Hamlet of Forester's Falls
The
hamlet of Forester’s Falls
dates back to the early 1800's
when a dam and road were built
over the waterfall on McNaughton’s
Creek. It is named after Oliver
Forester, the hamlet’s
first post master and one of
the community’s first
school trustees. The first settlers
of Forester’s Falls were
mainly English, Irish and Scottish.
The hamlet
included a sawmill, a gristmill
and three general stores among
other buildings when a fire
destroyed most of the community
in 1870 leaving only the dam
and bridge standing. As the
hamlet rebuilt and flourished,
one could encounter a blacksmith,
a wagon maker, a shoemaker,
a hotel and livery stable, a
cheese factory, a metal shop,
a dress & suit maker, a
brick & tile business and
several general stores. Today, Forester’s
Falls attracts history enthusiasts
and people researching their
family tree who tour the Ross
Museum and browse through its
archives. It also attracts the
outdoor adventurer en-route
to whitewater rafting, kayaking
and canoeing activities on the
Ottawa River. |
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