Almonte Gazette October 27, 1993

Shoddy mill changed hands several times

By Gerry Wheatley

James Rosamond's first mill in Almonte was built in 1857. It was a three-and-a-half storey stone building located between the present Shoddy Mill Gallery and Peterson's Ice Cream factory.

The woollen mill was a very successful enterprise; a credit to James Rosamond's experience and business judgment. Following two years of operation, the Brockville and Ottawa Railway was completed to Almonte, giving Rosamond better access to markets.

With more markets open to woollen products there was a desire to increase production, but James Rosamond Sr., was getting on in years.

An 1861 Almonte Express noted, "The subscriber has this day transferred his business connected with the Victoria Woollen Mills to his sons Bennett and William who will conduct the business heretofore. (Signed, James Rosamond.)"

The first task was to increase production capacity. The second mill was built in 1862 and doubled production. This was the present Shoddy Mill Gallery, but it was built as three storeys. Two additional storeys were added in 1871. This can be seen today with the different colored stone above the third floor.

Bennett Rosamond became president of the Rosamond Woollen Company and showed his dynamic leadership over the next 40 years. Markets for woollen goods were expanding and there wasn't enough space for the Victoria Woollen Mill to expand.

Bennett Rosamond purchased a tannery and land on Coleman's Island, and in 1866-67 built a new modern six-storey stone mill.

It was expanded four times to become the largest and most technologically advanced woollen mill in Canada. The new mill became known as No. 1, and the old mill as No. 2.

Parks Canada has designated the Rosamond No. 1 mill as a National Historic Site. The Rosamond No.1 Mill was renovated into the Millfall Condominiums at 1 Rosamond Street several years ago.

Bennett Rosamond attempted to form a joint stock company to operate the Victoria Woollen Mills, but was unsuccessful. In 1869, the buildings were sold to Andrew Elliott, who formed Elliott, Routh and Sheard Woollen Co.

Later, John Routh with William Rosamond left Almonte to manufacture tweeds in Cobourg, and the firm became Elliott and Sheard.

Records show James H. Cantile of Montreal owned the mill from 1888 to 1892. The mill may have been in receivership during this time. The Toronto Globe of 1892 noted the mill was not in operation, was completely equipped with five sett, and was for sale.

Daniel Shaw and John By Wylie purchased the buildings in 1893 to produce blankets and other woollen goods. Richard Lee and Hirst Taylor bought the mill in 1902 to engage the "garnetting and shoddy business," then sold to the Yorkshire Wool Stock Mills in 1919.

The original stone Rosamond Mill was destroyed by fire in 1923.

In recent years, the building has changed hands many times. One of the more successful owners was Pinecraft, the manufacturer of high quality early Canadian pine furniture. Pinecraft was owned by a Toronto company that went bankrupt, and caused the closing of Pinecraft.

The current owners, Stephen Brathwaite and Greg Smith, opened the Shoddy Mill Gallery in the early summer of 1993 and closed due to the fire of Aug. 3, 1993. The rear annex was badly damaged. Fortunately, the main building received only smoke damage. The art objects in the gallery were heavily damaged by smoke.

Almonte Gazette October 20, 1993

Other fire burned at gallery site in 1852

By Gerry Wheatley

(The story of the Victoria Woollen Mill building, known most recently as the home to the Shoddy Mill Gallery, at 7 Mill Street continues from last week).

Almonte, and particularly the lower falls in Almonte, were recognized as one of the best mill sites in the area.

The Mississippi River drops about 100 feet from source to its entry into the Ottawa River. About 60 feet of that drop takes place in Almonte. Water dropping can be turned into continuous power to drive water wheels (later, water turbines) to turn the wheels of industry.

Daniel Shipman used this water power to operate his saws and turn his gist mill stones. Different industrialists wanted this water power to operate the machinery of their woollen mill.

The first woollen mill built on the Shoddy Mill Gallery site was the Ramsay Woolen Cloth Manufacturing Company. It was a wooden building built in 1851, and powered by water from the lower falls.

James Rosamond Sr. of Carleton place was one of 36 stockholders, who were prominent citizens of both Almonte and Carleton Place. Another source notes there were "some 40 shareholders."

A new piece of legislation called the Joint Stock Companies Act permitted capital to be raised through many shareholders.

