1

Watson's Mill: a Historic Site
1963
Manotick, Ontario, Canada

2

Former Bung-Maker: Mr. Clapp
1963
Manotick, Ontario, Canada

3

Watson's Mill: Historic Site Opening in 1963
1963
Manotick, Ontario, Canada

4

Watson's Mill 125th anniversary
1985
Manotick, Ontario, Canada

5

RVCA brochure of Watson's Mill
1970's
Watson's Mill, Manotick, Ontario, Canada

6

In 1997, Watson's Mill Manotick Inc., a group of local volunteers who were passionate about the Mill, was formed. For ten years, this group maintained and operated the Mill under a long-term management contract with the property owners, Rideau Valley Conservation Authority. WMMI kept the doors opened to the public, fundraised extensively to pay for much-needed restoration work in all areas of the building, and ensured that the story of Watson's Mill and Manotick continued to thrive. In 2005, following a strenuous strategic planning exercise with colleagues from other regional museums in the City of Ottawa, WMMI won a major battle: they helped create the Museum Sustainability Plan, an important Budget line in the municipal budget, which provided operational funding to the 11 community museums. This was the beginning of a new era for the group, since they were now able to hire their very first staff.