company. In 1909 the Hawthorne knitting mill was closed by reason of financial difficulties, and its operating company was reorganized as the Carleton Knitting Co. Ltd’
Photo- Allan Stanley-another photo of the mill workers stairs from about 1946… pic of my father all decked out (probably on a Sunday). My mother (Elsie Tosh) grew up on the “Island” and knew the stairs well.
The planned 9.5-metre steel staircase pays tribute to the municipality’s mill history and recreates a set of stairs mill workers used. The staircase will allow the Riverwalk to connect Coleman Island to the Ottawa Valley Recreation Trail. Mississippi Mills Council awarded the tender for the Mill Workers Staircase to Premium Construction at a special meeting in April.
What could be called the crown jewel of the project is the proposed Mill Workers’ Staircase between Union Street and the former Rosamond Woollen Mill. It will be a timber structure with interpretive plaques.
Contract No.20-08 Fabrication and Installation of the Mill Worker’s Stair Structure
Closing: March 12, 2020 at 2:00pm
D.W. Building – $137,424.73 TLC Exteriors – $157,208.00 Premium Const. – $127,700.00 M. Sullivan – $251,157.00
Sealed tenders on forms supplied by the Corporation of the Municipality of Mississippi Mills will be received at the offices of the Corporation of the Municipality of Mississippi Mills, at 3131 Old Perth Road, P.O. Box 400, Almonte, Ontario K0A 1A0 no later than 2:00p.m. local time, Thursday, March 12th, 2020, for the Fabrication and Installation of the Mill Worker’s Stair Structure.
Tenders will be opened in public at the municipality’s offices immediately following closing time on Thursday, March 12th, 2020.
The general scope of work includes, but is not necessarily limited to, the supply of all materials, fabrication, delivery and erection and construction of a new steel staircase complete with steel landings, steel railings and hand railings, steel supporting columns, concrete slab-on-grade, concrete and helical pile footings.
Complete tender documents (electronic .pdf version, free of charge) will be available on Monday, February 24th, 2020 from HP Engineering Inc., 2039 Robertson Road, Suite 400, Ottawa, Ontario, K2H 8R2 and will be sent via email upon request.
March 28 at 11:54 AM · Millworkers Staircase is in place near Textile Museumhttps://millstonenews.com/millworkers-staircase-is-in…/After years of planning and fundraising, the new version of the Millworkers Staircase was dropped into place on Coleman Island near the Textile Museum this week.The staircase is in the same location as a wooden version that once ran from Union Street to “The Island.” Many residents still remember playing there as children or using it as a shortcut to the high school or to work at the Mill.Completion of the new staircase was made possible in particular through public financial support–by last fall residents had contributed over $70,000 through individual donations and fundraising events. The offer by Mike Dupuis to make his private bridge by the site accessible for public use also played a key role. The installation of the staircase is a major component in the continuing work on Phase 2 of the Riverwalk. That includes: – the Mill Workers’ Walk (from Union Street to the rail trail) – the Carleton Street Walk (from Back Bridge to the Textile Museum) – the Coleman Island stone dust trail from Wellington St to the staircase on the earthen dam – four benches along the stone-dust trail – landscaping – the installation of interpretive & directional signage & of the donor recognition plaquesAs of yesterday there still a few finishing touches remaining until the staircase is open to the public.March 28, 2021 – 11:53 am
Hi Linda, I noticed you had old cookbooks on Tales of Almonte today. I found one the other day dated 1911 and it was for the Rosamond Memorial hospital. This is one of the ads. Sandra Houston
Photo- Sandra Houston 1911
Letter from D.G.Kells to the Canadian Nurses Association–From CLICK
In 1900, Almonte Nursing Service was organized under a branch of the Victorian Order of Nurses. Their work was expanded in 1904 to a dwelling on Ottawa Street, which became the first hospital in Almonte. Known as the Victorian Hospital, it had two private rooms and a public ward with two beds. The hospital operated with a staff of one nurse and one maid.
In 1906, the Victorian hospital was found to be inadequate and the building of a new hospital was undertaken. A year later, the late Bennett Rosamond erected at his own expense a fine stone building at the corner of Clinton and Spring Streets which served Almonte and the surrounding communities for upwards of fifty-two years. The Rosamond Memorial Hospital had four private rooms and two wards with four beds in each. It was officially opened in May 1909, by Their Excellencies Lord and Lady Grey, then the occupants of Rideau Hall.
