Saturday, January 21, 2017

Watson's Mill

Watson's Mill, a prominent landmark in Manotick, occupies a place on the west bank of the Rideau River and east of where Dickinson Street curves into Mill Street. A nineteenth century grist mill, Watson's Mill continues to operate, grinding grain into flour. The operation welcomes visitors who may take a self guided tour of the mill with tour booklets provided at the mill site.

When I went inside to photograph the interior I had no clue about any of it and, unfortunately I missed an entire floor as well as the turbines that power the mill. You will just have to go and visit the mill to see it all for yourself.


This gazebo overlooks the Rideau River from the Manotick Island.
I checked it and the piano works, though it may need tuning.





This building is not a mill though it has a sign saying 'Watson's Mill' on it.
It formed a part of the operation as a carriage shed. Right now
it houses a used book store.




THE LONG ISLAND MILL
An outstanding example of mill architecture in Ontario, this
grist-mill was constructed by Thomas Langrell, and Ottawa
contractor, for Moss K. Dickinson (1822-97) and Joseph M.
Currier (1820-84), the owners of a nearby sawmill. The
Long Island Mill began operation in 1860 with four sets of
mill-stones driven by water-powered turbines manufactured
in Ottawa. By autumn of 1862 a woolen-mill had been
added to the industrial complex, around which the community
of Manotick developed. Dickinson acquired full interest in the
mills in 1863 and the family retained ownership of the Long
Island Mill until 1929. In 1972 this mill, the adjacent Dickinson
House, and the original carriage-shed were purchased and
restored by the Rideau Valley Conservation Authority.
Erected by the Ontario Heritage Foundation,

Ministry of Culture and Recreation





















Watson's Mill Time Capsule
This time capsule was compiled of the 2010 year in
commemoration of Watson's Mill 150th Anniversary.
It will be opened in the year 2060.


La capsule de temps du Moulin Watson
Cette capsule de temps funt assemblée pendant l'année
2010 pour soluligner le 150ème anniversaire
du Moulin Watson. Elle sera révélée en 2060.








Thursday, January 19, 2017

A. Y. Jackson Plaque

A. Y. Jackson Park occupies the southwest corner of Bridge Street and Arthur Crescent, in Manotick, Ontario. Taking the path that meets Arthur Crescent at right angles leads to a place where the plaque commemorating A. Y. Jackson stands.


This park is dedicated to the memory of A. Y. (Alexander Young) Jackson, a leading member of the Group of Seven who lived and painted in Manotick from 1955 to 1962. Jackson was 72 and an internationally recognized landscape artist when he moved from Toronto to be with members of his family. From Manotick he continued to venture forth to sketch and paint landscapes.

Jackson was born in Montreal in October 1882. Despite leaving school at 12 to help support his family, he managed to study art in Chicago and Paris. Back in Quebec, he struggled as a painter and was tempted to move to the U.S. Fate intervened when Toronto artist Lawren Harris bought his painting The Edge of Maple Wood. In 1913, Harris and other artists invited Jackson to join them in Toronto.


Jackson enlisted in the army in World War I and was wounded in action in 1916. In 1917, still overseas, he became an official war artist. Returning to Toronto after the war, he helped form the Group of Seven in 1920.

Jackson was a key figure in the Group's legendary painting expeditions to Georgian Bay, Algoma and Lake Superior's north shore — much of it rugged wilderness accessible only by canoe. In 1927, he was the first Group member to paint the Arctic. The Group sought to capture the spirit of Canada on canvas as a way of expressing Canadian identity.


In 1962, Jackson moved from Manotick to Ottawa. After suffering a stroke in 1968 he went to live in Kleinburg near Toronto, and died there April 5, 1974. He is buried on the grounds of the McMichael Canadian Art Collection, alongside fellow Group of Seven artists Lawren Harris, Arthur Lismer, Frederick Varley, Franz Johnston and A. J. Casson.



Ce parc est dédié à la mémoire de A. Y. (Alexander Young) Jackson, un des chefs de file du Groupe des Sept, qui a vécu et pient à Manotick de 1955 à 1962. Jackson était un paysagiste de renommée internationale lorsqu'il a quitté Toronto à l'âge de 72 ans et s'est intallé ici pour dessiner et peindre des paysages.

Jackson est né à Montréal en octobre 1882. Bien qu'il ait quitté l'école à lâge de 12 ans pour subvenir aux besoins de sa famille, il est parvenu à étudier l'art à Chicago et à Paris. De retour au Québec, il épouvait des difficultés à subsister comme peitnre et a été tenté de s'établir aux États-Unis. Le destin a voulu que Lawren Harris, artiste de Toronto, achète sa peinture La lisière de l'érablière. En 1913, Harris et d'autres artisted ont invité Jackson à se joindre à eux à Toronto.


