RTHS Projects, Activites & Milestones
Since its inception, and continuing today, the Rideau Township Historical Society and its members engage in projects and activities aimed at increasing awareness, understanding and appreciation for the rich history and heritage of the former Rideau Township. On this page we describe some of those undertakings and how they have contributed to our goal of "preserving the past to enrich the future."
This page is currently under construction, and will be updated often in the coming weeks and months.
Dickinson House Museum Restoration
For fourteen years, between 2007 and the end of 2021, RTHS provided stewardship to Dickinson House Museum, including administrative and managerial functions, as well as curatorial, creative, programing and exhibitions, and marketing & promotion.
In 2021, Dickinson House received a major restoration. This project, which was completed on the RTHS "watch" addressed exterior damage and deterioration to the structure since its construction in 1867, and involved selective demolition, exterior improvements such as wood siding repair and replacement, painting, repairs to doors, storm windows, windows and window shutters.
Work was carried out, in accordance with standard conservation practices, by Madison Construction Ltd of Ottawa, under the direction of CSV Architects, also of Ottawa, and was completed by mid-May, 2021.
Milestones in the project:
February, 2021
Work started with the removal of the shutters and storm windows. These were taken to the Madison Workshops for refurbishment over the winter. The erection of scaffolding and subsequent repair work started early in the Spring and continued over the summer. Dickinson House remained open during the project to allow visitors to tour the exhibits. A safe front entrance was maintained as part of the scaffolding.
March, 2021
Work continued on the shutters and storm windows at the Madison Workshop. Due to lead based paint on the window frames, it was decided to scrape the paint layers off, down to the bare wood. The panes of glass were assigned identification numbers, carefully removed and stored on shelves. Each window frame had an accompanying paper diagram indicating which glass panes go where. The glass was replaced once the frames were painted. Each window frame was repaired with an epoxy compound and sanded smooth. Damaged cross members were repaired or replaced. The shutters received similar treatment.
April, 2021
Workshop activity on the various removable items from Dickinson House continued. In addition to the shutters and the storm windows, the contractor also removed the front, side and back doors, replacing the front and back doors with custom built white slab doors and the side door with plywood.
In the workshop the shutters were assessed and repairs began. An assembly jig was built to allow for replacement of damaged louvers and the fabrication of a working mechanism. This jig will also permitted the manufacture of two new shutter sets for widows on the North and West sides which did not have shutters.
On the upper floor of the workshop the re-installation of the glass and painting of the storm windows was started. Construction site activities started on March 22 with the installation of the scaffolding. A site perimeter fence and storage sites was also installed. Restoration work began as soon as possible once the weather co-operated.
May, 2021
The restoration of the exterior of Dickinson House continued on schedule. The scraping of the loose paint, replacement of damaged wainscoting, trim and siding, caulking and filling of cracks and blemishes were completed. New shingles were installed on the canopy over the front door. New copper flashing was installed at ground level on the Mill Street side and the false door replaced.
The house was now ready for painting. When the weather co-operated, the painting crew completed their task in two weeks. Once painting was complete, the front and back doors, shutters and storm windows were installed and the scaffolding removed.
June, 2021
The Dickinson House Restoration Project Is Complete! The screening and scaffolding that surrounded Dickinson House since April was removed, revealing a pristine, vibrant and colourful renewed exterior. The project started in November 2019 with a complete laser scan of the exterior which allowed the staff of CSV Architects to map out all of the areas of deterioration and form a plan for restoration. Madison Construction Ltd. started work in January 2021 by removing all of the shutters and the storm windows. These items were taken to the company workshop for repair or rebuilding as required.
Scaffolding was erected in March of 2021. The construction team started at the top and scraped down all of the loose and damaged paint. Once the scraping was finished, the damaged portions of the trim and siding were removed. Useable portions of the siding were then used to repair smaller areas. The siding and trim boards had originally been milled in Dickinson’s own sawmill, but to a pattern not presently commercially available. Special cutters were made and replacement siding and trim were cut from Eastern pine, to match the original profile on the house.
