Watson's Mill is a beautiful old building located on the
Rideau River in Manotick, a
suburb of Ottawa. Built by Moss Kent Dickinson and his
business partner Joseph Merrill Currier in 1860, the mill used big water
turbines to run large millstones to grind wheat into flour.
Vermont-born Joseph Currier, (seen at right) was born in 1820.
He did not have a whole lot of luck in his life. Joseph's first
wife died in 1858, and his three children from that marriage all died
within five days of each other in 1855.
In August of 1860, a rebounding Joseph Currier travelled south to
Lake George, New York where he stayed for a time at the Crosbyside
Hotel. The Crosbyside was run by the family of Ann
Elizabeth Crosby. Anne was born in 1841 and was described as
"tall and beautiful". One thing led to another and, as
they would say on Seinfeld, Yadda, Yadda, Joseph and Anne were married
on January 25th, 1861.
 After
spending a month-long honeymoon traveling throughout the Northern United
States, Joseph Currier brought his new bride back to Manotick to
celebrate the first anniversary of his Mill. Anne did not have the
benefit of a technical school education, otherwise she would have known
that moving machine parts and long or loose clothing do not mix.
While viewing the works of the machinery on the second floor, Ann's
white crinoline dress became caught in the revolving turbine
shaft. She was thrown against a nearby support pillars and killed
instantly.
Needless to say, Joseph was a bit shaken by the tragedy. He
sold his share of the mill to his partner Dickinson and never set foot,
ever again, in Manotick or Watson's' Mill.
Anne's body was buried back in Beechwood Cemetery in Ottawa but her
spirit continued to reside at Watson's Mill. Anne stayed around to
haunt the place - and haunts it to this day.
It is said that you can still see blood stains
and fingernail marks on the post that Anne's body struck. People
feel cold air streams and get goosebumps even on some of the hottest
days of the summer.
It is also said that Anne takes some time off
from her haunting of the mill to
visit the place that Joseph went after Anne's death. She has been
seen wandering around Parliament Hill and the canal locks nearby.
Why would she go there?
After Anne's death, Joseph moved on in life as
both a Member of Parliament in the emerging country of Canada and as a
builder. In 1866 he built a new stone house overlooking the Ottawa
River. He called the home, "Gorffwysfa," a Welsh word
for place of peace. He made the home a gift to his third wife,
Hannah. The home is now called "24 Sussex".
Gorffwysfa was bought by the government in 1943 and became the official
residence for all Prime Ministers of Canada in 1951.
Joseph Merrill Currier died in 1884 and was
buried right next to Anne at Beechwood Cemetery. |