In 1919, the Victorian Order of Nurses withdrew their support and the management of the hospital was transferred to a Board of Managers. In 1920, an extension was added making room for a total of eighteen adults and ten infants.
For some thirty-eight years, the Rosamond Memorial Hospital was the only hospital within the area from Ottawa to Smiths Falls, to Renfrew and back again to Ottawa, until 1946 when Arnprior Hospital opened. During the 1950’s, it became apparent that the facilities of the Rosamond Memorial Hospital were becoming insufficient to meet the needs of the community. It had grown from a cottage-type hospital of some twelve beds, plus nursery, to a general hospital of twenty-two or more beds.
Construction of the new Almonte General Hospital began in 1959. On May 4th, 1961 Dr. M. B. Dymond, Ontario Health Minister, opened Almonte’s new forty-one bed General Hospital.
In 1982, a new twenty-six bed, Chronic Care Wing was constructed to provide long-term care services to area residents. Expanded facilities were included for Physiotherapy, Occupational Therapy, and a Day Hospital. The new facility, named the Rosamond Wing to recognize the early, health-care contributions of the Rosamond family, was officially opened on July 6, 1982, by His Excellency Governor General Edward Schreyer. From Click
almonte.com–This postcard photo, taken in 1910, shows nurses on the steps of Rosamond Memorial Hospital. The current hospital was built in May 4, 1961, and the old hospital is now apartments. The first baby born in Rosamond Memorial was Victor Horton, first cousin of local store owners Stan Morton. Photo courtesy of Ruth More.The property known as the “Rosamond Memorial Hospital” was to be completed 1 November 1907—It was used as a Hospital from January 10, 1908 – May 31, 1961
Colleen MontgomeryMy Mom and Dad both in this picture. They really enjoyed working there with the wonderful staff at that time. My Dad bottom right and my Mom top 6th from the right.
Greetings from Pinehurst at Almonte, Ontario, Canada RPPC – Real Photo Post Card A Canadian Private Post Card Postmarked at Almonte on December 19, 1905 Mailed to Miss Mary Rosamond of Des Moines, Iowa –So Who Was Mary Rosemond/Rosamond?
A Few Words Concerning the Smartest Town in the District, and Something About the Palatial Home and Grounds of B. Rosamond, Esq., II. P.
That readers at a distance may get an idea of the appearance of some of Almonte’s finest residential properties the Gazette at times prints engravings of them. If this town has made marked progress in the past ten or fifteen years in any direction over another it is in the improved class of buildings that have been erected. We have the busiest and prettiest town in the district, and the steep banks of the Mississippi, with its magnificent falls, as well as its ‘windings past the islands formed in its efforts to find a way into the Bay below, have given the town a natural system of drainage that renders it more than ordinarily healthful. For the above reasons, and others that might be mentioned—its hive of industries, its fine churches and schools and mercantile establishments, its public library, market* etc.—
Print (photomechanical) “Pinehurst,” Almonte, ON, about 1910 1905-1914, 20th century Coloured ink on paper mounted on card – Collotype 8.7 x 13.7 cm Gift of Mr. Stanley G. Triggs MP-0000.648.10
Almonte is a model place for those who wish to retire from the activities of farm or business life and enjoy the advantages and conveniences of a live town. In recent years it has attracted from the fine agricultural district surrounding it not a few of those who had amassed a competence and earned retirement. These wanted comfortable homes, and created a demand for residences of the better class ; and the demand has been met. The result is that the residential part of Almonte has improved wonderfully in appearance, while our public buildings are of a strikingly substantial and handsome type— December 23, 1898-Almonte Gazette
The historic waterfront residence was built in 1890 by the Rosamond family, owners of the largest textile mill in Canada.
almonte gazette
Probably the first place among Almonte’s points of beauty and attractiveness is “ Pinehurst,” the residence and grounds of B. Rosamond, Esq., the representative of North Lanark in the House of Commons. We give a cut of it above. This is one of the finest residences to be found between Montreal and Toronto. It is situated between the C.P.R. track and the Mississippi River in the western part of the town. The residence, built in the finest style of English domestic architecture, is about 45×45, two-and-a-half stories high, the first story being built of the beautiful Perth sandstone, trimmed with Nova Scotia red sandstone, and the upper story being of wood covered with red tiles.
