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At the dedication of the historical ploqua at the Mill oi Kin-tail, Muior J. F. Leys, present owner of the mill, addresses the gathering. The Mill of Kintail By Dorothy Brown N THE 10TH of September. 1958. the Ramsay Women’s Institute. under the presi- dency of Mrs. Gordon Duncan, were co- sponsors and tea hostesses at a colourful ceremony at the Mill of Kintail, near Almonte. The occasion was the unveiling of a plaque erected by the Ontario Government to commemor- ate both the Mill of Kintail. as a fine example of pioneer stone architecture, and Robert Tait Mc- Kenzie, the famous Canadian surgeonâ€"sculptor who was born in Ramsay Township in 1867. Mc- Kenzie, who had played in the ruins of the old grist mill as a boy, restored it as his summer home and studio in [930. when it was already one hun- dred years old. Kcenly aware of the need to honour our pioneer ancestors, he gathered to the Mill. in addition to many originals of his OWn 'nspiring works of sculpture, a collection of pioneer efiects from the local countryside of Lanark County. Dr. McKenzie died in 1938. [n 1952 the Mill of Kintail was bought by Major James Farquharson Leys. of the Canadian rmy. from the widow, Mrs. Tait McKenzie, who has since died. It was the intention of Major and Its. Leys, while safeguarding the precious relics nd maintaining the historic and artistic associa- ions of the old Mill, gradually to develop the roperty and exhibits in the public interest. In his successful development the Ramsay Women's nstitute have played many useful parts. indirectly in awakening the minds of the people to the ecreative and educational value of such a shrine. end directly by providing teas for visitors on many occasions. and by helping in the continuing process it adding appropriate pioneer effects and local i andicrafts to the collections. In 1957 the present owners formally created the "Mill of Kintail Canadian Arts and Pioneer Muse- .I'n” (The Tait McKenzie Memorial) under the ants of Ontario. in order to give permanence to heir original objectives. The subsequent official rovincial recognition is a matter of great satisfac- ion to all who know the Mill of Kintail, Many ave expressed their gratitude to the members of ‘>- UMMER 'I 959 the Ontario Historic Sites Board for this par- ticular action. as well as for their good selective taste shown in the present campaign to highlight Ontario's past achievements as a guide to our future betterment. Recognition, however. does not carry with it any financial or other support. and continuing development at the Mill of Kintitil still depends on private enterprise. Each year on the last Saturday of May, “Tait McKenzie Day" is celebrated at the Mill of Kin- tail. and also for :1 number of years the Ramsay Women's Institute has held its annual historical meetings there. having had as guests members of other Women‘s Institutes, notably of Lunark County. Each year, furthermore. the Mill is visited by organized groups including international clubs and societies. as well as many from the Greater Ottawa area, and on several of these occasions the Ramsay Women's Institute provided tens. During the sum- mer of l958. for the first lll‘l‘lL‘. the Mill was open to the public at regular hours on Saturdnys and first Sundays, the Ramsay Women‘s Institute again serving the lens at a nominal cost. yet sullicicnt to bring some profit to the Institute. With attendance to date having reached over 7.000. and with the fame of the Mill of Kintuil spreading in widening national and international circles. it seems likely that the ideals of Dr. Tait McKenzie. regarding health and beauty strength and sportsmanship. will be appreciably furthered, He was in the world‘s front ranks as a surgeon. as a sculptor and as a physical educator. He was also a soldier, an athlete. a teacher. and a writer. in his many works of art and written lectures and books he has shown a way to help solve what is probably the most vexing problem of our century. namely. how to maintain mental and physical balance in an expanding industrial ugc. It is a source of comiderablc local pride that a site that is now attracting interest throughout the world lies in Ramsay Township and that it has had the active support of the Ramsay Women's Institute, 11