Top 3 Abandoned Places In South Frontenac

There are so many abandoned places in South Frontenac! This is a list of the top three abandoned places in South Frontenac. Browse through all abandoned places in South Frontenac

1. Bellrock Mill

Area was settled in 1821. Bell Rock Mill was one of many grist mills in the area.

2. Petworth (ghost town)

Petworth started out in the 1840s as a lumber town. In 1861 their lumbering rights were taken over by the Rathbun Lumber Company. By 1871 the village boasted a population of 200 and included a hotel, two grocery stores and two blacksmith shops. However, in the 1870s, a group of farmers from nearby Verona, upset about their flooded fields and ruined crops, crept down late one night and blew up Petworth(a)s dam. Things had quieted down somewhat by the 1880(a)s and Petworth(a)s population stabilized at around 100. A Methodist church and school were opened around 1882. By 1905, Petworth had suffered a complete reversal of fortunes. Sixty years of steady logging had pretty much depleted the surrounding woods and the new railway took a turn eastward bypassing the tiny village. Petworth never recovered. Today, Petworth is not completely deserted. A few older residents continue to live there along with a handful of newer residents who enjoy rural living. The stone walls of the old Stephenson and Lott mill are still standing, along with the blacksmith shop, a barn, several original houses and the one room schoolhouse that was closed in the 1960s. Newer houses stand amidst the ruins. Other original buildings are still in use as sheds, storage buildings and the like.

3. Frontenac Lead Mine Shaft No. 1

History:

5 years later, in 1875, the Frontenac Lead Mining and Smelting Company sunk the shaft down to 267 feet, and made 5 levels at 50 foot intervals, and extracted another 2000 tons of ore. A smelter was also opened in Kingston around this time, but closed with the mine in 1882.

From 1903 to 1912, two more shafts were sunk further in the forest, and a mill was built on the site of the No. 1 Shaft. Between the construction of the mill and 1917, 4700 tons of ore were mined.

In 1927, the No. 1 shaft was deepened to 313 feet by Forbes Galena Mines, and the No. 3 shaft was de-watered.

Between 1947 and 1958, there were 18+ diamond drills done to examine the ore body below, but the results proved the area not suitable for any more mining.

What you’ll find:

To access the site, you’ll have to use the nearby rail trail, as the access road is private property. When you get there, there’ll be the foundation from the old mill, which takes a bit of effort to get on, but is possible. About 20 meters behind the mill, you’ll find Shaft No. 1, fenced off. Inside the fenced off area is a few more foundations, most likely for the head frame to hoist the ore out of the mine, and ventilation pipes to prevent gas buildup.

I was unable to access the No. 2 and 3 shafts as they were in the opposite direction, and about a kilometre walk into the forest. However, according to the MNDM files, there is wood drying kiln there, and an adit to enter a portion of the mine.