David Tosh Here’s a photo of my mother in front of Pinehurst probably in the late 1940s.
It is roofed with slate. It has its own system of waterworks, water being supplied by means of a hydraulic ram. The interior is especially handsome in regard to both architecture and appointments. It is fitted up with bathrooms and every modem convenience. Numerous-outbuildings have been erected, including a fine conservatory, carriage-house, hennery, etc.
Wooden Bridge At Pinehurst almonte.com –A lady should not present herself alone in a library, or a museum, unless she goes there to study, or work as an artist in the late 1800s.
The grounds— in former times known as “ The Point ”— comprise about twenty-five or thirty acres, covered with magnificent original forest trees. It is approached from Union street by a solidly made gravel roadway, and from the Island by a similar roadway, passing, near the entrance, a stone cottage of neat design— the residence of the caretaker of the grounds. An offshoot from the Mississippi runs through the park, and one of the roads follows its banks as it winds its sinuous way to the Bay below.
Brent Eades I believe — but am not 100% sure — that this is the waterfall at the bottom of the Pinehurst property. It’s not really visible usually except from on the river
A pretty waterfall half-way down (across which a rustic bridge is built) adds immensely to the beauty of the grounds. Other roads and paths run through Mr. Rosamond’s demesne, giving at every turn pretty views of the falls and river. These roads are bordered by beautiful hedges of spruce, cedar, etc., and in the summer season many rare exotics, as well as choice home-grown plants, are to be seen lining the roads or adorning the tennis court.
The tennis ground occupies the fiat part of the lawn below the sloping hill in front of the residence. Handsome flower-beds are also to be seen. Besides being a man of means, Mr. Rosamond has been endowed by nature with good taste, which he displayed in an eminent degree in laying out his grounds. No expense seems to have been spared in beautifying “ Pinehurst,” and its owner is generous in the matter of allowing locals on his property.
Linda Seccaspina Admin · July 17 One of my favourite photos— One of my favourite photos from the Almonte Garden and Home Tour at the Glen Estate 1999. Two new friends were met. Paul Robinson-City Curator for the City of Kingston, ON- the Master of the archives and The Prince of Heritage Architecture and suave– Edgar Tumak also from Kingston. Edgar found it titillating when I raised my skirts at a moments notice because I was just so hot. LOLOLOL. People always ask me who my role models are and who I want to be like, and I don’t wanna be like anybody; I wanna be me. I look up to a lot of people, and they have had great influences on me, but I wanna be original and different and just care about my communities damn it LOLOL Just like Paul and Edgar..
Pinehurst Manor is in the beautiful town of Almonte, 20 minutes west of Ottawa.
The historic waterfront residence was built in 1890 by the Rosamond family, owners of the largest textile mill in Canada. The Manor has been featured in films and graced the presence of many famous Canadians including 2 Governor Generals. The 7500 Sq Ft mansion features grand rooms with original woodwork, stained glass and 10 fireplaces. Enjoy the mature trees and the incredible sound and views of 2 waterfalls!
Have you ever wanted to step into yesteryear? Guests have called Pinehurst Manor the “Downtown Abbey” of the Ottawa Valley. The Manor is ideal for entertaining and events. The “butlers pantry” separating the dining room and kitchen is perfect for serving food for large groups. The library features a custom card table and was once the office of Bennett Rosamond who served as a Member of Parliament when Sir Wilfred Laurier was Prime Minister.
Relax in the sunroom with original stained glass and incredible views or the screened porch where you can hear the waterfalls. Bedrooms with fireplaces and incredible detail including soaker tubs the way they were meant to be.
There are 4 large bedrooms on the second floor with 2 King and 2 Queen beds. For large groups we have additional beds as follows: Queen sofa bed in Victoria Suite. Queen bed in upper sunroom (not winter)) accessed through the Rosamond Suite and Queen sofa bed in main sunroom (not winter). For additional guests you are welcome to bring your own air mattresses and bedding. The home is very large and can accommodate
20 + Guests. The grounds are magnificent and include the original Carriage House, Ice House and beautiful flower gardens. A large stone patio with fire pit and bbq overlook the waterfalls and river with post card pictures of 100 year old oaks and maples.
