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It was 1855 when
Renfrew merchant John Lorne McDougall made a purchase that would forever
change the landscape of the Bonnechere River.
On the agreement
he would use the land for a large gristmill, McDougall bought a quarter
acre lot on the river for five shillings from the Hon. Francis Hincks, a
decision that guaranteed him a spot in Renfrew history books forever.
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The beautiful
stone building gracing the banks of the Bonnechere became the McDougall
Museum in 1969 when M. J. Murray donated it to the Town of Renfrew.The Town then
turned operation of the museum over to the Renfrew Historical Society.
Inside, furniture, dishes, and bric-a-brac showed visitors what living
conditions were like in Renfrew during Pioneer Days.
In 1972 tragedy
struck as fire consumed the museum. Fortunately, thanks to the hardworking
efforts of the Renfrew Fire Department, the Mill was left standing but
sadly, all the contents were destroyed.
Today, the
much painted and often-photographed McDougall Museum has been restored and
is open in the summer months to visitors and tourists.
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