Photo Gallery: Ritchie Mill will appear here on the public site.
Location: 423 Noonan Side Road
Legal Description: NE Half Lot 12, Concession 1, Bathurst Ward
History of the Ritchie (Adams) Sawmill
The Ritchie/Adams Sawmill
The 6 ½ -acre property on which the sawmill sits, in Bathurst NE. ½ Concession 1, Lot 12 (100 acres), was originally acquired from the Crown by Samuel Purdie in 1824.
- 1829, Purdie sold the entire 100-acre Lot to James Brice Sr. (£50)
- 1831, James Brice Sr. sold 24-acres to William Morris (£). This 24-acres is believed to be the 6 1/2-acre mill site and 15-acre residence site, across the river.
- 1840, Perth Sherriff John Powell transferred a part lot to William Ritchie (£4). This would presumably have been the 24-acre property of Wm. Morris, and it must be assumed that there was a problem with the earlier sale from Brice.
- 1866, following Brice’ death, Mary Brice sold the dam rights (“Right to Overflow”) to William Ritchie for $80.
Note: by this time, the mill was built and operating, because in 1842, Nathan and Elizabeth (Ritchie) Judson are unofficially listed as owners of the 24-acres and the mill. However, they could not have been ‘owners’, as there is no land transfer recorded for the 24-acres, so brother William retained ownership.
- 1874, Nathan Judson transferred something to Wm. Ritchie for $200. Because Elizabeth Judson is not listed here, it is assumed that she had died before. Possibly, this is when Judson separated from the Ritchie Mill property.
- 1886, Wm. Ritchie’s Estate and his wife Alice Ritchie transferred a property to son Robert and John, for $1,000. This would be the mill and 24-acress, and presumably the residence.
- 1897, Robert and Sarah Ritchie sold their share of the mill and property (and residence?) to brother John for $5,000. Robert and Sarah leave around this time to Edmonton, where he became a successful businessman and politician.
- It is assumed that the sawmill had stopped operation by this time, as had most sawmills in the area, when merchantable trees ran out.
- 1900, John and Agnes Ritchie sold a part of the sawmill to Perth Electric Light Co., for $150; then in 1901, they sold them the dam rights for $3,000. He and wife Agnes kept the home but appear to have sold it later for $1,000 to Edwin Miller. John and Agnes followed brother Robert to Edmonton at that time, where they had built a major flour mill, which is still standing in ‘Ritchie District’.)
- 1924, Town of Perth, now the owner of the mill and dam rights, rent the mill to Carl Adams for $50 per year. Then, in 1940, the town sold the mill property to Adams for $1,000 (the residence had different owners.)
- 1962, Carl Adams operated the mill for many years. He died in or before 1963, and that year Andrew Allan acquired the mill property for $2,000. He ran the mill on water-power and finally sold it and the property in 1970.
- Later owners have included Bruce and Barbara Guthrie, Mark Noonan, and, presently, Rick Potoma.
The mill is still standing, but it, and the original dam, are in serious state of deterioration.