Seeley’s Bay Saw Mill
Unlike many villages along the Rideau Canal Seeley’s Bay did not benefit from active water power and as a result had no mill until 1869 when Solomon Haskin and Delorma Phillips began operating a steam sawmill on the west side of Bay St. near the bay. It operated for a few years during the 1870’s at the corner of Mill Street and Bay Road before being destroyed by fire.
It was purchased by David Collinson and a new mill was built on a lot on the north side of Mill St.in 1877. It operated until Collinson’s untimely death in a mill accident in 1888. His widow, Margaret, sold the mill to brothers, William F. and George W. Bracken and Alva Chapman.
Chapman, who had worked in sawmills in Michigan, rebuilt the mill in the winter of 1893 from which time it operated under the management of William F Bracken. In 1895 a building previously used for public meetings was moved to the mill property and converted to a provender/feed mill and a coal shed built on the north side of the mill next the to steamboat wharf. This mill was operated by Andrew Jackson who lived on the upper floor of the building. In 1906 Jackson purchased the property known as the Brickyard on the south side of Mill St. where he built a storehouse.
Under William F. Bracken’s management the mill prospered. Bracken acquired the Gilbert carriage works and entered into an agreement with the Albert Neal Brick and Tile Company to form the Seeley’s Bay Supply and Construction Company. In 1908 William F. Bracken purchased his partners’ shares in the mill and two years later he acquired Jackson’s provender/feed mill when Jackson departed to western Canada.
In November 1910 William F. Bracken’s 15 year old son, Howard, was accidently shot by his brother while hunting ducks on the bay in front of the mill. In 1912, William F. Bracken sold the mill to Charles W. Hartley. Charles and his sons, John and Norman, operated the mill for over fifty years. It was destroyed by fire in 1947 and since it was such a viable operation for the community, it was immediately rebuilt the following year.
In 1962 the Veenlo Lumber Co. operated the mill on a lease arrangement until it was levelled by fire in 1964.
