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FRONTENAC COUNTY, ONTARIO

Frontenac County Ontario :
Collection of Glass Negatives from the Snow Road area, circa 1900.

This collection of glass negatives was found in an antique store in Perth, Ontario. They were taken in Snow Road or in the immediate area. Twelve of the photos appear in Hilda Geddes' book "The Canadian Mississippi River", published 1988, reprinted 1992, by General Publishing House, Inc., Burnstown, ON. I've identified those photos according to the captions in Hilda's book.

The source of these negatives is a mystery. The Perth antique dealer told me that an elderly couple walked in and offered the negatives for sale -- they didn't leave their names and no other information is available.

I've oriented the published photos according to how they appear in the book, but it is possible that some or all of the others should be "flipped" horizontally.


The negatives have been donated to Archives Lanark.


Group of working men, Chandler's Mill, Snow Road, Ontario, c.1900

Chandler's Mill crew.
This photo appears on page 77 of "The Canadian Mississippi River".
The photo's caption is: " Mill crew at Chandler's Mill. The only ones I recognize are Robt. P. Harper (5th from left on top row). Others on top row: John Mills, an Erwin, Wm. Buchanan and Wilbert Trombley. "
A Riddell is also in this photo, but not sure which one yet.


Girl holding doll, c.1900

Unidentified girl with her doll.


Two girls holding dolls, c.1900

Unidentified girls with their dolls by the rocks across from Card's.


House with woman in door, c.1900

Rhodes' house at Snow Road, across from where the Fire Hall is now.


Interior of churcn, c.1900

Interior of the Snow Road Presbyterian Church, which was built in 1885.
Text on the arched ribbon reads "The Lord God In His Holy Temple".


Buildings in Snow Road, c.1900

John A. Geddes' store, with the railroad station on the right. Six people are standing in front of the station watching the photographer -- see the enlargement below.


Railroad station in Snow Road, c.1900

Railroad station in Snow Road -- detail from the photo above.


Field and buildings in Snow Road, c.1900

Alex Trombley's at Snow Road or old hotel (to the right).


McLaren's Depot, c.1900

McLaren's Depot.
This appears on page 13 of "The Canadian Mississippi River". The book's caption reads: " A back view of McLaren's Depot taken from the top of Toboggan Hill. Picture possibly taken in the early 1900's. "
The manager's house is at bottom right.


Stone house outside Snow Road, c.1900

This appears on page 115 of "The Canadian Mississippi River", where it is given two pages and three more photos. The book's description is as follows: " The Stone House, Snow Road. Within the sight of Graham's dock one finds a lovely old stone house that was built by Wm. Richards. He and his family came from North Adam's, Mass. in 1883, and purchased this property from Robert Geddes who was in Manitoba at the time. The stone in this house was quarried on the opposite shore on the property also owned by Richards. These stones, as well as all the wood used in this house, were hauled across the river. This house is a unique landmark with its front turret, a beautiful curving staircase in the front hall, and beautiful wooden floors throughout. It was two years in the making and was occupied by this family in 1889. A granddaughter of Wm. Richards (Margaret Kinghorn) and her husband Tom still reside in this old family home. A bridge was built across the Mississippi behind this house in 1915, linking the two properties. This bridge has long since disappeared, even to the piers.

" The Richards property on the south shore is now part of the Izatt-Forester subdivision. There are quite a number of lovely summer cottages in this area which skirts the Mississippi from the Richard property to the Flat Rapids. "


Stone house outside Snow Road, c.1900

Detail of the above photo.


House outside of Snow Road, c.1900

The Lett farm at Snow Road.


General store in McLaren's Depot, c.1900

The old McLaren's Depot.
The light-coloured building in the centre was the general store in Snow Road until it closed circa 2013. A very similar, but winter view appears on page 93 of "The Canadian Mississippi River".


Gull Lake dam, c.1900

Gull Lake Dam.
This appears on page 52 of "The Canadian Mississippi River". The book's caption reads: " Gull Lake Dam: Gull Lake flows into the lower Crotch Lake, Upper Crotch, then into the Mississippi River. "


Buildings in Snow Road, c.1900

Buildings with river and a dam.


Millar's Lake and Chandler's Mill, c.1900

Millar's Lake.
This photo and the one below appear on page 66 of "The Canadian Mississippi River". The book's caption for this photo reads: " Millar's Lake taken from Snow Road, showing the old road, railway crossing, hand-car house, Chandler's Mill, and one of the houses east of railroad track. "


Hughes' Rapids on Millar's Lake near Snow Road, c.1900

Hughes' Rapids on Millar's Lake.
This photo and the one above appear on page 66 of "The Canadian Mississippi River". The book's caption for this photo reads: " Roll top dam at foot of Hughes' Rapids at the head of Millar's Lake. "


Ragged Chutes, c.1900

Ragged Chutes.
This appears on page 60 of "The Canadian Mississippi River". The book's caption reads: " Upper Dam at Ragged Chutes in river driving days. "


Ragged Chutes, c.1900

Ragged Chutes.
This appears on page 62 of "The Canadian Mississippi River". The book's caption reads: " Ragged Chutes in river driving days. "


Otter Lake, c.1900

Otter Lake.
Three people are standing in the distance (see detail below). This appears on page 59 of "The Canadian Mississippi River". The book's caption reads: " Head of Otter Lake (Alex Trombley collection). "


Log drivers at Otter Lake, c.1900

Detail of the log drivers in the photo above.


Dam near Snow Road, c.1900

Gull Lake Dam and log drivers (see detail below). This appears on page 52 of "The Canadian Mississippi River". The book's caption reads: "River Driving Crew At Gull Lake: Gull Lake is found on the Ardoch-Clarendon Road."


Log drivers near Snow Road, c.1900

Detail of the men in the photo above.


Crotch Lake Dam, c.1900

Crotch Lake Dam.
This appears on page 53 of "The Canadian Mississippi River". The book's caption reads: " Crotch Lake Dam. This picture was taken many years ago (From Alex Trombley's collection). "


Waterfall near Snow Road, c.1900

Buttermilk Falls.
This is the frontispiece photo of "The Canadian Mississippi River". The book's caption reads: " Buttermilk Falls at Snow Road, on Antoine Creek within sight of the Mississippi River. This picture must have been taken in the early part of the 20th century because of lack of vegetation. "


Can you provide names, details or other information?

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