Once the wood repairs were complete, all the small holes, cracks and surface blemishes were caulked and primed. The entire house was then painted. Visitors familiar with Dickinson House will notice that the walls are now a lighter shade of yellow and the shutters a somewhat softer green than previously. The major change is the pale green on the storm windows and certain other window frames. When asked about this change, CSV stated “Our rationale for revising the colour scheme is based on our review of historic photos of the house. We discovered that the storm windows were not always painted white. Using the pale green on the storm windows will give some variation and interest while allowing the detailing of the white window casings to shine. The white window frames behind the storms will still be visible from the exterior.”
With regard to the shutters, CSV stated “The slight shift to a green with more olive undertones is in keeping with the spectrum of heritage colours of the period and is more harmonious with the house’s current shad of yellow. Looking at the paint layers on the shutters, there were different shades of green used over time. We definitely wanted to keep the green, but make a selection that is slightly softer.”
The painting was completed on 21 May and the shutters, doors and storm windows were replaced. Final paint touch-up and detailing was completed by June 2.
Dickinson house now greet visitors with a new, refreshed exterior which will last for many years to come. Many thanks to the City of Ottawa, CSV Architects and Madison construction for a timely job well done.
In February, 2023, CSV Architects was awarded a Heritage Award for their work on the Dickinson House renovation.
Repair, Restoration and Re-dedication of Moss Kent Dickinson Monument
In June of 2010, RTHS's summer tour of Beechwood Cemetery made a point of stopping at section 22, plot 57. That's where Moss Kent Dickinson, his wife and their six children are buried. Unfortunately, it wasn't in great shape. The tall limestone column of the family headstone lay broken on the ground. The grave's inscriptions were also faint with age.
RTHS's executive board decided to take up the cause of repairing and restoring the monument. Manotick resident, Dickinson House volunteer and former board secretary Brian Earl championed the two-year effort. Total funding of $4,600 was provided by RTHS, Dickinson Square Heritage Management Inc (DSHMI) and a heritage grant from the City of Ottawa.
The restoration work was undertaken by Martel & fils/sons of Vankleek Hill, who brought generations of experience to a tricky job. The break in the top of the column was ground smooth and the broken piece set in place. Stainless steel pins and epoxy glue were used to ensure a tight, weatherproof and sturdy joint repair. The base of the column was re-aligned as it had been moved off-centre. The entire monument was washed with an eco-safe detergent.
Due to the costs involved, the sandstone inserts bearing the names of the Dickinson family were washed but not re-engraved. Instead, it was decided to utilize engraved and polished granite plaques in lieu of bronze as stated in the application. Consequently, two plaques were manufactured and mounted on a granite boulder which in turn was set beside the original monument (see images below.) The inscriptions are as follows:
The monument beside this plaque marks the final resting place of
- Moss Kent Dickinson 01 June 1822 – 19 July 1897 and his wife:
- Elizabeth Trigge Dickinson 29 September 1921 – 29 October 1861 and their family;
- George Lemuel Dickinson 04 July 1848 – November 1930
- Charlotte Trigge Dickinson 21 May 1851 – 09 June 1929
- William Barnabus Dickinson 02 November 1853 – 13 March 1930
- Alpheus Moss Dickinson 15 October 1855 – 31 January 1856
- Lydia Mary Dickinson 13 March 1857 – 10 June 1872
- Elizabeth Henderson Dickinson 19 May 1861 – 25 April 1933
The second plaque reads:
MK Dickinson and his partners constructed a stone grist mill on the Rideau River at what is now the village of Manotick in 1859. The complex grew to include a saw mill and a carding/weaving mill by 1865. Dickinson purchased about forty acres to provide home sites for his workers. In addition to the mills, Dickinson owned a fleet of steam boats and barges which carried freight and passengers along the Rideau Canal between Ottawa and Kingston. Dickinson was a prominent member of the community and was instrumental in the growth of Manotick. Active in municipal politics, Dickinson was elected Mayor of Ottawa 1864 – 1866. A friend of Sir John Macdonald (Canada’s first Prime Minister) Dickinson was elected as Member of Parliament for the riding of Russel in 1882. He served one term to 1887. The Dickinson children did not marry, leaving no family to carry on the Dickinson name.
