About Blakeney

The present hamlet of Blakeney was once a thriving community with over a dozen mills and shops as well as many homes. The first Scottish settlers arrived in 1821 as part of the government assisted emigration known as the Lanark Society Settlers. They recognized the importance of the array of rapids and waterfalls on theMississippi Riverin Lots 25 & 26 of Concession 9, RamsayTownshipas a source of water power so necessary to operate mills.

The Snedden family built a sawmill, gristmill, an inn and a timber slide, which allowed logs to bypass the dangerous rapids. A bridge built across the river allowed travelers to follow the Bytown Roadto the east. Over the next decades, a tannery, brewery, flour mill, cheese factory, woolen mill, blacksmith shop, cobbler’s shop, general store and post office, another hotel and a Presbyterian Church were built on the river and on the hill above the “Bay”.

In 1865 the B&O Railroad was extended north from Almonte towards Arnprior, just east of the hamlet, opening up markets for the flour and woolen products. Traffic left the ninth line in favour of the railway so the Snedden Inn was closed and the family moved into it from the stone house on the riverbank which later became a cheese factory.

Known over the years asPineTreeFalls, Snedden’s Mills and Rosebank, the hamlet was named Blakeney in 1874 when the Post Office opened as part of the General Store owned by James McDougall.

Today the original beauty of the area is complimented with trails and small bridges contributed by volunteers of the Almonte Fish & Game Association. Visitors and locals enjoy swimming, fishing kayaking, walking and having picnics along the river while up on the hill residents appreciate the quiet atmosphere of the hamlet.