Jackson s'est enrôlé durant la Première Guerre mondiale et en 1916, il a été blessé au combat. En 1917, pendant qu'il se trouvait toujours outre-mer, il est devenu peintre de guerre attitré. De retour à Toronto à l'issue de la guerre, il a aidé à constituer le Group des Sept, qui a vu le jour en 1920.

Le Groupe s'est efforcé de fixer sur toile l'esprit du Canada dans le but d'exprime l'identité canadienne. Jacson a joué un rôle de premier plan dans les expéditions légendaires du Groupe dans la Baie georgienne, à Algoma et sur la Rive nord du lac Supérieur — des régions essentiellement sauvages accessibles uniquement en canoë. En 1927, il a été la premier membre du Groupe à partir peindre dans l'Arctique.


En 1962, Jackson a quitté Manotick pour Ottawa. En 1968, après avoir été victime d'un accident cérébrovasculaire, il s'est installé à Kleinbug, près de Toronto, et il y est mort le 5 avril 1974. Il ext enterré sur la propriété de la McMichael Canadian Art Collection, aux côtés d'autres membres du Groupe des Sept, en l'occurrence Lawren Harris, Arthur Lismer, Frederick Varley, Franz Johnston et A. J. Casson.

Tuesday, January 17, 2017

Spencerville War Memorial

In Spencerville, Ontario the community's war memorial occupies a place on the north side of Centre Street between South Street and Murray Street.












Lest We Forget
"Praising what is lost makes the
remembrance dear" — William Shakespeare
DEDICATED BY
GRENVILLE MUTUAL INSURANCE COMPANY
2014


IN LOVING MEMORY OF
OUR HEROES
WHO FELL IN THE GREAT WAR
1914—1918


THEIR NAMES SHALL NEVER PERISH

Lest we forget

ERECTED BY THE CITIZENS

OF

THE TOWNSHIP OF EDWARDSBURG

PTE. JOSIE COOK APR. 22 1915
SGT. RICHARD GOODIN. MAY 7 1916
LIEUT. W. ROY KINGSTON. JULY 25 1916
LIEUT. T. W. F. MACKNIGHT. R.A.M.C. SEP. 4 1916
PTE. WM H. JOHNSON. SEP. 6 1918
PTE. JAMES F. HAMILL. NOV. 18 1916
PTE. NEIL W. MUNRO. FEB. 26 1917
PTE. D. C. COYLE. APR. 9 1917
LIEUT. WESTON WARD PITT. JUNE 7 1917
PTE. PERCY MCEDIS. JUNE 1917
PTE. WILLIE COLLINS. JULY 1917
PTE. FREEMAN G. BARTON. AUG. 2 1917
PTE. CHAS. N. HENOPHY. OCT. 30 1917
PTE. JOHN SIFTON. NOV. 29 1917
LIEUT. HARLOW TRIPP. MAR. 31 1918
PTE. NEWTON HENDERSON. APR. 2 1918
PTE. WM ARMSTRONG. AUG. 10 1918
2ND LIEUT. BALDWIN MCDOUGALL. SEP. 22 1918
PTE. ROLAND WHITING. OCT. 31 1918
PTE. PERCY A. BARTON. NOV. 2 1918
SGT. ALEX LYON MCKENZIE. NOV. 27 1918
SGT. ROY LINDSAY. JUNE 6 1919
GUNR. G. HILLIARD RIDDELL. AUG. 29 1920
PTE. HIRAM COOK. DEC. 14 1920

GUNR. W. A. DUNLOP. AUG. 21 1917
NURSE LAURA A. MONTGOMERY SHOREY NOV. 2 1918

WORLD WAR II
VICTOR L. T. HARVEY
LLOYD MCGUIRE
CHARLES DIETSCHWEILER
EDDIE RYLANDS

HOWARD WILSON
THOS. P. QUINN
ARNOLD WALLACE

IN DEDICATION TO THOSE WHO SERVED

KOREAN CONFLICT
1950—1953

PEACEKEEPING CORPS


TO PERPETUATE THE MEMORY
AND THE NOBLE DEEDS
OF THOSE WHO HAVE FALLEN
WHILE ON MILITARY SERVICE
TO CANADA
AND OF THOSE WHO DIE
IN THE FUTURE
PRESERVING THE FREEDOM
OF OUR GREAT NATION