The Ross House was moved from the shores of Muskrat Lake to Foresters Falls and then rebuilt by volunteers. It replicates an early pioneer home with kitchen, dining area, parlour and sleeping area. Visitors can view collections of china, early pottery, antique furnishings, a unique "prayer chair", pump organ, and wall decorations. Collections of children's clothing, quilts, weaving and lace work are featured in the upper room of Ross House, where a quilting frame displays a quilt in progress. Unique dresser chests, wardrobes and a primitive early bed with woven coverlet are on view upstairs.

 

The Exhibit Hall is the former Ross Township Fire Hall in Foresters Falls and displays several theme-based collections. Artifacts are arranged for easy viewing. Journey back in time to the general store, schoolroom, barbershop, millinery and sewing sections, military and photo history displays. A small gift shop has unique items and current history books of the region for sale.

 

The Drive Shed houses the implements of the past. An early walking plow, farming tools, logging equipment and a photo logging exhibit are a few of the featured areas of interest in the drive shed. Heritage Garden and Picnic Area are ideal for Visitors traveling through Forester Falls to picnic beneath the rear arbour or at one of the picnic tables overlooking the gardens and creek. The gardens provide a quiet place to escape and enjoy a variety of plantings. Springtime brings forget-me-nots and flowering bulbs and a variety of plants that change with the seasons. This private shaded retreat offers visitors a quiet place to reflect on the past.

 

By 1869, Foresters Falls was an outstation of the mission of Beachburg. In 1891, a church dedicated to St. Aidan was built on the 15th concession, 3rd line in Alice Township. By 1909, most of the congregation in the area had moved away. On September 29, 1909, William S. Coleman and his wife Margaret of Foresters Falls, seeing the need of an Anglican Church in the village, deeded a parcel of land to the Diocese of Ottawa. The Church of St. Aidan in Alice Township, carefully cut into sections and moved the 25 miles to Foresters Falls. On October 8, 1909, the church was consecrated for public worship. Volunteers have restored this local landmark to its former beauty as a sanctuary. We now have a space for meetings and or special events. The church displays many of the original artifacts.

 

The Resource Centre (across the street from the Exhibit Hall) houses the library and records of the Whitewater region. Visitors are invited to review books and manuscripts by local authors. There are Census records dating back to 1851, and Cemetery and ancestral records.

 

The recorded history of Whitewater Region stretches back over 400 years, and artifacts collected from the banks of the Ottawa river have been dated at up to 5,000 years old. This exciting history simply cannot be shown in a museum, and so we have put together several web pages that you may print and take with you on a self-guided tour of the region.

 

Each year in celebration of Heritage Week, The Whitewater Historical Society asks our members to submit a place of interest. We will continue to expand this section of the site as a year-round service to those who might want to explore the history of Whitewater Region.