The city is selling off Manotick’s Dickinson House to cut costs. But its history will be preserved

There are few places you can go where history feels frozen in time. But the Village of Manotick is an exception. Located on the Rideau River, its heritage buildings can make it feel like you're walking through a town in the 1800s. 

But part of that was at risk when the city decided to sell off some of its historical assets, including the Dickinson House and carriage shed, which are located across from the famed Watson’s Stone Mill. The city is essentially broke and was unable to keep up with the expensive maintenance and costs associated with the buildings. 

Since the buildings are heritage-designated, the city had initially planned to sell the properties off to anyone who would be required to follow a strict set of rules. The same had recently happened with the old Jockvale School House in Barrhaven. 

But that did not sit well with Rideau-Jock Coun. David Brown, who prevented the Manotick properties from going on the market. Instead, the city is looking to sell the two assets off to the Manotick Mill, which already operates the site. 

“The city is looking to find efficiencies so we can keep taxes low and focus on core services. My job as councillor is to find the best scenario where we enable the community to continue to use the facilities that we continue to work with our partners who operate them on our behalf today,” Brown told the Lookout.

The transfer of ownership will occur later this year or early in the new year. The cost for the properties will be $1. But it means the Mill will be stuck with an estimated $30,000 yearly in new operating costs. On the plus side, repairs and improvements the city has been putting off can finally move forward. 

That includes replacing the Dickinson House’s roof and chimney, which it fears won't survive through the winter. Future work includes foundation repairs, flood control from spring runoff, and upgrades of the public washrooms. 

On Sept. 9, over 40 community members gathered in the mill to hear the proposed plans and ask questions. They spoke about preserving the history, boosting tourism, and ensuring the properties don't fall into the wrong hands, where they would no longer be public. 

Avery Geboers is the programs and communications manager at Watson’s Mill Manotick Inc. She said when the organization was first approached about taking over full responsibility of the properties, they were immediately on board. 

“The Dickinson House Museum is part two of the mill site. It's always been the home of the mill owners. The house and the mill have always been deeply connected to each other. Having both allows us to preserve a fuller history of Manotick and the area,” Geboers told the Lookout. 

Around $50,000 of the group's current funding comes from the used bookstore located in the carriage house, which also houses their offices. 

History that began before Canada was its own country 

Watson’s Mill was constructed in 1860 by Moss Kent Dickinson and Joseph Currier. Two years earlier, in 1858, they had leased the water rights to the control dam located in what is now Manotick. Their goal was to develop a milling complex and establish a new community in the area. At its peak, the complex included a sawmill, flour mill, carding mill, and a bung, plug, and spile mill.

In 1867, Dickinson built what is now known as Dickinson House. Originally, the building served as the mill’s office, a general store, and the village post office. The Dickinson family moved into the house in 1870, making it their home. Around this time, two carriage sheds were added beside the house. Despite becoming the family residence, the building continued to function as both a post office and a general store.

In 1928, the Dickinson family sold the flour mill and their home to Alexander Spratt, who ran the mill until his death in 1935. His family continued operations until 1946, when they sold the property to Harry Watson, the mill’s manager under the Spratt family.

Under Watson’s ownership, the mill was renamed “Watson’s Mill” and celebrated its centennial in 1960. Commercial flour production ceased in 1963. Around this time, Watson began working with the National Capital Commission and later the Rideau Valley Conservation Authority. These partnerships led to major restoration efforts, transforming Watson’s Mill into the heritage site it is today.

“For me I am passionate about preserving this history to share it with the community because it really does connect to the larger history of Ottawa and Bytown,” said Geboers. 

“Kent Dickinson was mayor of Ottawa for a stint; his business partner, Joseph Currier is an individual who built 24 Sussex. Similarly, Watson's Mill is one of the only fully operational flour and bread mills in all of Ontario. We're not just showcasing the history of the Ottawa Valley, we also pride ourselves on giving a blast into the agricultural and industrial origins of the province.”

The Mill is counting on the community for support

For now it is unclear how much money the city will give to the Mill to handle its operations, but whatever the dollar value is, it won't be enough to cover it all. To help with the newfound costs, the mill has launched fundraising efforts and is asking for donations. 

“Our board is working on redeveloping things like monthly donorship programs to have a consistent stream of revenue coming in. We are also asking people to volunteer their expertise because there is a lot of help we will need,” said Geboers. “It's definitely nerve-wracking, but since news has come out about the situation, we have seen an incredible amount of support from the community. Our visitation numbers are also up. It's really positive to see how much these sites are important to people. We are the Capital of Canada after all.”

The Mill is also hoping it will be able to qualify for many grants it did not get to take part in before because it was on city property. 

Geboers is encouraging anyone who has not visited the Watson’s Mill and Dickinson House to take a drive out to Manotick. She said it’s a great opportunity for people of all ages, including demonstrations for the kids and a gift shop for the parents. 

“We actually show people what it looks like to have the turbines using the power of the currents and the millstones going. People hear and can even taste history because we sell the flour we make,” she said. “We have a really amazing space that we try to use in different ways. We also have a whisky tasting fundraiser coming up.”