Editing Arnprior (section)

==History==
The land occupied by what is now called Arnprior is part of the traditional territory of the [[Algonquin people|Algonquin]] nation of indigenous North Americans. The first European explorers, led by [[Samuel de Champlain]], first visited the area in May 1613.

In 1823, a {{convert|1200|acre|ha|adj=on}} surveyed block was ceded to Archibald McNab and named McNab Township. McNab had approval from the [[Family Compact]] to treat the settlers on his land in the feudal manner practised in Scotland. In 1831 the town was named by the Buchanan Brothers after McNab's ancestral home of [[Arnprior, Stirling|Arnprior]], Scotland.

Tired of the harsh treatment, the settlers revolted and, after a government investigation, McNab was forced to vacate the area in 1841.<ref name=":1">{{cite web|url=http://www.collectionscanada.gc.ca/confederation/023001-2001-e.html |title= Upper Canada|publisher=Library and Archives Canada|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080619073104/http://www.collectionscanada.gc.ca/confederation/023001-2001-e.html|archive-date=June 19, 2008}}</ref> Arnprior and [[McNab/Braeside|Braeside and McNab]] township grew as separate communities and boomed when they became integrated into eastern Ontario's massive [[timber]] industry.

One of the most successful businessmen of the upper Ottawa was [[Daniel McLachlin]], who built a massive sawmill at the confluence of the Madawaska and Ottawa rivers, and expanded the community of Arnprior.<ref>{{cite DCB |title=McLachlin, Daniel |first=Michael S. |last=Cross |volume=10 |url=http://www.biographi.ca/en/bio/mclachlin_daniel_10E.html}}</ref> The lumber industry maintained a significant position until the closing of the Gillies Mill.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://members.shaw.ca/beyondnootka/biographies/david_gillies.htm |title=David Armitage Gillies |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080306041117/http://members.shaw.ca/beyondnootka/biographies/david_gillies.htm|archive-date=March 6, 2008}}</ref> One of the most enduring structures of the day was a [[gristmill|grist mill]] built by the Buchanans on the west bank of the Madawaska River.

By 1869, Arnprior was an incorporated village with a population of 2,000 in the Township of McNab. It was on the [[Brockville and Ottawa Railway]] at the junction of the Madawaska and Ottawa rivers. The average price of land was $20 to $40.<ref>''The Province of Ontario Gazetteer and Directory''. H. McEvoy, Editor and Compiler. Toronto: Robertson & Cook, Publishers, 1869</ref>

The grey stone building served many purposes after it stopped being used as a grist mill, finally being operated as a restaurant and a gas station, first by the Beattie and then the Baird families, ending in 1974. The facility was bought by [[Ontario Hydro]] prior to the restructuring on the bridge and the creation of a new weir to control the river. The building was consumed by fire in 1976. The forests of the period are represented in the Grove which is an example of indigenous forest, grown after a fire in the 18th century. With individual specimens reaching {{convert|175|ft|abbr=on}}, these are the tallest white pines in Ontario.<ref name="nhic">{{cite web|url= http://nhic.mnr.gov.on.ca/areas/areas_report.cfm?areaid=18444#selection-411.1-411.36 |title=Natural Areas Report: Gillies Grove |archive-url=https://archive.today/20070802143042/http://nhic.mnr.gov.on.ca/areas/areas_report.cfm?areaid=18444 |archive-date=August 2, 2007}}</ref>

[[File:Arnprior John Street 1906.jpg|thumb|left|John Street, 1906]]
Arnprior was incorporated as a village in 1862. Thirty years later (in 1892), it was incorporated as a town.

On June 8, 1944, a {{sclass2|Castle|corvette|1}}, {{HMS|Rising Castle|K398|6}}, was recommissioned as HMCS ''Arnprior'' until 1946.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.navy.gc.ca/project_pride/ships/ship_e.asp?shipNumber=195 |title=HMCS Arnprior |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111002012249/http://www.navy.gc.ca/project_pride/ships/ship_e.asp?shipNumber=195 |archive-date=2011-10-02  |website=navy.gc.ca}}</ref>

Arnprior became a recognized name in the [[numismatic]] trade. This has a special link to a local employer. In 1955 [[Playtex]] ordered some silver dollars for their employees. These coins were later found to show only two and one-half water lines instead of four to the right of the canoe. This variety becomes known as the [[Canadian silver dollar#Arnprior type varieties|Arnprior dollar]].

The history of Arnprior is preserved and documented at the Arnprior and District Museum<ref>Virtual Museum of Canada, "[https://archive.today/20130115193536/http://www.virtualmuseum.ca/PM.cgi?LM=MuseumFlash&LANG=English&scope=Museum&Referer=Museum&mark=Search&start=1&AP=M_E_display&Featured=1&Page=ACJMI.html Arnprior and District Museum]".  Last updated July 5, 2004.  Retrieved March 6, 2007.</ref> (located in the former post office building and library) and the Arnprior and McNab/Braeside Archives,<ref>Arnprior & McNab/Braeside Archives, "[https://www.adarchives.org/ AMBA]".  Retrieved July 3, 2019.</ref> located next door in the basement of the public library. The sandstone building is the defining element in local architecture.