POINTS OF INTEREST

THE GILLIES BROS. LUMBERING FIRM

This firm was begun in 1873 when James, William, John and David Gillies purchased a steam sawmill here on the Ottawa River at Braeside. Building on the experience acquired by their father, John Gillies, who had begun lumbering in Lanark County in 1842, they had established themselves by the mid-1880's as one of the Ottawa Valley's large lumber producers. This position was maintained partly by the involvement of succeeding generations in the management of the firm and by careful acquisition and exploitation of timber limits. In the twentieth century, despite the exhaustion of stands of virgin pine and pressures to diversify, Gillies continued almost exclusively to manufacture pine. In 1963 the firm was sold to the Consolidated Paper Corporation, ending 90 years of family ownership.

THE RED PINE BAY SHIPWRECK

James, William. John and David Gillies began a steam sawmill firm in 1873. Their father had started lumbering in the area in 1842. By 1880, the firm was one of the Ottawa Valley's largest lumber producers. By the turn of the century, the huge stands of virgin pine in the area had been exhausted and there were industry pressures for diversity. The Gillies brothers were still almost the exclusive manufacturers of pine products in the area. In 1963, the firm was sold to Consolidated Paper Corporation ending ninety years of family ownership. Since that time the firm has been sold again to Tembec Incorporated.

This site is the shipwreck of a lumbering tug, believed to have been scuttled near the turn of the century. The wreck is a steam driven    Read More

BRAESIDE PUBLIC SCHOOL BELL

This Bell is the Original Bell from the Braeside Public School built in 1878. Donated by Mrs. Clarissa Burns.

Erected by:
The Council of The Village of Braeside in 1987

Location:
Fire Station #3, 912 Centre St., Braeside

CANAAN CHURCH

On this site between the years of 1840 and 1886 stood CANAAN CHURCH. The First Minister was The Rev. Alexander Mann, M.A., D.D. "They Sought a Country"

Erected by:
The Scottish Pioneers of the Townships of McNab and Horton.

Location:
2394 Burnstown Rd.

FIRST SCHOOL IN MCNAB

On this site stood the first school of Section 13 McNab. Built in 1868.

Erected by:
Glasgow Women's Institute in 1968

Location:
Corner of Calabogie Rd. and Anderson Dr.

MADAWASKA SCENIC LOOKOUT

Towards the end of the year (1837) the commissioners gave out the general contract of constructing the bridge at Johnson's Rock (Burnstown) to Mr. Duncan McNab (Auchessan), a lumberer, for £200. Mr. McNab set to work with skill and energy. He took into partnership Mr. Duncan Carmichael and before the first of January, 1838, the new bridge-the long-talked of and disputed structure was at length completed.


Erected by:
Renfrew County Road Committee in 1975

Location:
58 Building Supply Lane, off Burnstown Rd., Burnstown

SAND POINT WHARF AND LIGHTHOUSE

This location was for many years the Ontario side of the Sand Point-Norway Bay ferry run.

Location:
Corner of River Rd. and Wharf Rd., Sandpoint

Note:
Photo, copyright Jennifer Busch