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Sharing Our Heritage Two other families arrived in Amprior in1835 and still have family in the area, namely James Havey and Hugh McGonigal. Going back further according to Belden Historical Atlas, Lumbering began in 1812 on the Madawaska below the Flat Rapids, which can no longer be seen since the making of Madawaska Lake when Hydro built the Amprior Dam. The men who it is recorded braved this dense forest were the McConnell Bros. from Hull. Heavy harvesting oftimber continued for a number of years denuding the banks ofthe Madawaska. This was the finest timber that ever was harvested on the Ottawa and it tributaries. The firs house built in the business portion ofthe village was the McNamara house on the comer ofEIgin and Daniel Streets. Hotels and general store soon followed. Andrew Russell was appointed Post Master in 1854. Schools and churches helped the village to grow. The streets were taking shape in that board sidewalks were replacing mud and stumps. The roads were still dusty or muddy depending on the weather and time of year. Daniel McLaughlin was noted for his many acts ofbenevolenee and good will. Many people who suffered hard luek got help from this man. Amprior has a very rich heritage through the years. When McLaughlin's Mills closed the nearby village of Braeside had the Gillies Lumber Mill. There was Kenwood Mills that was known the world over for their felts for paper mills as well as their famous Kenwood Wool Blankets. The Cabinet Factory that made wooden phone booths. The bottling works was the forerunner of Bottled Spring Water. In Wartime we saw the development ofthe local Air Port, which now houses Boeing and until recently the Federal Study Center. In the 1950's we saw Playtex come to town and became well known for their bras and famous rubber girdles. Pfizer was also one ofour modem additions and for a short while called the Viagara Capital, Over the years we have lost the lumbering business as we use to know it as well as many older businesses. New ones come to take their place. While Arnprior was experiencing birthing pains, Stewartville was a lively community approximately seven miles south west ofArnprior. There was a school which one time had 50 pupils. Besides being a lumber stopover it was an active fanning community of mostly Scottish immigrants. Many oftliose descendants still live in the area. Stewartville was known as Balmer lsland. One time Stewartville had four hotels, the first town hall in the township, built in 185859. This building fell to disrepair and was taken down. A cairn marks where it once stood. Stewartville use to hold an agricultural fair. There was a post office, church and general store. At the end of the war the Hydro built a dam on the Madawaska and a Hydro Colony to house the operators who worked at the dam. With the advances in technology the Dam was put on remote control ending the need for hydro residents so the houses were sold to private residents. Renfrew South District Women’s Institute Page 6 of 27