Lots of great activities. Practice you short game with a 95 yard golf hole or enjoy a game of bocce ball, basketball, badminton or try your luck at fishing. Use the binoculars and get close up views of our resident blue herons, red tail hawks and wood peckers. On hot days cool off sitting in the falls!
Seldom is it that the law-abiding citizens of Almonte allow their angry passions to rise, or to tear each others’ eyes out. But last week a most ludicrous conflict occurred in which the principal actors were the proprietors of two woolen mills and their respective employees.
The bone of contention between them was the proprietorship of a small piece of mill property upon which one of the parties, apparently trespassing, attempted to erect tenter bars for stretching cloth. This was perceived by his neighbour who ordered him to stop. The first party refused, and the neighbour’s foreman promptly threw the tenter bars and his opponent into the nearby river. One thing led to another until a battle took place pitting workers of the mills against each other. Weapons (handspikes and crowbars) were obtained, but fortunately no blood was spilled.
Combatants struggled in and around the water with slight interruption for three hours. Peace was finally restored when one employee produced a seven-barrelled ‘pepper box’ revolver and threatened all combatants with it unless the brawl ceased. Only after the fighting did stop was it revealed that the small revolver had not been loaded.
As James Rosamond was building the second Victoria Woolen Mill in Almonte, he realized that with the coming of the railway, the mills would be too small. He began acquiring property on Coleman’s Island near the falls which was occupied by a tannery and residences. Between 1857 and 1867 he acquired six parcels of land. The Coleman Island Mill was built in 1866 – 1867. The first building was a six story stone building, six wide by twelve windows long, centred by a tower.
In 1872 a three story dye house was added on the north end of the building and a 45 foot by 130 foot warehouse and a 40 foot by 45 foot counting house was added on the south. In 1887 a four story north addition was built connecting the dye house. Also, a four story addition was built connecting the main building to the counting house.
The counting house was demolished in 1880 and the south wing extended to Ramsay St.
The New Counting House
A new Counting House for the No. 1 Rosamond Woolen Mill was added to the west end of the warehouse in 1880. This complex is now the home of the Mississippi Valley Textile Museum.
The pepper-box revolver or simply pepperbox (also “pepper-pot“, from its resemblance to the household pepper grinder) is a multiple-barrel repeating firearm that has three or more barrels grouped around a central axis. It mostly appears in the form of a multi-shot handheld firearm. Pepperboxes exist in all ammunition systems: matchlock, wheellock, flintlock, percussion, pinfire, rimfire and centerfire.
The pepperbox should not be confused with a volley gun (like the seven-barrel long gun made by Nock), a firearm that fires multiple projectiles simultaneously by use of multiple barrels.[1] The difference is that a volleygun fires all the barrels simultaneously while the pepperbox is a repeater. The pepperbox should also not be confused with or as a development of the Gatling gun, which fires rapidly by the use of rotating multiple barrels.
I just got the postcard I bought today in the mail. “Greetings from Pinehurst at Almonte, Ontario, Canada RPPC – Real Photo Post Card A Canadian Private Post Card Postmarked at Almonte on December 19, 1905 Mailed to Miss Mary Rosamond of Des Moines, Iowa”
In the Christmas greeting Bennett Rosamond called Mary “coz” and it was addressed to the State Library in Des Moines. I looked into some of the genealogy , but I could not find her, so I went to the newspaper archives. It was tough but I dug her up. Born in Washington, Ohio, Miss Rosemond came to Iowa as a child with her parents, Capt. and Mrs. William E. Rosemond. Notice, that her family were cousins with the Almonte Rosamonds but the American family spelt it Rosemond.
Under the tutelage of the late Johnson Brigham and associated with many others in library work, Miss Mary Morton Rosemond engaged in building up for the state a library of economics and political science, for the use of state officials and legislators who really want to know, for the sincere students of public affairs. She served on the staff of the Iowa state library from 1809 to 1937. She passed away in 1941.
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
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