Historical Landmarks

The Pakenham General Store began in 1840 and is the oldest General store still in operation today in North America.

Stop by the store and take in the delicious smells of the bakery. Also check out the assortment of home decor products. At Christmas time, look up to see the train moving around the store. You won't leave empty handed!

This historic five-arch stone bridge is believed to be the only one of its kind in the world outside of Russia. It was built in 1903 by Scottish Stone Masons (O'Toole & Keating of Ottawa) over the rapids of the Mississippi River in Pakenham. It was constructed using stones sourced from a local quarry.

Originally, the bridge was built for horses and carriages which led to the stability of the bridge being compromised once automobiles were invented. This led to the bridge being restored in 1984 by the National Capital Commission where the stones were carefully removed and identified before being reinstated into their original position over the reinforced concrete structure used to strengthen the bridge for modern day use.

Day trip idea: Visit the village of Pakenham and step back in time by driving over the historic 5 Span Bridge. While you're there visit the local shops including one of the oldest general stores in North America and one of the Seven Wonders of Lanark County, St. Peter Celestine Church! 

This beautiful historical landmark is the centre of Almonte, attracting attention from all over the town (as was the intention when the building was built).

The property for Almonte Old Town Hall was first purchased in 1884 for only $6000, and since then it has only been owned by the Town of Almonte. 

The building was erected in 1885 by contractor and architect George Willoughby during the North-West Rebellion (or the second Riel Rebellion) of 1885.  Alterations were done to the front entrance of the building in 1966 where a new wooden porch was created. Later on, a modern update was done to the porch by adding four stone piers and an enclosed porch to replace the wooden one.  

Before starting construction on the town hall, a whole triangle of houses (10 small houses and a few stores) had to be torn down to create room for the new building. The stones used to create the hall were brought in from multiple quarries; stones for the main building were brought in from Hogan’s Quarry while the stones for the trimming were brought in from Beckwith Quarry.

The building itself is 3 and a half stories high including the attic, 79 + 9” long and 34” wide. The East tower is 90” high and the West tower is 60” high. The foundation is of rough ashlar stone as are the walls in the building. There were many modern additions and alterations made to the building including an enclosed entrance at the South-West door. As well, there were alterations to the front entrance which used to be a double panelled Gothic style door with stone voussoirs (stone arch) and a fanlight. The front entrance was then replaced with modern glass doors.

The auditorium’s soaring ceiling of hand-hewn Douglas Fir beams offers an acoustic setting unparalleled in the area.

Since the building was erected in 1885, it has housed a variety of different operations including municipality offices, the fire station, police station and jail house, and the municipal library. The building also once housed a fire bell which was removed in 1968 upon completion of the new fire hall.

During the train accident of 1942 where 39 passengers died and more than 150 persons were injured, the bottom floor of the town hall was used as a morgue and a first aid service for the survivors of this horrific accident. 

In 1979, the property was declared a heritage site, and the roof, which is a rare type of Ontario roof finish, was repaired keeping much of the original roofing. The roof is a decorative roof with four colours: light grey, medium grey, dark grey-blue, and brick red.

Now the building is the premier venue for theatre, musical performances, craft shows, weddings, conferences, exhibitions, community dinners and events, feature films, and professional music recordings. As well, it is the location of the Municipality of Mississippi Mills Information and Tourism Centre.

The auditorium is used for theatre, musical performances, weddings, conferences, art shows, arts and craft shows, community dinners, feature films, and professional music recording. The auditorium is the home of dance groups featuring, live music, swing dance (big band) and contra dancing (Celtic band), the Valley Players Theatre Group, Almonte in Concert Music Series, Folkus Music Series, Art in the Attic, and the "Be Your Best" acting classes.

The second floor multi-purpose room is an excellent space for small receptions, meetings, classes, small lectures, art displays, dance classes, and yoga.

The early settlers of the 1820s from Ireland and Scotland brought their bibles and religion with them. They met in different homes before any buildings were erected as churches. The ancestors of the Hamiltons and Aiken drew the stone for this church in 1829 and 1830 from the Huntley area by wagon and sleigh; they had the determination to fulfill a dream of accomplishment. It was constructed from 1835 to 1836 in an early form of Gothic Revival architecture on land obtained from James Mitchell, one of the township's earliest settlers.

The church, long unused, was restored in 1938 when JB Ilingworth was Chairman of the Cemetery Committee. The high pulpit and seats were brought from the Pakenham Church. A stone floor was laid, a vault installed, windows and doors restored, and a fence and gate installed. The cemetery here is one of the most interesting and beautiful cemeteries in the area. Many of the old stones have been repaired and reset.

It ceased to be used as a church in January of 1864 when a new church was opened in Almonte; however, the cemetery continues to be used. The cemetery here is one of the most interesting and beautiful cemeteries in the area. Many of the old stones have been repaired and reset.

Located at 270 Cedar Hill Road, Pakenham, the Cedar Hill School House is a historic schoolhouse that served as a school for 94 years from 1874 to 1968.

It has been recently renovated and is ideal for meetings, family reunions, and small parties. 

HALL RENTAL

Located to the west of Almonte, Clayton was first named Bellamy’s Mills, Clifton and then finally named Clayton in 1858. The once bustling village included a gristmill, sawmill, carding mills and woolen cloth factory, distillery, hotels, and tannery. The old-style Clayton General Store has been the community hub since 1839 and continues to thrive today!

Clayton Lake and the Indian River make this picturesque hamlet a popular spot for fishing, hiking and boating, while the bountiful hardwood forests make it a maple syrup epicenter for the region.

The Old Post Office is a designated national historic site located in the centre of downtown Almonte and was built in 1891. This building was erected to house postal and customs services. It was designed by Thomas Fuller, the architect of the Parliament Buildings.

This building is influenced by the Romanesque Revival style, as the wide voussoirs over the doors and windows illustrate. The steep, picturesque roof and richly coloured and carved stone are characteristic of the period.

Listen and you will hear the clock tower tolling the hours.

For more information on this historic site visit the Parks Canada website.  

One of the Seven Wonders of Lanark County, St. Peter Celestine RC Church is located in the village of Pakenham, Ontario and is one of the most architecturally interesting and impressive churches in rural Canada. Built in 1892, the exterior takes inspiration from the 17th century stone churches of southern France (and rural Quebec). The church is widely known among connoisseurs of heritage architecture for its fine building and but in particular for its superb original interior décor, which survives intact from over a century ago.

Professionally restored in 1992, this is one of the 3 most beautiful churches in the Archdiocese of Ottawa-Cornwall and is one of only 3 Canadian churches known to retain Classic Italianate decoration in trompe l’oeil and faux marbré technique. A striking feature of the nave is the original pulpit, built in the form of a huge chalice, heavily ornamented.

Union Hall, located on the corner of Tatlock Rd. and Wolf Grove Rd., was built in 1857 and has been used for over 150 years as a library, meeting hall, place of worship, and as a setting for family reunions, memorial services, dances, and parties. The Union Hall Women’s Institute helped with the expansion of the stage and well-loved dance floor.