Stockholders in the new company included chairman John Gemmill, treasurer Hugh Rea, secretary John Menzies and directors Allan McDonald, James Hart, Robert MacFarlane, Robert Lang, John Scott and John M. Haskin.

Others were R. Bell and Co., James Rosamond, Wm. Peden, Wm. Wilson, Robert Teskey, Thomas Teskey, Daniel Shipman, S.K. Shipman, Norman Shipman, David Lawson and James C. Poole.

In 1851, the population of what was to become Almonte was about 200 people, while Carleton Place's was larger.

The Joint Stock Company was incorporated April 11, 1851, was in full production by November, 1851, and burned on July 8, 1852. It was in operation for only eight months.

Three-quarters of the £ 2,000 loss was covered by insurance. The stock company, without a single dynamic leader, did not rebuild the mill. The site remained idle for a year.

The Carleton Place Herald reported the Ramsayville fire.

"About 10:30 on Saturday night last a fire broke out in the attic floor of the Ramsay Woollen Cloth Manufactury which entirely consumed the building. The flames communicated with the roof of Mr. Shipman's new grist mill, which was completely gutted."

The fire that destroyed the Ramsay Woollen Cloth Manufacturing Company swept lower Mill Street and also destroyed Daniel Shipman's old grist mill and the new stonewalled grist mill he was building. Shipman's uninsured loss was £2,000 pounds. Shipman rebuilt the stone grist mill.

This stone building, located close to Mill Street on the present Ultramar Gas Station parking lot, later was purchased, by John Baird, then J.H. Wylie, and became Almonte's first hydro-electric plant in the 1890s. It was demolished in 1902.

James Rosamond Sr. knew the value of water power at the Ramsay Mill site, particularly compared to the limited water power at his Carleton Place factory.

Also, his Carleton Place water rights were going to expire in a few years. He purchased the Ramsay Mill site and water rights in 1853.

The Dec. 1,1853 Carleton Place Herald, carried an ad from James Rosamond.

"Tenders will be received at the Office of the Subscriber, Carleton Place, for the quarrying and delivery of 180 cords good building stone, to, be laid on the ground before the month of July next, at the Woollen Factory Site lately owned by the Ramsay Woollen Cloth Manufacturing Company, in the village of Waterford.

On Feb. 27, 1854, James Rosamond placed another advertisement.

"Tenders will be received at the office of the subscriber, Carleton Place, until the 1st of May next, for the furnishing of materials and erecting of a stone building in the village of Waterford on the site lately owned by the Ramsay Woollen Cloth Co."

There appears to have been delays in action from these advertised tenders because the stone Victoria Woollen Mill was not completed until the spring of 1857.

The May 28,1857 Carleton Place Herald had the following article. "New factory in Almonte. James Rosamond, Esq. who for many years past resided in Carleton Place and carried on an extensive business in the manufacture of woollen goods, has removed to the village of Almonte, where he is prepared to carry on the business with greatly increased facilities. "We had the pleasure on Friday last of visiting friend Rosamond's establishment, which is now in complete working order, and were agreeably surprised to find his large four-storey building so well filled with machinery, and so many shafts and spindles in rapid motion. "While we feel disposed to regret the loss which our village has sustained, and to envy the Almonters, we have no doubt that the enterprising proprietor of the "Victoria Woollen Mills will receive that support and encouragement that his perseverance deserves."

The May 28,1857 Carleton Place Herald had the following article.

"New factory in Almonte. James Rosamond, Esq. who for many years past resided in Carleton Place and carried on an extensive business in the manufacture of woollen goods, has removed to the village of Almonte, where he is prepared to carry on the business with greatly increased facilities.

"We had the pleasure on Friday last of visiting friend Rosamond's establishment, which is now in complete working order, and were agreeably surprised to find his large four-storey building so well filled with machinery, and so many shafts and spindles in rapid motion.

"While we feel disposed to regret the loss which our village has sustained, and to envy the Almonters, we have no doubt that the enterprising proprietor of the "Victoria Woollen Mills will receive that support and encouragement that his perseverance deserves."

The building referred to was built between the present Shoddy Mill Gallery and Peterson's Ice Cream factory. It was the first Almonte mill in the Rosamond Woollen empire.