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Over 2,000 visitors in one month The McDougaH Mill Museum Cerhinly me (i Renfrew'a major attractions. the Mc- Doug-ll Mill Museum. in only its second year, has proved to he one of Rerdrew‘s and the Valley‘s chief assets. 2005 visiting were recorded in the guesthooltinthemonthofluly. in percent of them out-of- humus. As Is always the case mywhere you go, local people and those close to home fail to appreciate their own atâ€" tractions. Most people who have lived in New York all their lives have never been up the Empire State building or in the Metropolitan Museum of Art. Those in Vancouver take for named the mountain chair lifts and the suspension bridges. So. too, in Renfrew few residents have glimpsed the fascinating exhith of Rlcnfrew am Valley history on display at the Mo Doogall Mill museum. Mill museum. Most of the items are turn of the century, but many date back to the 1850's and even the late 1700's. The exact number of pieces on display isn’t known, however. 3001) would probably be a close estimate. There have been 188 donors some whom have contributed as many as 30 articles. The old mill can certainly accommodate them and display them in the proper complementary settings of their era. Donated articles, it should be said. are gratefully accepted and the museum has space for many more. The old mill itself has a colorful history. Built in 1855 by John Lorn McDougall. it was the first grist mill in the area and in an ideal site where the river dropped a total of 82 feet over a series of rock ledges. The building of the mill could be considered the formal beginning of the town of Kenâ€" frew. which was incorporated as a village in M58, Built of line stone the mill stands on Arthur Avenue in M..l. O'Brien park. It had been used for a time. as one of the buildings of the MJ. O‘Brien owned Renirew Woolcns. when the company closedthemillwaslobetorn down but Mike Murray. a grandson of M.J. O'Brien saved it by purchasing it from Am- brose O‘Brien (or one dollar, In the following years Mike Murray worked with others in the town to have it developed as an historical site. In 1967 when the town was looking for a centennial project, Mike Murray offered the old grist mill with its water wheel and MJ. O‘Brien Ltd. donated the land around. as a place to be developed as I park. ln1989 the town pernutted the newly lormed Renfrew Historical Society to develop the [Hill as a mumm. Now in its second year. itshows every sign of a SHCCBE. some 21) Historical society Volunteers have cleaned and swept it. but other than that it remains exactly as it was built. steeped in history. Great one newn beams and thick floor planking attest to the sturdy hand-built construction. inside it as a treasure trove of Renfrew and Valley Credit for the accomplishment goes to the many members of the Historical Society who scoured the country-aide tor the articles now on display. Thanks for a job well done should go also In Les Anderson. President of the Renlrew Historical Society and to Manford Walker. now Curator of the Museum. Some articles of the fascinating tollectl on are easily identifiable as to Die uses with which they were put. For others, however. one can only conjecture what they were good for or what they did. Museumstafier. Miss Marion McQuade, said "lat she "often ponders what the people must have been like who used these appliances and implements. clothes and furniture." "i wonder how many times she rolled bread on that old cup- board. and what was she wearing. what was she like” Here you can see an old swivel chair used by W Smallfield. the loundcr of the Renfrew Mercury in ld7l. Ad- mire the craftsmanship of the Barnett ice Box made right in Renfrew by the old Renirew Refrigerator Co, and, too. the cute little miniature ice box that was used as a sulusman's sample. There are spinning wheels and knitting machines. an old Edison gramaphone which still plays the Cylinders. 8 beautiful old organ and a magnificent “Chlckenng” grand piano rnade in Boston in 1872. There Is a fascinating old dentisLs' chair and a beautifully carved Edwardian love seat. There is an old tin bath tub used in the late 1800's. shanty puLsand a spitoon, candle molds and scores of kitchen ulemils. There are pieces of period clothing, hair ncLs and baby clothes. There l5 also an egg Collection, rivalling any. that was made in law. An Ostrich egg and an Emu egg. it is said. were ob- talncd in a trade for a humming bird egg. Down in the basement one can find the larger items. Principal of these is a mammoth tree stump puller donated by Wilson McIntyre of Renirew. Circa 1550 it was used by both his grandiather and father who manufactured and sold them. There are old wagons. blacksmiths. bellows. brood axes manufactured in Renfrew. cream separators-also made here and hundreds of other smaller items too numerous to list. One can't just breeze through inahalfhourand expecttosee everything. It‘s a thoroughly fascinating display and should be seen by everyone in Ren- irew. But spend a little time here and history will be before you. Oh what stories this old building and its contents could tell you and will tell you - when you visit it. The reputation of our museum is spreading far and wide. A Mr Joseph Wren of Whitehorse, Yukon, met 8 Daniel Scully of Detroit. Michigan up around Thunder Bay and Mr Scully said during their conversafion, “if you're ever in Renfrew. be sure to visit their museum." to which Mr Wren replied “yes l‘ve been there and its fantastic isn't it." So come on people of Renfrew! For a treat and a peep into are past that will certainly delight you drive over to the McDougall Mill Museum. Hours are H} and 7-9. You won't be sorry you‘ve taken the time. A. A knitting machine. turn of the century. Barnett ice box made at the old Renfrew Refrigerator “puny. The little white one at the [alt is a salesman's sample.