The McDougall Mill was a stone grist mill built in 1855 on the north side of the Bonnechere River by John Lorn McDougall. The mill was powered by a Norse wheel, turned by the water cascading through the second chute.
In 1963, the Town of Renfrew acquired the mill and surrounding lands. The Town enacted a By-Law stating “That this land shall be used for, and in connection with a Museum or similar Community enterprise”. The McDougall Mill Museum was designated a heritage building by the Town of Renfrew in 1976.
The museum showcases Renfrew’s history on three floors of the mill.
Adjacent to the mill is the Renfrew Swinging Bridge. The W.H. Kearney family built a suspension bridge across the Bonnechere River in 1885. The modern reconstruction in wood andcable was constructed in 1983 by the Town of Renfrew and updated again in 2015. This is one of three swinging bridges in Canada and provides an excellent view of the Bonnechere River and the power generation plant.
